Appendix I
Common Questions
© National Instruments Corporation
I-3
VXIpc-486 Model 500 Series
If I boot the computer without video, and then plug in the video, why it is in black and
white?
When the computer first boots, the video chips try to synchronize with the monitor. If the
monitor is not there, the video chips cannot synchronize and establish color. You need to have
the monitor attached at boot time to get color.
How do I connect a SCSI device to the VXIpc-486?
You need to install an ISA bus SCSI board in one of the ISA bus slots of the VXIpc-486. This
means that you must have a two-slot VXIpc-486 and that one of the slots must be available.
Also, check to see if your VXIpc-486 has two PC-height (<4.2 in.) slots or one PC-height and
one AT-height (<4.8 in.) slot. Make sure that the SCSI board can fit in the slot, given the height
restrictions. For proper installation, you must remove the AT bracket mounted on the board.
Refer to Appendix F, VXIpc-486 Plug-in Boards, for more information.
National Instruments offers two SCSI interface options that you can consider when ordering a
VXIpc-486. You can order part number 920100-13 for a SCSI adapter without BIOS if you do
not intend to boot from an external SCSI hard drive. You can order part number 920100-14 for a
SCSI adapter with BIOS if you do want to boot from an external SCSI hard drive. These SCSI
boards are 16-bit and use programmed I/O for data transfers. They are not SCSI-2 compatible
boards.
When you configure the SCSI board base I/O address, memory address, interrupt levels, and
DMA channels, make sure that the settings do not conflict with those already used by the
VXIpc-486. For more information about the VXIpc-486 settings, refer to Appendix G,
VXIpc-486 Hardware Configuration.
How do I connect the VXIpc-486 to a network?
You will need to install an ISA bus Ethernet board in one of the ISA bus slots of the VXIpc-486.
This means that you must have a two-slot VXIpc-486 and that one of the slots must be available.
Also, check to see if your VXIpc-486 has two PC-height (<4.2 in.) slots or one PC-height and
one AT-height (<4.8 in.) slot. Make sure that the Ethernet board can fit in the slot, given the
height restrictions. For proper installation, you must remove the AT bracket mounted on the
board.
National Instruments offers two Ethernet interface options that you can consider when ordering a
VXIpc-486. You can order part number 920100-01 for an Ethernet adapter with a coaxial (BNC)
connector. You can order part number 920100-02 for an Ethernet adapter with a twisted pair
connector, which resembles a telephone jack. Both Ethernet boards also have generic Access
Unit Interface (AUI) connectors that can connect to other Ethernet media through third-party
Media Access Unit (MAU) boxes. These can be purchased from almost any Ethernet board
manufacturer.
When you configure the Ethernet board base I/O address, memory address, interrupt levels, and
DMA channels, make sure that the settings do not conflict with those already used by the
VXIpc-486. For more information about the VXIpc-486 settings, refer to Appendix G,
VXIpc-486 Hardware Configuration.
