Configure Connection in VISA Explorer

R2026b

Identify the instrument that you want to connect to using VISA by specifying the Interface and Resource Name.

  1. Select the VISA interface that you want to use to connect to your instrument. Possible options for Interface are TCP/IP VXI-11, TCP/IP HiSLIP, TCP/IP Socket, USB, GPIB, Serial, VXI, and PXI.

  2. If you are using the TCP/IP VXI-11, TCP/IP HiSLIP, or TCP/IP Socket interface:

    • You can click the Generate Resource Name button to generate your instrument's resource name. Specify parameters, including the instrument's board index, host name or IP address, port, and device ID, to automatically generate its resource name. You can also check if the generated resource name is valid by creating a test connection to it.

    • After you generate the resource name and successfully create a test connection, the Resource Name field is automatically filled out. For more information on the format of resource names for different interfaces, refer to the tables below.

    If you are using the USB, GPIB, Serial, VXI, or PXI interface:

    • You can find the resource name in your VISA vendor's configuration utility, such as Keysight® Connection Expert or NI™ MAX. Your instrument must be listed in the vendor's configuration utility to be able to connect to it from VISA Explorer.

    • Specify the Resource Name as the value in your VISA vendor's configuration utility. For more information on the format of resource names for different interfaces, refer to the following tables.

    • Click the Test Connection button to attempt a connection to the specified resource name. The Connection Status displays Successful or Failed. You can view the instrument model and vendor if the test is successful and your instrument provides this information.

  3. To start communicating with your instrument, click Confirm Parameters. If the connection is successful, your VISA resource appears in the Device List.

  4. Go back to device selection at any time by clicking Cancel.

VISA Resource Name Formats

Each VISA interface has a different format, as described in the following table. The VISA resource name format and its parameters are defined by VISA standard specifications. Replace the italicized text with values for the specified parameters. The parameters in brackets are optional.

Interface

Resource Name

TCP/IP VXI-11 and TCP/IP HiSLIPTCPIP[board]::remote_host[::lan_device_name]::INSTR
TCP/IP Socket

TCPIP[board]::remote_host::port::SOCKET

USBUSB[board]::vendor_ID::product_ID::serial_number[::interface_number]::INSTR
GPIBGPIB[board]::primary_address[::secondary_address]::INSTR
SerialASRL[port_number]::INSTR
VXIVXI[chassis]::VXI_logical_address::INSTR
PXI

PXI[bus]::device[::function][::INSTR]

PXI[bus]::CHASSISchassis::SLOTslot[::FUNCfunction][::INSTR]

The resource name parameters are defined as follows.

Interface

Parameter

Definition

All

board

Board index (default value of 0)

TCP/IP VXI-11 and TCP/IP HiSLIP

remote_host

Remote host name or IP address of the instrument

lan_device_name

Local Area Network (LAN) device name (default value of inst0)

port

Remote host port for TCP/IP socket
USB

vendor_ID

Manufacturer ID of the USB instrument

product_ID

Model code for the USB instrument

serial_number

Index of the instrument on the USB hub

interface_number

USB interface

GPIB

primary_address

Primary address of the GPIB instrument

secondary_address

Secondary address of the GPIB instrument (default value of 0)

Serial

port_number

Serial port number (default value of 1)

VXI and PXI

chassis

VXI or PXI chassis index (default value of 0 for VXI)

VXI_logical_address

Logical address of the VXI instrument

bus

PCI bus number

device

PCI device number

function

PCI function number (default value of 0)

slot

Slot number