The M8195A can be programmed like other modular instruments using IVI-COM
driver. In addition, classic instrument programming using SCPI commands is
supported.
The following picture gives an overview about how things work together:
The Soft Front Panel talks to the actual M8195A module using a PCI express or USB
connection. I/O to the module is done using VISA library of Keysight I/O library.
Addressing is done with PXI resource strings, e.g. “PXI36::0::0::INSTR” or USB
resource strings, e.g. “USB-PXI0::5564::4819::DE00000001::INSTR”. The purpose of
the Soft Front Panel is to provide a classic instrument like SCPI interface that is
exposed via LAN.
IVI-COM wraps the SCPI commands into an API based programming model. To
select what module is programmed, the resource string of the module is used. The
IVI-driver will automatically locate an already running Soft Front Panel that is
handling the module. If no such Soft Front Panel exists, it is started automatically.
This way it is completely hidden that the IVI driver actually needs the Soft Front
Panel for programming the M8195A module.
VISA or VISA-COM are libraries from an installed I/O library such as the Keysight I/O
library to program the instrument using SCPI command strings. The Soft Front Panel
must be already running to connect to it.
The Soft Front Panel is also providing the user interface. It is used for interactively
changing settings. In addition, it can log what IVI or SCPI calls need to be done when
changing a setting. This can be activated with Tools Monitor Driver calls…. In
addition, you can verify changes done from a remote program.
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