Series 3700A System Switch/Multimeter Reference Manual
Section 2: Installation
3700AS-901-01 Rev. D/June 2018
2-21
Interchangeable Virtual Instruments (IVI) style drivers
The major problem with VXIPnP drivers was that the API was not specific to the instrument. For
something as standard as measuring DC volts on a digital multimeter (DMM), it would be a good idea
if there were a set of standard functions to do this.
) defined a set of application programming interfaces
(APIs) for the following instruments: DMM, function generator, DC power supply, scope, switch,
spectrum analyzer, RF signal generator and power meter. They are currently working on class APIs
for some other instrument types.
There are two types of IVI drivers: IVI-COM drivers use Microsoft
®
COM technology to expose driver
functionality, while IVI-C drivers use conventional Microsoft
®
Windows
®
DLLs to export simple C-
based functions.
For more information about IVI drivers and the differences between the COM, C, and .NET interfaces,
see
Understanding the Benefits of IVI
http://www.ivifoundation.org/docs/Understanding%20the%20Benefits%20of%20IVI[3].pdf
NI CVI runtime engine
IVI-C drivers that are created using National Instruments (NI
TM
) LabWindows/CVI environment
depend on either the CVI runtime (cvirte.dll), or the instrument support run-time (instrsup.dll), and
must be present on the system for them to run.
NI IVI Compliance Package
The National Instruments (NI
TM
) IVI Compliance Package is a software package that contains IVI
class drivers and support libraries that are needed for the development and use of applications that
leverage IVI instrument interchangeability. The IVI Compliance Package also is based on and is
compliant with the latest version of the instrument programming specifications defined by the IVI
Foundation.
The NI ICP installer installs the IVI shared components, CVI runtime engine, and the instrument
support runtime engine.
Keithley I/O layer
The Keithley I/O Layer (KIOL) is a software package that contains several utilities and drivers. It is
mainly used as a supplement to IVI drivers or application software like Test Script Builder (TSB).
The KIOL contains:
•
NI-VISA
TM
Runtime-Time Engine
•
Keithley Configuration Panel
•
Keithley Communicator
For additional detail on the Keithley I/O layer, including computer requirements, see the
