Add a LAN Interface

Click , select LAN Interface from the context list.

Modify the interface properties (described in detail below) as needed.

Click OK to add this interface to your configuration.

The primary benefits of adding new interfaces include: better organization of instruments within the view, using different protocols and timeout values, etc.

Note: When you add a new LAN interface, it will not contain any auto-discovered LAN instruments. All instruments under that interface will then need to be manually added.

Specify Connection Addresses

Connection Expert manages the default numbering used with the VISA interface ID, SICL interface ID, and logical unit properties. When configuring each interface, Connection Expert uses the next available integer value. For example, for the VISA interface ID, if TCPIP0 is already in use on another interface, the default value for this interface becomes TCPIP1.

VISA Interface ID

The name that Connection Expert and VISA use to uniquely identify this interface. The VISA interface ID for a LAN interface is of the form TCPIPn, where n is an integer. The interface ID is part of the address string used to open VISA programming sessions to LAN-based instruments.

SICL Interface ID

The unique name that SICL programs use to identify this interface. The default SICL interface ID for the first LAN interface is lan. SICL interface IDs for additional LAN interfaces are of the form lann, where n is an integer; for example, lan0. Remember this value and the logical unit number in order to address the interface in your SICL applications.

Logical Unit

An integer that can be used in place of the SICL interface ID in Keysight VEE and SICL applications. The logical unit is not used by VISA.

Set Default Protocol

The protocol type to be used with the LAN client software on this PC. The Keysight IO Libraries Suite supports three protocol choices:

Auto (automatically detect protocol) means that the interface will first attempt to connect to a LAN server using the SICL-LAN protocol. If the SICL-LAN protocol is not supported, the interface will use the VXI-11 protocol. This search order is used because the SICL-LAN protocol is a superset of the VXI-11 protocol and provides more capability. This is the default.

VXI-11 (TCP/IP Instrument Protocol) is a networking protocol, developed by the VXIbus Consortium, which permits interoperability of LAN software from different vendors that meet the VXIbus Consortium standard. This protocol supports SICL operations over the LAN to GPIB and LAN to VXI interfaces (message-based devices only), and VISA operations over LAN to GPIB interfaces. The VXI-11 protocol does not support serial or USB interfaces.

SICL-LAN is a networking protocol developed by Keysight Technologies. The SICL-LAN protocol supports SICL operations over the LAN to GPIB, VXI (message-based devices only), USB, and RS-232 interfaces. The SICL-LAN protocol supports VISA operations over the LAN to GPIB interface.

See Networking Protocol Notes for additional information.

Configure LAN Properties

Connect Timeout

The time, in milliseconds, that the PC will wait when attempting to connect to a LAN instrument. The default value is 5000 milliseconds. A value of 0 (zero) means there is no timeout and the PC will wait forever.

LAN Maximum Timeout

The actual timeout value, in seconds, used when a test program specifies a timeout value of infinity. The default value is 120 seconds.

Client Delta Timeout

The number of additional seconds the client will add to the LAN maximum timeout value before timing out. The client should wait somewhat longer than the Remote IO Server before timing out, to allow for the time the client takes to communicate with the server. The default value is 5000 milliseconds.

Log LAN Connection Errors

When this check box is selected, LAN connection error information is logged to your Windows Event Log. You can view the Windows Event Log using the Windows Event Viewer (click the IO Control icon followed by Utilities > Event Viewer). The default setting is enabled (selected). When this check box is cleared, LAN connection errors are not logged.

Saving the Configuration

The OK button is enabled if you have made changes to the information in this view. When you have finished entering the information, click OK to save the configuration or Cancel to revert to default values.