Chapter 1 Introduction
VXIpc 800 Series User Manual 1-4 © National Instruments Corporation
LabWindows/CVI is an interactive C development environment for
building test and measurement and instrument control systems. It
includes interactive code-generation tools and a graphical editor for
building custom user interfaces.
LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI include all the tools needed for
instrument control, data acquisition, analysis, and presentation. When
you order the LabVIEW Full Development System for Windows or the
LabWindows/CVI Full Development System for Windows, you also get
more than 500 complete instrument drivers, which are modular,
source-code programs that handle the communication with your
instrument to speed your application development.
Hardware Description
The VXIpc 800 Series controllers feature a modular, PCI-based local
bus design that makes it easy to use interchangeable daughterboards to
upgrade your controller to new microprocessors, without having to
replace the motherboard or enclosure.
The VXIpc 800 Series currently consists of two models—the
VXIpc-850 and the VXIpc-860—which vary in processors and speeds.
The CPU module and its memory sockets are easily accessible for you
to install additional DRAM in the field:
• Up to 128 MB for the VXIpc-850
• Up to 256 MB for the VXIpc-860
The VXIpc 800 contains at least an 800 MB internal, enhanced IDE
hard disk. For information on adding RAM by installing SIMMs, refer
to Appendix A,
Specifications
.
Slot 0 Functionality
You can use the VXIpc 800 Series computers to achieve full VXI Slot 0
control of your VXI system. You can also install the VXIpc 800 in
another slot and use it in Non-Slot 0 mode. You do not have to change
any switches or jumpers when moving between these two modes, as the
VXIpc 800 can automatically detect whether it is installed in Slot 0 and
it will automatically enable or disable the Slot 0 onboard circuitry.