Software controls GPIB instruments over network.

Press Release Summary:



GPIB AnyWhere(TM) software bus extension provides network access to GPIB Controller and to all instruments connected to it by adding VSI-11 Service to PC controller is connected to. Applications include debugging test programs on production hardware from desktop, accessing equipment at remote test sites, sharing instruments on 24/7 basis from anywhere, and providing GPIB gateway for Unix/Sun/Apple machines.



Original Press Release:



GPIB AnyWhere(TM) Program



PLEASANTON, CA, June 27, 2004. Today ICS Electronics announced a new GPIB Control Program for controlling GPIB Instruments and devices over a company network or over the Internet. Called GPIB AnyWhere(TM), this new software provides network access to a GPIB Controller and to all of the instruments connected to it by adding a VXI-11 Service to the PC with the GPIB Controller. Typical applications are debugging test programs on production hardware from your desktop, accessing equipment at remote test sites, sharing instruments on a 24/7 basis from anywhere in the world, and providing a GPIB gateway for Unix/Sun/Apple and all other Unix like machines. GPIB AnyWhere(TM) offers a software bus extension and access solution that uses the existing company and Internet networks and eliminates the need for additional bus extension hardware.

VXI-11 is a communication standard developed by the VISA consortium in 1995 in conjunction with the VISA transition library and the full VISA Specification. VISA layers provide programmers with a vendor independent API that can be called by their programs. Popular graphical test programs like LabVIEW and VEE as well as C language and Visual Basic programs make VISA calls so they can be used with different vendors' GPIB Controllers. With VISA, instruments and controllers are considered as VISA resources. When the user designates a TCP/IP resource like GPIB AnyWhere(TM)'s VXI-11 Service, he accesses it through the VISA's VXI-11 interface. The communication protocol is RPC (Remote Procedure Calls) through an internal stack or from a remote computer over a TCP/IP network.

The requirements for installing GPIB AnyWhere(TM) are an Intel type PC with a WIN32 operating system (Windows NT, 2K or XP), a GPIB-32.DLL and a GPIB Controller. GPIB AnyWhere(TM) is compatible with GPIB Controllers from ICS Electronics, Ines, Measurement Computing, and National Instruments.

GPIB AnyWhere(TM)'s VXI-11 Service can be accessed from programs running in the host computer using an Agilent or National Instruments VISA layer. Just select a TCP/IP resource. Remote computers with WIN32 or Unix like operating systems (Unix, Linux, Sun, OS X etc.) can also access the VXI-11 Service in the host computer thru a VISA layer or by RPC calls in the application program.

GPIB AnyWhere(TM) ships with a VXI-11 Keyboard utility program that lets a user interactively control GPIB devices through the VXI-11 Service. The VXI-11 Keyboard utility runs in either the host PC or in a remote WIN32 PC.

GPIB AnyWhere(TM) will be included at no charge with each ICS GPIB Controller starting in July. Non-ICS GPIB Controller users can purchase GPIB AnyWhere(TM) for $200. Free 30-day trial copies may be downloaded from ICS's Website.

ICS Electronics is a pioneer and leader in the design and development of IEEE 488 Bus support products, Serial and VXI bus products. ICS's GPIB product line includes GPIB Controllers, Interfaces, Expanders, Extenders and many GPIB support products.

ICS Electronics is headquartered at 7034 Commerce Circle, Pleasanton, CA 94588. Phone (925) 416-1000. Contact Jerry Mercola, Marketing Manager for more information.

- DataSheet URL http://icselect.com/gpib_ds.html#any

Trademarks: LabView is a trademark of National Instruments, Austin TX, VEE is a trademark of Agilent, Palo Alto, CA. GPIB AnyWhere is a trademark of ICS Electronics, Pleasanton, CA.

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