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pyvisa / pyvisa-py

A pure python PyVISA backend
https://pyvisa-py.readthedocs.io
MIT License
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[COM] Communication issue with Keysight VXI systems using PCI-to-1394 adapter in Ubuntu 18.04 #314

Open janetmayle opened 2 years ago

janetmayle commented 2 years ago

I'm sorry to disturb you. I'd like to ask whether I can use pyvisa-py to communicate with Keysight VXI systems using PCI-to-1394 adapter in Ubuntu 18.04?

If it does, please give me some guidance, such as some lib or driver that must be installed ......

If not, which pyvisa backend should I use? I notice that Keysight IO Libraries Suite do not support VXI in linux, see https://www.keysight.com/us/en/lib/software-detail/computer-software/io-libraries-suite-downloads-2175637.html.

Thank you very much for your time.

MatthieuDartiailh commented 2 years ago

The short story is that no pyvisa-py does not support VXI devices.

I have personally never encountered such a class of device and I have no idea how if VISA implemented for them. If you figure it out and want to contribute your work back you are welcome but I do not have the bandwidth to help with that.

janetmayle commented 2 years ago

Thanks for your reply.

I'm a little surprised about you said "I have personally never encountered such a class of device ". Maybe it's because I didn't describe it clearly. I want to redescribe in detail what I want to do.

My OS is Ubuntu 18.04. I want to control several instruments such as digital multimeter. These instruments are placed in VXI mainframe backplane. The slot 0 of the mainframe is a device called Keysight E8491B which used to link the VXI mainframe backplane to the IEEE 1394 serial bus. And finally I use a PCI-to-1394 adapter to link my PC to Keysight E8491B.

MatthieuDartiailh commented 2 years ago

I am aware of the existence of VXI instrument but there was never any in the labs in which I worked that's all. It appears you could find drivers for your firewire card for linux but since I have no idea how VISA is implemented for VXI it would not really help. However NI appears to support VXI on linux (https://www.ni.com/fr-fr/support/documentation/compatibility/17/ni-visa-features-and-operating-system-compatibility.html) so that is likely your best bet ATM.