Remote Control Basics
R&S
®
SMC100A
168
Operating Manual 1411.4060.32 ─ 04
●
LAN device name
is the computer name of the control device (alternative to IP
address)
●
INSTR
indicates that the VXI-11 protocol is used
Example:
Instrument has the IP address
192.1.2.3
; the valid resource string is:
TCPIP::192.1.2.3::INSTR
Computer name is
RSSM1
; the valid resource string is:
TCPIP::RSSM1::INSTR
Identifying instruments in a network
If several instruments are connected to the network, each instrument has its own IP
address and associated resource string. The controller identifies these instruments by
means of the resource string.
6.1.3.1
VXI-11 Protocol
The VXI-11 standard is based on the ONC RPC (Open Network Computing Remote
Procedure Call) protocol which in turn relies on TCP/IP as the network/transport layer.
The TCP/IP network protocol and the associated network services are preconfigured.
TCP/IP ensures connection-oriented communication, where the order of the exchanged
messages is adhered to and interrupted links are identified. With this protocol, messages
cannot be lost.
6.1.3.2
Socket Communication
An alternative way for remote control of the software is to establish a simple network
communication using sockets. The socket communication, also referred as “Raw Ether-
net communication”, does not necessary require a VISA installation on the remote con-
troller side.
The simplest way to establish socket communication is to use the built-in telnet program.
The telnet program is part of every operating system and supports a communication with
the software on a command-by-command basis. For better utilization and to enable auto-
mation by means of programs, user defined sockets can be programmed.
Socket connections are established on a specially defined port. The socket address is a
combination of the IP address or the host name of the instrument and the number of the
port configured for remote-control. All R&S Signal Generator use port number 5025 for
this purpose. The port is configured for communication on a command-to-command basis
and for remote control from a program.
6.1.3.3
LAN Interface Messages
In the LAN connection, the interface messages are called low–level control messages.
These messages can be used to emulate interface messages of the GPIB bus.
Remote Control Interfaces and Protocols
