Chapter 2
Installing and Configuring the Device
2-2
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6.
Insert the AT E Series device into an EISA or 16-bit ISA slot. It may
be a tight fit, but
do not force
the device into place.
7.
Screw the mounting bracket of the AT E Series device to the back
panel rail of the computer.
8.
Visually verify the installation. Make sure the device is not touching
other devices or components and is fully inserted in the slot.
9.
Replace the cover.
10. Plug in and turn on the computer.
The AT E Series device is installed. You are now ready to install and
configure the software.
Configuring the Device
Due to the DAQ-PnP features, the AT E Series devices are completely
software configurable. Two types of configuration must be performed
on the AT E Series devices—bus-related configuration and data
acquisition-related configuration. Bus-related configuration includes
setting the base I/O address, DMA channels, and interrupt channels. Data
acquisition-related configuration, explained in Chapter 3,
, includes such settings as AI polarity and range, AO reference
source, and other settings. For more information about data
acquisition-related configuration, refer to the NI-DAQ user manual.
Bus Interface
The AT E Series devices work in either a Plug and Play mode or a
switchless mode. These modes dictate how the base I/O address, DMA
channels, and interrupt channels are determined and assigned to the device.
Plug and Play
The AT E Series devices are fully compatible with the industry-standard
Plug and Play ISA specification. A Plug and Play system arbitrates and
assigns resources through software, freeing you from manually setting
switches and jumpers. These resources include the device base I/O address,
DMA channels, and interrupt channels. Each AT E Series device is
configured at the factory to request these resources from the Plug and Play
Configuration Manager.
The Configuration Manager receives all of the resource requests at start up,
compares the available resources to those requested, and assigns the
available resources as efficiently as possible to the Plug and Play devices.