©
National Instruments Corporation
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Introduction
This chapter lists what you need to get started and includes a brief
description of the USB-8486 hardware and the NI-FBUS software.
What You Need to Get Started
To install your NI-FBUS software, you need the following items:
❑
USB-8486 hardware
❑
Installation CD kit
❑
Windows installed on your computer
Hardware Description
The USB-8486 is a USB high-power bus-powered device that is
compatible with both USB 2.0 High-Speed and Full-Speed ports. The
USB-8486 is a F
OUNDATION
™
Fieldbus interface device which handles
communication between a USB-compatible computer and one or more
network-configurable devices that comply with the F
OUNDATION
™
Fieldbus
H1 specification. The USB-8486 uses an embedded processor to integrate
F
OUNDATION
™
Fieldbus H1 Stack and supports the F
OUNDATION
™
Fieldbus
transfer rate of 31.25 kb/s.
Software Description
Your kit includes either the NI-FBUS Communications Manager software
or the NI-FBUS Configurator software. Depending on the system you
purchase, you may receive both disks. If this is the case, use the NI-FBUS
Configurator software.
The NI-FBUS Communications Manager software is used by the interface
boards to communicate over the bus. Additionally, it provides a high-level
API advanced users can use to interface with the National Instruments
F
OUNDATION
™
Fieldbus communication stack and hardware.