National Instruments Network Card NI PXI 8108 User Manual

PXI  
NI PXI-8108 User Manual  
NI PXI-8108 User Manual  
September 2008  
372561B-01  
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Important Information  
Warranty  
The NI PXI-8108 is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of shipment, as evidenced  
by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to be defective during the  
warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.  
The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects in  
materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments  
will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instructions if National Instruments receives notice of such defects  
during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be uninterrupted or error free.  
A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before any  
equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are covered by  
warranty.  
National Instruments believes that the information in this document is accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical accuracy. In  
the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National Instruments reserves the right to make changes to subsequent editions of this document  
without prior notice to holders of this edition. The reader should consult National Instruments if errors are suspected. In no event shall National  
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For patents covering National Instruments products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software,  
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WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS  
(1) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS AND TESTING FOR A LEVEL OF  
RELIABILITY SUITABLE FOR USE IN OR IN CONNECTION WITH SURGICAL IMPLANTS OR AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN  
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About This Manual  
How to Use the Documentation Set...............................................................................ix  
Chapter 1  
Benefits of PXI ..............................................................................................................1-1  
NI PXI-8108 ..................................................................................................................1-2  
Functional Overview .......................................................................................1-2  
Chapter 2  
Boot Setup Menu.............................................................................................2-12  
Boot Settings Configuration Submenu .............................................2-13  
Hard Drive BBS Priorities Submenu ................................................2-13  
CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities Submenu...............................2-13  
Floppy Drive BBS Priorities Submenu.............................................2-14  
Network Device BBS Priorities Submenu........................................2-14  
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Contents  
Hard Drive Recovery..................................................................................................... 2-24  
Installing an OS............................................................................................................. 2-25  
ExpressCard................................................................................................................... 2-25  
Chapter 3  
Universal Serial Bus........................................................................................ 3-9  
Trigger............................................................................................................. 3-10  
ExpressCard/34 Slot........................................................................................ 3-12  
Chapter 4  
General Questions ......................................................................................................... 4-1  
Boot Options.................................................................................................................. 4-1  
Cables and Connections ................................................................................................ 4-2  
Software Driver Installation .......................................................................................... 4-3  
Upgrade Information ..................................................................................................... 4-4  
PXI Configuration ......................................................................................................... 4-6  
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Contents  
Chapter 5  
Troubleshooting  
Appendix A  
Technical Support and Professional Services  
Glossary  
Index  
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About This Manual  
This manual contains detailed instructions for installing and configuring  
your National Instruments PXI-8108 embedded controller kit.  
Begin by reading the NI PXI-8108 Installation Guide, a brief quick-start  
guide that describes how to install and get started with your controller.  
This manual, the NI PXI-8108 User Manual, contains more details about  
changing the installation or configuration from the defaults and using the  
hardware.  
Conventions  
The following conventions appear in this manual:  
»
The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options  
to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to  
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options  
from the last dialog box.  
This icon denotes a tip, which alerts you to advisory information.  
This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.  
This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to  
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.  
bold  
Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such  
as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter  
names.  
italic  
Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction  
to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word  
or value that you must supply.  
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About This Manual  
monospace  
Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the  
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.  
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,  
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,  
variables, filenames, and extensions.  
monospace bold  
Bold text in this font denotes the messages and responses that the computer  
automatically prints to the screen. This font also emphasizes lines of code  
that are different from the other examples.  
Related Documentation  
The following documents contain information you may find helpful as you  
read this manual:  
PICMG 2.0 R3.0 CompactPCI Specification, PCI Industrial  
Computers Manufacturers Group  
IEEE Standard P1284.1-1997 (C/MM) Standard for Information  
Technology for Transport Independent Printer/System Interface  
PCI Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.3, PCI Special Interest Group  
PXI Hardware Specification, Revision 2.2, PXI Systems Alliance  
PXI Software Specification, Revision 2.1, PXI Systems Alliance  
Serialized IRQ Support for PCI Systems Specification, Revision 6.0,  
Compaq Computer et al.  
ExpressCard Standard, Release 1.0, PCMCIA  
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Specification, Revision 2.0  
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) Specification, Revision 1.0  
IEEE Std 488.1-2003, IEEE Standard for Higher Performance  
Protocol for the Standard Digital Interface for Programmable  
Instrumentation  
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1
Introduction  
Benefits of PXI  
The PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) industry standard, an open  
specification governed by the PXI Systems Alliance (PXISA), defines a  
compact modular PC platform for test, measurement, and control systems.  
Since PXI leverages the PCI bus, PXI users receive all the benefits of PCI  
within an architecture that supports mechanical, electrical, and software  
features tailored to industrial instrumentation, data acquisition, industrial  
automation, and control applications.  
Well-suited for industrial applications, PXI leverages from the  
CompactPCI specification, which defines a rugged form factor for PCI  
that offers superior mechanical integrity and easy installation and removal  
of hardware components. PXI products offer higher and more carefully  
defined levels of environmental performance required by the vibration,  
shock, temperature, and humidity extremes of industrial environments.  
PXI adds mandatory environmental testing and active cooling to the  
CompactPCI mechanical specification to ease system integration and  
ensure multivendor interoperability.  
Additionally, PXI meets the more specific needs of instrumentation users  
by adding an integrated trigger bus and reference clock for multiple-board  
synchronization, a star trigger bus for very precise timing, and local buses  
for side-band communication between adjacent peripherals.  
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Chapter 1  
Introduction  
NI PXI-8108  
Description  
The NI PXI-8108 PXI/CompactPCI embedded computer is a  
high-performance PXI/CompactPCI system controller. The NI PXI-8108  
controller integrates standard I/O features in a single unit by using  
state-of-the-art packaging. Combining an NI PXI-8108 embedded  
controller with a PXI-compatible chassis, such as the NI PXI-1042, results  
in a fully PC-compatible computer in a compact, rugged package.  
The NI PXI-8108 has an Intel® Core2 Duo processor T9400 (2.53 GHz  
dual core processor), all the standard I/O, and a 80 GB (or larger) hard  
drive. It also has a PCI-based GPIB controller and an ExpressCard/34  
expansion slot.  
The standard I/O on each module includes DVI-I (Digital Video Interface  
Integrated Analog/Digital) video, one RS-232 serial port, a parallel port,  
four Hi-Speed USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, a reset button, and a PXI  
trigger.  
Functional Overview  
This section contains functional descriptions of each major logic block on  
the NI PXI-8108 embedded computer.  
NI PXI-8108 Functional Description  
The NI PXI-8108 is a modular PC in a PXI 3U-size form factor. Figure 1-1  
is a functional block diagram of the NI PXI-8108. Following the diagram  
is a description of each logic block shown.  
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Chapter 1  
Introduction  
Socket 479  
CPU  
PCIe  
PCI  
PCIe-to-PCI  
Bridge  
Chipset  
Graphics  
Memory  
Controller  
Hub  
GPIB  
SO-DIMM  
DDR2 SDRAM  
PC2-6400  
Single CH  
DVI-I  
Connector  
Gigabit  
Ethernet  
DMI  
Flash ROM  
PXI  
Connector  
Chipset  
I/O  
Controller  
Hub  
4 Hi-Speed  
USB  
Connectors  
PCI Bus  
PXI  
Trigger  
SATA  
LPC Bus  
ExpressCard/34  
Slot  
SMB to  
PXI Trigger  
LPT 1  
Super I/O  
Watchdog  
Timer  
COM 1  
SMB  
Figure 1-1. NI PXI-8108 Block Diagram  
The NI PXI-8108 consists of the following logic blocks on the CPU  
module and the I/O module. The CPU module has the following logic  
blocks:  
Socket 479 CPU is the socket definition for the Intel® Core2 Duo  
processor T9400.  
The SO-DIMM block consists of one 64-bit DDR2 SDRAM socket  
that can hold up to 4 GB.  
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The Mobile Intel GM45 Express Chipset (Graphics and Memory  
Controller Hub) connects to the CPU, DDR2 SDRAM, DVI-I video,  
and GPIB.  
The SMB to PXI Trigger provides a routable connection of the  
PXI triggers to/from the SMB on the front panel.  
The Watchdog Timer block consists of a watchdog timer that can reset  
the controller or generate a trigger.  
The Chipset ICH9M (I/O Controller Hub) connects to the PCI, USB,  
SATA, LPC buses, and Ethernet.  
The USB Connectors are connected to the ICH9M chipset.  
The PXI Connector connects the NI PXI-8108 to the PXI/CompactPCI  
backplane.  
The Super I/O block represents the other peripherals supplied by the  
NI PXI-8108. The NI PXI-8108 has one serial port, and an ECP/EPP  
parallel port.  
The Gigabit Ethernet connects to either 10 Mbit, 100 Mbit, or  
1,000 Mbit Ethernet interfaces.  
The GPIB block contains the GPIB interface.  
The ExpressCard/34 slot accommodates an ExpressCard/34 module.  
The SATA block connects a Serial ATA hard drive to the ICH9M.  
National Instruments Software  
National Instruments has developed several software tools you can use with  
the NI PXI-8108.  
National Instruments’ hardware and software work together to help you  
make the most of your PXI system. The LabVIEW, Measurement Studio,  
and LabWindows/CVIapplication development environments combine  
with leading hardware drivers such as NI-DAQmx to provide exceptional  
control of NI hardware. Instrument drivers are available at ni.com/idnet  
to simplify communication with instruments over a variety of busses.  
LabVIEW is a powerful and easy-to-use graphical programming  
environment you can use to acquire data from thousands of different  
instruments including USB, IEEE 488.2, VXI, serial, PLCs, and plug-in  
boards. LabVIEW helps you convert acquired data into meaningful results  
using powerful data analysis routines. Add-on tools provide additional  
specialized functionality. For more information visit ni.com/labview  
and ni.com/toolkits.  
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Chapter 1  
Introduction  
If you prefer to use Microsoft’s Visual Basic, Visual C++, and  
Visual Studio .NET for the core of your application, Measurement Studio  
adds tools for Measurement and Automation to each language. For more  
information visit ni.com/mstudio.  
LabWindows/CVI is an interactive ANSI C programming environment  
designed for building virtual instrument applications. LabWindows/CVI  
delivers a drag-and-drop editor for building user interfaces, a complete  
ANSI C environment for building your test program logic, and a collection  
of automated code generation tools, as well as utilities for building  
automated test systems, monitoring applications, or laboratory  
experiments. For more information visit ni.com/lwcvi.  
NI-DAQmx provides an extensive library of functions that you can call  
from your application development environment or interactive environment  
such as NI Signal Express. These functions provide an intuitive API for  
National Instruments’ multifunction DAQ products. Features available  
include analog input (A/D conversion), buffered data acquisition  
(high-speed A/D conversion), analog output (D/A conversion), waveform  
generation, digital I/O, counter/timer operations, SCXI signal conditioning,  
RTSI or PXI synchronization, self-calibration, messaging, and acquiring  
data to extended memory. For more information visit ni.com/daq.  
National Instruments’ Modular Instruments use specialized drivers suited  
to each product’s specialization. Express VIs provide customized,  
interactive programming of instruments in a single interface and soft front  
panels provide an interface for testing the functionality of each instrument  
with no programming required. NI Switches, DMMs, High-Speed DIO,  
High-Speed Digitizers, and Sources each have customized drivers for  
high-end modular instrumentation systems. RF applications leverage  
two drivers, NI-RFSG and NI-RFSA and Dynamic Signal Acquisition is  
available through NI-DAQmx. For more information visit ni.com/  
modularinstruments.  
You can expand the timing and triggering functionality of your PXI system  
with PXI Timing and Synchronization products. These products provide  
precision clock sources, custom routing of triggers for multi-chassis  
synchronization, clock sharing, and more and are programmed with  
NI-Sync. For more information visit ni.com/pxi.  
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Chapter 1  
Introduction  
NI-VISA is the National Instruments implementation of the VISA  
specification. VISA is a uniform API for communicating and controlling  
USB, Serial, GPIB, PXI, VXI, and various other types of instruments. This  
API aids in the creation of portable applications and instrument drivers. For  
information on writing your own PXI instrument driver with NI-VISA,  
refer to the NI-VISA Getting Started Manual and the readme.txtfile in  
the NI-VISA directory. For more information visit ni.com/visa.  
With LabVIEW for Linux and support for over two hundred devices on  
Linux with the NI-DAQmx driver, you can now create Virtual Instruments  
based on the Linux OS. Instrument control in Linux has been improved by  
the NI-VISA driver for Linux and NI Modular Instruments are partially  
supported. For more information visit ni.com/linux.  
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2
Installation and Configuration  
This chapter contains information about installing and configuring your  
NI PXI-8108 controller.  
Installing the NI PXI-8108  
This section contains general installation instructions for the NI PXI-8108.  
Consult your PXI chassis user manual for specific instructions and  
warnings.  
1. Plug in your chassis before installing the NI PXI-8108. The power  
cord grounds the chassis and protects it from electrical damage while  
you install the module. (Make sure the power switch is turned off.)  
Caution To protect both yourself and the chassis from electrical hazards, leave the chassis  
powered off until you finish installing the NI PXI-8108 module.  
2. Remove any filler panels blocking access to the system controller slot  
(slot 1) in the chassis.  
3. Touch the metal part of the case to discharge any static electricity that  
might be on your clothes or body.  
4. Remove the protective plastic covers from the four bracket-retaining  
screws as shown in Figure 2-1.  
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Chapter 2  
Installation and Configuration  
1
1
Protective Screw Cap (4X)  
Figure 2-1. Removing Protective Screw Caps  
5. Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position.  
Align the NI PXI-8108 with the card guides on the top and bottom  
of the system controller slot.  
Caution Do not raise the injector/ejector handle as you insert the NI PXI-8108.  
The module will not insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so  
that it does not interfere with the injector rail on the chassis.  
6. Hold the handle as you slowly slide the module into the chassis until  
the handle catches on the injector/ejector rail.  
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Chapter 2  
Installation and Configuration  
7. Raise the injector/ejector handle until the module firmly seats  
into the backplane receptacle connectors. The front panel of the  
NI PXI-8108 should be even with the front panel of the chassis.  
8. Tighten the four bracket-retaining screws on the top and bottom of the  
front panel to secure the NI PXI-8108 to the chassis.  
9. Check the installation.  
10. Connect the keyboard and mouse to the appropriate connectors. If you  
are using a PS/2 keyboard and a PS/2 mouse, a Y-splitter adapter is  
available to connect both to a single USB connector. Refer to  
Figure 4-1, Y-Splitter Cable.  
11. Connect the DVI monitor video cable to the DVI connector. If you are  
using a VGA monitor, use the DVI-to-VGA adapter included with  
your kit.  
12. Connect devices to ports as required by your system configuration.  
13. Power on the display device.  
14. Power on the chassis.  
15. Verify that the controller boots. If the controller does not boot, refer  
to the What if the NI PXI-8108 does not boot? section of Chapter 5,  
Troubleshooting.  
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Chapter 2  
Installation and Configuration  
Figure 2-2 shows an NI PXI-8108 installed in the system controller slot of  
a National Instruments PXI-1042 chassis. You can place PXI devices in any  
other slots.  
1
2
3
1
PXI-1042 Chassis  
2
NI PXI-8108 Controller  
3
Injector/Ejector Rail  
Figure 2-2. NI PXI-8108 Controller Installed in a PXI Chassis  
How to Remove the Controller from the PXI Chassis  
The NI PXI-8108 controller is designed for easy handling. To remove the  
unit from the PXI chassis, complete the following steps:  
1. Power off the chassis.  
2. Remove any cables that may be attached to the controller front panel.  
3. Unscrew the bracket-retaining screws in the front panel. Refer to  
Figure 2-1 for the location of these screws.  
4. Press the injector/ejector handle down.  
5. Slide the unit out of the chassis.  
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Chapter 2  
Installation and Configuration  
BIOS Setup  
You can change the NI PXI-8108 configuration settings in the BIOS setup  
program. The BIOS is the low-level interface between the hardware and  
operating system software that configures and tests your hardware when  
you boot the system. The BIOS setup program includes menus for  
configuring settings and enabling NI PXI-8108 controller features.  
Most users do not need to use the BIOS setup program, as the NI PXI-8108  
controller ships with default settings that work well for most  
configurations.  
Caution Changing BIOS settings may lead to incorrect controller behavior and possibly  
an unbootable controller. If this happens, follow the instructions for restoring default  
settings in the System CMOS section. In general, do not change a setting unless you are  
absolutely certain what it does.  
Accessing BIOS Setup Utility  
Complete the following steps to start the BIOS setup program.  
1. Power on or reboot your NI PXI-8108 controller.  
2. When the message <DEL> = BIOS Setup Menuappears, press the  
<Del> key. The setup program loads after a short delay.  
The Main menu is displayed when you first enter the BIOS setup  
program.  
Use the following keys to navigate through the BIOS setup program:  
Left Arrow, Right Arrow—Use these keys to move between the  
different setup menus. If you are in a submenu, these keys have no  
effect, and you must press <Esc> to leave the submenu first. (To use  
the arrows on the numeric keypad, you must turn off Num Lock.)  
Up Arrow, Down Arrow—Use these keys to move between the  
options within a setup menu. (To use the arrows on the numeric  
keypad, you must turn off Num Lock.)  
<Enter>—Use this key either to enter a submenu or display all  
available settings for a highlighted configuration option.  
<Esc>—Use this key to return to the parent menu of a submenu.  
At the top-level menus, this key serves as a shortcut to the Exit menu.  
<+> and <–>—Use these keys to cycle between all available settings  
for a selected configuration option.  
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Installation and Configuration  
<Tab>—Use this key to select time and date fields.  
<F9>—Use this key to load the optimal default values for BIOS  
configuration settings. The optimal default values are the same as the  
shipping configuration default values.  
Main Setup Menu  
The most commonly accessed and modified BIOS settings are in the Main  
setup menu. The Main setup menu reports the following configuration  
information:  
BIOS Version and Build Date—These values indicate the version of  
the PXI-8108 controller BIOS and the date on which the BIOS was  
built.  
Processor Type, Speed, and Number of Cores—These values  
indicate the type of processor used in the PXI-8108 controller, the  
speed of the processor, and the number of processor cores.  
System Memory—This value indicates the size of system RAM  
detected by the BIOS.  
The Main setup menu also includes the following settings:  
System Time—This setting controls the time of day, which is stored  
in a battery-backed real-time clock. Most operating systems also  
include a way to change this setting. Use <+> and <–> in conjunction  
with <Enter> and <Tab> to change these values.  
System Date—This setting controls the date, which is stored in a  
battery-backed real-time clock. Most operating systems also include a  
way to change this setting. Use <+> and <–> in conjunction with  
<Enter> and <Tab> to change these values.  
Advanced Setup Menu  
This menu contains BIOS settings that normally do not require  
modification. If you have specific problems such as unbootable disks  
or resource conflicts, you may need to examine these settings.  
Caution Changing settings in this menu may result in an unstable or unbootable controller.  
If this happens, follow the procedures outlined in the System CMOS section to restore  
BIOS settings to their factory defaults.  
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The Advanced setup menu includes the following settings and submenus:  
SATA Configuration—Use this setting to access the SATA  
Configuration submenu. Refer to the SATA Configuration Submenu  
section for more information.  
CPU Configuration—Use this setting to access the CPU  
Configuration submenu. Refer to the CPU Configuration Submenu  
section for more information.  
Video Configuration—Use this setting to access the Video  
Configuration submenu. Refer to the Video Configuration Submenu  
section for more information.  
ExpressCard Configuration—Use this setting to access the  
ExpressCard Configuration submenu. Refer to the ExpressCard  
Configuration Submenu section for more information.  
USB Configuration—Use this setting to access the USB  
Configuration submenu. Refer to the USB Configuration Submenu  
section for more information.  
the Serial/Parallel Port Configuration submenu. Refer to the  
Serial/Parallel Port Configuration Submenu section for more  
information.  
Trigger Router Configuration—Use this setting to access the  
Trigger Router Configuration submenu. Refer to the Trigger Router  
Configuration Submenu section for more information.  
SATA Configuration Submenu  
Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to the hard disk drive (HDD)  
interfaces. Normally, you do not need to modify these settings, as the  
factory default settings provide the most compatible and optimal  
configuration possible.  
SATA Controller—This setting specifies whether or not the onboard  
SATA controller is enabled or disabled. The default value is Enabled.  
SATA Mode Selection—This setting determines whether AHCI  
mode is enabled or disabled for the SATA port. Some operating  
systems, such as Windows 2000, do not support AHCI mode. You  
can use this setting to disable AHCI mode so that non-compatible  
OSes function correctly. The default value is AHCI.  
Serial ATA Port 0—This item displays the onboard SATA drive  
detected in the system.  
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CPU Configuration Submenu  
Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to the CPU. Normally, you do  
not need to modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the  
most compatible and optimal configuration possible.  
Core Multi-Processing Controller—This setting specifies whether  
or not the second core of the processor is enabled or disabled. The  
default value is Enabled.  
CPU Virtualization—This setting determines whether the Intel VT-x  
virtualization support is enabled or disabled. A virtual machine  
monitor (VMM) can utilize the additional hardware capabilities  
provided by the VT-x processor extensions. The default value is  
Enabled.  
Processor Type, Speed, and Number of Cores—These values  
indicate the type of processor used in the NI PXI-8108 controller,  
the speed of the processor, and the number of processor cores.  
Video Configuration Submenu  
Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to the video configuration.  
Normally, you do not need to modify these settings, as the factory default  
settings provide the most compatible and optimal configuration possible.  
Primary Display—This setting specifies which video adapter the  
BIOS should use as the primary adapter if more than one is present. To  
use an external video adapter as the primary graphics adapter, choose  
Add-in PCI Video. The default value is Onboard Video.  
Total Graphics Memory—This setting specifies the amount of  
system memory to allocate as graphics memory for use by the onboard  
video device. The default value is 256 MB.  
DDC Routing—This setting determines how the monitor DDC is  
routed. Use this setting to select whether or not the DDC is routed for  
an analog monitor or a DVI monitor. In order to use a DVI monitor, this  
setting must be set to DVI. An analog monitor, however, will function  
with this option set to either Analog or DVI. The DDC communication  
path is only enabled when set to Analog for an analog monitor, so  
certain advanced features of your analog monitor may only be enabled  
when routing DDC to Analog. The default setting is DVI.  
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ExpressCard Configuration Submenu  
Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to the ExpressCard  
configuration. These settings determine how much memory space,  
I/O space, and PCI bus numbers will be pre-allocated for the  
ExpressCard port, allowing non-PCI Express-aware operating systems to  
support hot-plugging ExpressCard devices. Normally, you do not need to  
modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most  
compatible and optimal configuration possible.  
Reserved Buses—This setting determines the number of PCI buses  
that will be reserved by the BIOS for ExpressCard PCI-PCI bridges  
that may be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot. The default value for  
this setting is 8 PCI buses.  
Reserved Memory—This setting determines the amount of memory  
space, in bytes, that will be reserved by the BIOS for PCI-PCI bridges  
that may be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot. The default value for  
this setting is 32M bytes of memory.  
Reserved I/O—This setting determines the amount of I/O space, in  
bytes, that will be reserved by the BIOS for PCI-PCI bridges that may  
be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot. The default value for this  
setting is 4K bytes of I/O space.  
USB Configuration Submenu  
Use this submenu to apply alternate configurations to the USB ports.  
Normally, you do not need to modify these settings, as the factory default  
settings provide the most compatible and optimal configuration possible.  
USB Devices—This item lists the total number of devices detected in  
the system, categorized by device type.  
Legacy USB Support—This setting specifies whether or not legacy  
USB support is enabled. Legacy USB support refers to the ability to  
use a USB keyboard and mouse during system boot or in a legacy  
operating system such as DOS. The default value is Enabled.  
Note Certain real-time applications may require you to disable this setting to reduce loop  
time jitter. When the controller is configured to boot LabVIEW RT, legacy USB support is  
automatically disabled.  
Device Reset Delay—This setting specifies the number of seconds the  
Power-On Self Test will wait for a USB mass storage device to start.  
The default is 20 seconds.  
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In addition, the following option is available for each detected device if a  
USB mass storage device is present:  
Emulation Type—This setting specifies how the BIOS will present  
the USB mass storage device to the system. This option can be used to  
present a USB mass storage device as a floppy, Zip, hard disk, or  
CD-ROM drive. The default is Auto, which allows the BIOS to treat  
small USB flash disk drives as floppy drives and larger USB flash disk  
drives as hard disk drives.  
Serial/Parallel Port Configuration Submenu  
parallel ports. Normally, you do not need to modify these settings, as the  
factory default settings provide the most compatible and optimal  
configuration possible.  
Serial Port 0 Configuration—Use this setting to access the Serial  
Port 0 Configuration submenu. Refer to the Serial Port 0  
Configuration Submenu section for more information.  
Parallel Port Configuration—Use this setting to access the Parallel  
Port Configuration submenu. Refer to the Parallel Port  
Configuration Submenu section for more information.  
Serial Port 0 Configuration Submenu  
Serial Port—This setting enables or disables the onboard serial port.  
The default value is Enabled.  
Device Settings—This item displays the current base address and  
interrupt request level (IRQ) information for the onboard serial port.  
Change Settings—This setting changes the base address and interrupt  
request level (IRQ) information for the onboard serial port. The default  
value is Auto.  
Parallel Port Configuration Submenu  
Parallel Port—This setting enables or disables the onboard parallel  
port. The default value is Enabled.  
Device Settings—This item displays the current base address and  
interrupt request level (IRQ) information for the onboard parallel port.  
Device Mode—This settings enables alternate modes of operation for  
the parallel port. Usually the default setting works for all applications.  
The default is STD Printer Mode.  
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Change Settings—This setting changes the base address and interrupt  
request level (IRQ) information for the onboard parallel port. The  
default value is Auto. Note that the options available vary based upon  
the Device Mode selected for the parallel port.  
Trigger Router Configuration Submenu  
Use this submenu to program the front panel trigger router configuration.  
Normally, you do not need to modify these settings, as the factory default  
settings provide the most compatible and optimal configuration possible.  
Route Front Panel Trigger—This setting specifies how the front  
panel SMB trigger should be routed. The front panel trigger can be  
routed to System Reset, allowing an external trigger to reset the  
system. The default value is Disabled.  
Use this menu to configure boot options for LabVIEW RT if it is installed  
on the controller. If you are not using LabVIEW RT, you should leave these  
settings at default.  
Note The settings below override the behavior of the switches on SW1. Refer to the  
LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches section for more information. To use the settings  
from the switches, select Use Switch Setting for each option.  
Boot Configuration—This setting selects whether the controller  
should boot LabVIEW RT, LabVIEW RT Safe Mode, or an installed  
OS such as Windows XP. The default is Use Switch Setting.  
Reset IP Address—If the controller is deployed to a different subnet  
from which it was originally configured, or if the current IP address is  
invalid, use this switch to reset the IP address to 0.0.0.0during  
LabVIEW RT startup. The default is Use Switch Setting.  
Note Once the Reset IP switch is unset, the target will automatically attempt to connect to  
the network using DHCP. If the target is unable to initiate a DHCP connection, the target  
connects to the network with a link-local IP address.  
Disable Startup VI—If the controller becomes inaccessible because  
of a startup VI, this switch can prevent VIs from automatically running  
at startup. The default is Use Switch Setting.  
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Use this menu to configure settings related to the boot process and boot  
device priority.  
Boot Settings Configuration—Use this setting to access the Boot  
Settings Configuration submenu. Refer to the Boot Settings  
Configuration Submenu section for more information.  
SCSI Drive Boot—This setting specifies whether or not boot support  
is enabled for legacy mass storage devices, such as SCSI drives. When  
enabled, legacy mass storage controllers with boot support will be  
displayed in the Boot Option Priorities menu. The default value is  
Enabled.  
PXE Network Boot—This setting specifies whether or not the PXE  
network boot agent is enabled. When enabled, the Intel Boot Agent  
will be displayed in the Boot Option Priorities menu, allowing you to  
boot from a PXE server on the local subnet. Note that the Intel Boot  
Agent device is named IBA GE Slot 00c9 v1310 in the Boot Option  
Priorities menu. The system must be restarted for this setting to take  
effect. The default value is Disabled.  
Boot Option Priorities—These settings specify the order in which the  
BIOS checks for bootable devices, including the local hard disk drive,  
removable devices such as USB flash disk drives or USB CD-ROM  
drives, or the PXE network boot agent. The BIOS will first attempt to  
boot from the device associated with 1st Boot Device, followed by  
2nd Boot Device, and 3rd Boot Device. If multiple boot devices are  
not present, the BIOS setup utility will not display all of these  
configuration options. To select a boot device, press <Enter> on the  
desired configuration option and select a boot device from the resulting  
menu. You can also disable certain boot devices by selecting Disabled.  
Note Only one device of a given type will be shown in this list. If more than one device  
of the same type exists, use the Device BBS Priorities submenus to re-order the priority of  
devices of the same type.  
The following submenus will be displayed if one or more bootable devices  
of the corresponding type is present:  
Hard Drive BBS Priorities—Use this setting to access the Hard  
Drive BBS Priorities submenu to re-order or disable bootable hard  
drive devices. Refer to the Hard Drive BBS Priorities Submenu section  
for more information.  
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CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities—Use this setting to access the  
CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities submenu to re-order or disable  
bootable CD/DVD ROM drive devices. Refer to the CD/DVD ROM  
Drive BBS Priorities Submenu section for more information.  
Floppy Drive BBS Priorities—Use this setting to access the Floppy  
Drive BBS Priorities submenu to re-order or disable bootable floppy  
drive devices. Refer to the Floppy Drive BBS Priorities Submenu  
section for more information.  
Network Device BBS Priorities—Use this setting to access the  
Network Device BBS Priorities submenu to re-order or disable  
bootable network devices. Refer to the Network Device BBS Priorities  
Submenu section for more information.  
Boot Settings Configuration Submenu  
Use this submenu to apply alternate configurations to boot settings.  
Normally, you do not need to modify these settings, as the factory default  
settings provide the most compatible and optimal configuration.  
Quiet Boot—This setting enables or disables the splash screen during  
the boot process. The default value is Enabled.  
Setup Prompt Timeout—This setting specifies the number of  
seconds the system will wait for a BIOS Setup menu keypress  
(the <Del> key). The default value is 1 second.  
Bootup NumLock State—This setting specifies the power-on state of  
the keyboard NumLock setting. The default value is On.  
Hard Drive BBS Priorities Submenu  
Boot Option #1, Boot Option #2, Boot Option #3—These settings  
specify the boot priority of hard drive devices. The highest priority  
device is displayed on the main Boot Option Priorities list.  
Optionally, each device can also be Disabled if the device should never  
be used as a boot device.  
CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities Submenu  
Boot Option #1, Boot Option #2, Boot Option #3—These settings  
specify the boot priority of CD/DVD ROM drive devices. The highest  
priority device is displayed on the main Boot Option Priorities list.  
Optionally, each device can also be Disabled if the device should never  
be used as a boot device.  
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Floppy Drive BBS Priorities Submenu  
Boot Option #1, Boot Option #2, Boot Option #3—These settings  
specify the boot priority of floppy drive devices. The highest priority  
device is displayed on the main Boot Option Priorities list.  
Optionally, each device can also be Disabled if the device should never  
be used as a boot device.  
Network Device BBS Priorities Submenu  
Boot Option #1, Boot Option #2, Boot Option #3—These settings  
specify the boot priority of network devices. The highest priority  
device is displayed on the main Boot Option Priorities list.  
Optionally, each device can also be Disabled if the device should never  
be used as a boot device.  
Security Menu  
Use this menu to enable BIOS security options.  
Setup Administrator Password—This setting specifies a password  
that must be entered to access the BIOS Setup Utility. If only the  
Administrator's password is set, then this only limits access to the  
BIOS setup program and is only asked for when entering the BIOS  
setup program. By default, no password is specified.  
User Password—This setting specifies a password that must be  
entered to access the BIOS Setup Utility or to boot the system. If only  
the User's password is set, then this is a power on password and must  
be entered to boot or enter the BIOS setup program. In the BIOS setup  
program, the User will have Administrator rights. By default, no  
password is specified.  
Save & Exit Menu  
The Save & Exit setup menu includes all available options for exiting,  
saving, and loading the BIOS default configuration. As an alternative to  
this screen, press <F9> to load optimal BIOS default settings and <F10> to  
save changes and exit setup.  
The Exit setup menu includes the following settings:  
Save Changes and Reset—Any changes made to BIOS settings are  
stored in NVRAM. The setup program then exits and reboots the  
controller. The <F10> key can also be used to select this option.  
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Discard Changes and Reset—Any changes made to BIOS settings  
during this session of the BIOS setup program are discarded. The setup  
program then exits and reboots the controller. The <Esc> key can also  
be used to select this option.  
Save Changes—Changes made to BIOS settings during this session  
are committed to NVRAM. The setup program remains active,  
allowing further changes.  
Discard Changes—Any changes made to BIOS settings during this  
session of the BIOS setup program are discarded. The BIOS setup  
continues to be active.  
Restore Factory Defaults—This option restores all BIOS settings to  
the factory default. This option is useful if the controller exhibits  
unpredictable behavior due to an incorrect or inappropriate BIOS  
setting. Notice that any nondefault settings such as boot order,  
passwords, and so on, are also restored to their factory defaults. The  
<F9> key can also be used to select this option.  
Save As User Defaults—This option saves a copy of the current BIOS  
settings as the User Defaults. This option is useful for preserving  
custom BIOS setup configurations.  
Restore User Defaults—This option restores all BIOS settings to the  
user defaults. This option is useful for restoring previously preserved  
custom BIOS setup configurations.  
Boot Override—This option lists all possible bootable devices and  
allows the user to override the Boot Option Priorities list for the  
current boot. If no changes have been made to the BIOS setup options,  
the system will continue booting to the selected device without first  
rebooting. If BIOS setup options have been changed and saved, a  
reboot will be required and the boot override selection will not be  
valid.  
System CMOS  
The NI PXI-8108 contains a backed-up memory used to store BIOS  
configuration information.  
Complete the following steps to clear the CMOS contents:  
1. Power off the chassis.  
2. Remove the controller from the chassis.  
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3. Press and hold down push-button switch SW2 for 2 to 3 seconds.  
The switch location is shown in Figure 2-3.  
4. Reinstall the controller in the chassis.  
1
1
Push-Button Switch SW2  
Figure 2-3. Clearing the CMOS Contents  
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LabVIEW RT Installation  
This section explains software installation and switch configuration for  
LabVIEW RT on your PXI controller.  
LabVIEW RT Software Installation  
The following section describes the necessary steps to get your PXI  
embedded controller setup to run LabVIEW Real-Time. In this section you  
will configure the boot mode of the controller, verify or change IP settings,  
and install LabVIEW Real-Time software.  
Complete the following steps to install the LabVIEW RT software.  
1. Boot the NI PXI embedded controller into the real-time operating  
system. Refer to the LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches section or  
the LabVIEW RT Options Setup Menu section in this manual to  
configure the controller for booting into LabVIEW RT.  
The PXI controller will automatically boot into LabVIEW RT Safe  
Mode when no software is installed. LabVIEW RT Safe Mode loads  
with the basic real-time operating system and will automatically  
attempt to connect to the network using DHCP. If DHCP is not  
available, it will then connect to the network with a link-local  
IP address.  
Tip You can connect a monitor to the desktop PC to display startup messages such as the  
IP address and MAC address.  
2. Open Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) on another  
computer in the same subnet and expand the Remote Systems branch.  
MAX lists the PXI controller as the model name of the controller  
followed by the MAC address (for example,  
NI-PXI-8108 00802f108562).  
3. Click on the appropriate PXI controller entry to access the Network  
Settings tab in the right pane view.  
4. (Optional) Enter a name for the RT target in the Name text box.  
5. Set the network configuration options of the RT target in the  
IP Settings section and click the Apply button.  
For information about configuring network settings, refer to the  
Configuring Network Settings book, accessible by browsing to  
MAX Remote Systems Help»LabVIEW Real-Time Target  
Configuration»Configuring Network Settings from the Contents  
tab of MAX Help.  
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Note When any IP or identification settings are changed, you will be prompted to reboot  
the controller for the changes to take effect. Click Yes to automatically reboot the RT  
target. You may also reboot the controller by right-clicking on the target name under  
Remote Systems and selecting Reboot.  
After rebooting the PXI controller it will appear in the Remote Systems  
category with the assigned name.  
Figure 2-4 shows the RT Series PXI target, PXI-8106, configured to  
automatically obtain an IP address from a DHCP server, as indicated in the  
IP Settings section of the figure.  
Figure 2-4. Configuring RT Target Network Settings  
6. Expand the PXI controller view in the Remote Systems branch and  
select Software.  
7. Click the Add/Remove Software button in the toolbar to launch the  
LabVIEW Real-Time Software Wizard.  
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8. Install the LabVIEW Real-Time software and device drivers that you  
require on the RT target. Refer to the NI Web site at ni.com/infoand  
enter the info code etspcfor the latest information about supported  
software.  
After installation of the software the controller will automatically reboot  
and you will now be able to program it using LabVIEW Real-Time.  
Note Refer to the RT Getting Started Guide available on your host computer for more  
information about setting up your RT target.  
LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches  
Use the LabVIEW RT configuration switches to configure LabVIEW RT  
if it is installed on the controller. If you are not using LabVIEW RT, these  
switches should remain in the OFF position. The controller reads these  
switches only after a system reset.  
Note You must reboot the controller for any changes to take place.  
The NI PXI-8108 controller includes the following LabVIEW RT  
configuration switches:  
Switch 1—Boot LabVIEW RT: Set this switch to ON to boot  
LabVIEW RT.  
Switch 2—Boot Safe Mode: Set this switch to ON to boot LabVIEW  
RT into safe mode to reconfigure TCP/IP settings and to download or  
update software from a host computer. This switch overrides the  
behavior of Switch 1. Booting the controller into safe mode does not  
start the embedded LabVIEW RT engine. After changing the settings  
or software, reboot the controller with this switch OFF to resume  
normal operation.  
Switch 3—Disable Startup VI: Set this switch to ON to prevent VIs  
from automatically running at startup if the controller becomes  
inaccessible because of a startup VI.  
Switch 4—Reset IP Address: Set this switch to ON to reset the  
IP address to 0.0.0.0and other TCP/IP settings to their defaults.  
Use this switch if moving the controller to a different subnet or if the  
current TCP/IP settings are valid.  
Note Once the Reset IP switch is unset, the target will automatically attempt to connect to  
the network using DHCP. If the target is unable to initiate a DHCP connection, the target  
connects to the network with a link-local IP address.  
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Figure 2-5 shows the location of the LabVIEW RT configuration switches.  
The switches are shown in the OFF position.  
4
3
2
1
1
2
Switch 1—Boot LabVIEW RT  
Switch 2—Boot Safe Mode  
3
4
Switch 3—Disable Startup VI  
Switch 4—Reset IP Address  
Figure 2-5. LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches  
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Drivers and Software  
Files and Directories Installed on Your Hard Drive  
Your hard drive includes a directory called imagesin its root that  
contains software and soft copies of manuals for the installed devices. The  
directory structure under the imagesdirectory is logically organized into  
several levels.  
In the imagesdirectory, you will find a manualsdirectory,  
an osdirectory, and a driversdirectory.  
The manualsdirectory contains quick reference guides, technical  
reference manuals, and National Instruments software manuals, all in  
Adobe Acrobat format. To access any manual, change your directory to  
c:\images\manualsand list the contents of that directory. You will see  
several files, one corresponding to each device.  
The osdirectory contains a subdirectory corresponding to the operating  
system installed on your controller.  
The rest of the directories correspond to each device in your controller.  
Within each of these directories are the drivers for the devices. These files  
and directories are copied exactly from the manufacturer distribution disks,  
so the naming conventions vary from device to device.  
PXI Features  
PXI Trigger Connectivity  
The SMB connector on the NI PXI-8108 front panel can connect to or from  
any PXI backplane trigger line. A trigger allocation process is needed to  
prevent two resources from connecting to the same trigger line, resulting in  
the trigger being double-driven and possibly damaging the hardware. At  
the time of this manual’s publication, this software is not yet available for  
Windows. Contact National Instruments for more information.  
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Chassis Configuration  
Configuration of the PXI system is handled through Measurement &  
Automation Explorer (MAX), included with the software pre-installed  
on your controller. MAX creates the pxisys.inifile, which defines  
the layout and parameters of your PXI system.  
The configuration steps for single or multiple-chassis systems are the same.  
An example of a multichassis configuration is shown in Figure 2-6.  
Figure 2-6. Multichassis Configuration in MAX  
Basic PXI System Configuration  
1. Launch MAX.  
2. In the Configuration tree, click the Devices and Interfaces branch to  
expand it.  
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3. If the PXI system controller has not yet been configured, it is labeled  
PXI System (Unidentified). Right-click this entry to display the  
pop-up menu, then select the appropriate controller model from the  
Identify As submenu.  
4. Click the PXI System controller. The chassis (or multiple chassis, in a  
multichassis configuration) is listed below it. Identify each chassis by  
right-clicking its entry, then selecting the appropriate chassis model  
through the Identify As submenu. Further expanding the PXI System  
branch shows all devices in the system that can be recognized by  
NI-VISA. When your controller and all your chassis are identified,  
a pxisys.inifile is generated.  
Device drivers and other utility software read the pxisys.inifile to  
obtain system information. For detailed information about initialization  
files, refer to the PXI specification at www.pxisa.org.  
Upgrading RAM  
You can change the amount of installed RAM on the NI PXI-8108 by  
upgrading the SO-DIMM.  
National Instruments offers the following types of SO-DIMMs for use with  
the NI PXI-8108 controller.  
PC2-6400 1 GB, 128 MB × 64, 1.18 in. max  
PC2-6400 2 GB, 256 MB × 64, 1.18 in. max  
Note National Instruments has tested and verified that the DDR2 SO-DIMMs we sell  
work with the NI PXI-8108. We recommend you purchase your DDR2 SO-DIMM  
modules from National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf DDR2 SO-DIMM modules  
are not guaranteed to work properly.  
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Chapter 2  
Installation and Configuration  
1
2
1
DDR2 SO-DIMM Module  
2
DDR2 SO-DIMM Socket  
Figure 2-7. Installing a DDR2 SO-DIMM in an NI PXI-8108 Controller  
Hard Drive Recovery  
The NI PXI-8108 controller ships with an OS Recovery CD that allows you  
to reinstall your operating system onto your hard drive through an external  
CD-ROM such as a USB CD-ROM drive. Boot the PXI controller using the  
OS re-installation CD to recover the OS. You also may need to reinstall  
other software after using the CD to recover the OS. For more information  
on these tools refer to KnowledgeBase 2ZKC02OK at ni.com/support.  
Note Recovering the OS erases the contents of your hard disk. Back up any files you want  
to keep.  
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Chapter 2  
Installation and Configuration  
Installing an OS  
NI PXI-8108 controllers include a pre-installed OS. In some cases, you  
may want to install a different OS. When doing so, consider the following  
guidelines.  
Installing from a CD-ROM  
The NI PXI-8108 supports the installation of Windows XP and Vista from  
a USB CD-ROM.  
As an alternative to a USB CD-ROM drive, you can use an external SCSI  
CD-ROM with a PXI-SCSI adapter.  
Note For additional assistance with installing or changing an operating system, refer to  
KnowledgeBase 2ZKC02OK at ni.com/support.  
ExpressCard  
This section provides information on the installation and removal of  
ExpressCard modules.  
Installing an ExpressCard  
You can install an ExpressCard module while the NI PXI-8108 is running.  
The NI PXI-8108 will automatically detect the card. ExpressCards are  
generally marked with a symbol or a label to indicate which end to insert  
into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion.  
To install an ExpressCard, complete the following steps.  
1. Hold the card so the top side is facing left.  
2. Insert the card until it is completely seated in its connector. The  
connector has an automatic eject mechanism. If you insert the card and  
it is ejected, simply re-insert the card until it is seated.  
If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card  
orientation and try again.  
The PXI-8108 will automatically recognize the ExpressCard and load the  
appropriate driver(s). Third-party cards may require that you install  
additional drivers. Contact your ExpressCard vendor for more information.  
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Chapter 2  
Installation and Configuration  
Removing an ExpressCard  
To remove the ExpressCard module push in the module and then release to  
eject the card. Slide the card out of the slot.  
Caution To avoid data loss and other potential issues, stop communication with your  
ExpressCard device before removing it from the PXI-8108. In Windows, use the Safely  
Remove Hardware tool to safely stop the ExpressCard.  
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3
I/O Information  
Front Panel Connectors  
Table 3-1 lists various I/O interfaces and their corresponding NI PXI-8108  
external connectors, bus interfaces, and functions.  
Table 3-1. NI PXI-8108 I/O Overview  
I/O Interface  
External Connector  
DVI-I  
Description  
Video  
Intel Extreme Graphics  
controller  
(24-pin DSUB)  
Serial  
COM1  
16550 RS-232 serial port  
(9-pin DSUB)  
Ethernet  
Parallel  
LAN  
(RJ45)  
10/100/1000 Ethernet  
connection  
Parallel Port  
IEEE 1284  
(36-pin champ)  
USB (four ports)  
PXI trigger  
USB 4-pin Series A stacked  
receptacle  
Hi-Speed USB  
Trigger  
(SMB)  
Routing PXI triggers to or  
from the backplane trigger bus  
GPIB Controller  
ExpressCard/34 module  
GPIB  
(25-pin Micro D)  
General-Purpose Interface  
Bus, IEEE 488.1  
ExpressCard/34 slot  
ExpressCard/34 Expansion  
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Chapter 3  
I/O Information  
Front Panel  
Figure 3-1 shows the front panel layout and dimensions of the  
NI PXI-8108. Dimensions are in inches [millimeters].  
4.393 [111.58]  
3.748 [95.2]  
3.551 [90.2]  
3.494 [88.76]  
3.022 [76.76]  
2.063 [52.4]  
1.804 [45.82]  
1.516 [38.51]  
1.069 [27.15]  
NI PXI-8108  
Embedded Controller  
.000 [0]  
Figure 3-1. NI PXI-8108 Front Panel Layout and Dimensions  
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I/O Information  
DVI-I  
Figure 3-2 shows the location and pinouts for the DVI-I connector on the  
NI PXI-8108. Table 3-2 lists and describes the DVI-I connector signals.  
C4  
C2  
C5  
C3  
24  
C1  
8
1
17  
NI PXI-8108  
9
Embedded Controller  
Figure 3-2. DVI-I Connector Location and Pinout  
Table 3-2. DVI-I Connector Signals  
Pin  
1
Signal Name  
TMDS Data2–  
2
TMDS Data2+  
3
TMDS Data2/4 Shield  
Reserved  
4
5
Reserved  
6
DDC Clock [SCL]  
DDC Data [SDA]  
Analog vertical sync  
TMDS Data1–  
7
8
9
10  
TMDS Data1+  
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Chapter 3  
I/O Information  
Table 3-2. DVI-I Connector Signals (Continued)  
Pin  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
C1  
C2  
C3  
C4  
C5  
Signal Name  
TMDS Data1/3 Shield  
Reserved  
Reserved  
+5 V Power  
Ground (for +5 V)  
Hot Plug Detect  
TMDS Data0–  
TMDSData0+  
TMDS Data0/5 Shield  
Reserved  
Reserved  
TMDS Clock Shield  
TMDS Clock+  
TMDS Clock–  
Analog Red  
Analog Green  
Analog Blue  
Analog Horizontal Sync  
Analog GND Return: (analog R, G, B)  
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COM1  
Figure 3-3 shows the location and pinouts for the COM1 connector on the  
NI PXI-8108. Table 3-3 lists and describes the COM1 connector signal.  
5
1
9
6
COM1  
NI PXI-8108  
Embedded Controller  
Figure 3-3. COM1 Connector Location and Pinout  
Table 3-3. COM1 Connector Signals  
Pin  
1
Signal Name  
DCD  
Signal Description  
Data Carrier Detect  
Receive Data  
2
RXD  
TXD  
DTR  
GND  
DSR  
RTS  
CTS  
RI  
3
Transmit Data  
Data Terminal Ready  
Ground  
4
5
6
Data Set Ready  
Ready to Send  
Clear to Send  
Ring Indicator  
7
8
9
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Chapter 3  
I/O Information  
Ethernet  
Figure 3-4 shows the location and pinouts for the Ethernet connector on the  
NI PXI-8108. Table 3-4 lists and describes the Ethernet connector signals.  
1
Ethernet  
8
NI PXI-8108  
Embedded Controller  
Figure 3-4. Ethernet Connector Location and Pinout  
Table 3-4. Ethernet Connector Signals  
Pin  
1
Fast Ethernet  
Gigabit Ethernet  
TX_A+  
TX+  
TX–  
RX+  
NC  
2
TX_A–  
RX_B+  
TX_C+  
TX_C–  
RX_B–  
RX_D+  
RX_D–  
3
4
5
NC  
6
RX–  
NC  
7
8
NC  
Note The Ethernet controller can perform automatic crossover, thus eliminating the need  
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I/O Information  
Table 3-5. 10/100/1000 LAN Connector LED States  
LED  
Color  
LED State  
Condition  
LAN link is not established.  
LAN link is established.  
Off  
Top  
Green  
On (steady state)  
On (brighter and pulsing)  
The controller is communicating with  
another computer on the LAN.  
Unlit  
Off  
On  
10 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.  
100 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.  
1000 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.  
Bottom  
Green  
Orange On  
Parallel Port  
Figure 3-5 shows the location and pinouts for the IEEE 1284 (parallel)  
connector on the NI PXI-8108. Table 3-6 lists and describes the IEEE 1284  
connector signals.  
Parallel port adapter cables are available from National Instruments,  
part number 777169-01.  
1
19  
Parallel Port  
36  
18  
NI PXI-8108  
Embedded Controller  
Figure 3-5. Parallel Port Connector Location and Pinout  
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Chapter 3  
I/O Information  
Table 3-6. Parallel Port Connector Signals  
Default Configuration (LPT)  
Pin  
1
Signal Name  
Signal Description  
BUSY  
SLCT  
ACK#  
Device Busy  
Select  
2
3
Acknowledge  
Fault  
4
FAULT#(ERROR#)  
PAPEREND  
PD0  
5
Paper End  
Data Bit 0  
Data Bit 1  
Data Bit 2  
Data Bit 3  
Data Bit 4  
Data Bit 5  
Data Bit 6  
Data Bit 7  
Initialize Printer  
Strobe  
6
7
PD1  
8
PD 2  
9
PD3  
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19–35  
36  
PD4  
PD5  
PD6  
PD7  
INIT#  
STROBE#  
SLCTIN#  
AUTOFD#  
+5V  
Select Input  
Auto Line Feed  
+5 V  
GND  
Ground  
NC  
Not Connected  
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I/O Information  
Universal Serial Bus  
Figure 3-6 shows the location and pinouts for the Universal Serial Bus  
(USB) connectors on the NI PXI-8108. Table 3-7 lists and describes the  
USB connector signals.  
Note Install a noise-suppression ferrite (included in your shipping kit) onto the external  
USB cable when using a USB mouse or keyboard to ensure that your device meets all EMC  
standards applicable to your country. For more information on installing the ferrite, refer  
to KnowledgeBase 4NEDT4P6 at ni.com.  
4
USB  
1
NI PXI-8108  
Embedded Controller  
Figure 3-6. USB Connector Location and Pinout  
Table 3-7. USB Connector Signals  
Pin  
1
Signal Name  
VCC  
Signal Description  
Cable Power (+5 V)  
2
D–  
USB Data –  
USB Data +  
Ground  
3
D+  
4
GND  
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Chapter 3  
I/O Information  
Trigger  
The TRG connector is the software-controlled trigger connection for  
routing PXI triggers to or from the backplane trigger bus.  
Figure 3-7 shows the TRG connector location on the NI PXI-8108.  
Table 3-8 lists and describes the trigger connector signals.  
2
1
NI PXI-8108  
Embedded Controller  
Figure 3-7. TRG Connector Location and Pinout  
Table 3-8. TRG Connector Signals  
Pin  
Signal Name  
TRIG  
Signal Description  
Trigger  
Ground  
1
2 (Shield)  
GND  
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Chapter 3  
I/O Information  
GPIB (IEEE 488.2)  
Figure 3-8 shows the location and pinouts for the GPIB connector on  
the NI PXI-8108. Table 3-9 lists and describes the GPIB connector signals.  
National Instruments provides a GPIB mating connector, part number  
183285-0R2.  
1
14  
GPIB  
25  
13  
NI PXI-8108  
Embedded Controller  
Figure 3-8. GPIB Connector Location and Pinout  
Table 3-9. GPIB Connector Signals  
Pin  
1
Signal Name  
DIO1#  
Signal Description  
Data Bit 1  
2
DIO2#  
DIO3#  
DIO4#  
EOI#  
Data Bit 2  
3
Data Bit 3  
4
Data Bit 4  
5
End or Identify  
Data Valid  
6
DAV#  
NRFD#  
NDAC#  
IFC#  
7
Not Ready for Data  
Not Data Accepted  
Interface Clear  
Service Request  
8
9
10  
SRQ#  
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Chapter 3  
I/O Information  
Table 3-9. GPIB Connector Signals (Continued)  
Signal Name Signal Description  
ATN#  
Pin  
11  
Attention  
12  
SHIELD  
DIO5#  
DIO6#  
DIO7#  
DIO8#  
REN#  
Chassis ground  
Data Bit 5  
13  
14  
Data Bit 6  
15  
Data Bit 7  
16  
Data Bit 8  
17  
Remote Enable  
Logic Ground  
18–25  
GND  
ExpressCard/34 Slot  
The NI PXI-8108 controller is equipped with an ExpressCard/34 slot on the  
front panel, which provides I/O expansion and options for removable  
storage, Ethernet, and a variety of other I/O.  
Figure 3-9 shows the location and pinouts for the ExpressCard/34 slot on  
the NI PXI-8108. Table 3-10 lists and describes the ExpressCard connector  
signals.  
26  
ExpressCard/34 Slot  
1
NI PXI-8108  
Embedded Controller  
Figure 3-9. ExpressCard/34 Slot Location and Pinout  
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Table 3-10. ExpressCard Connector Signals  
Pin  
1
Signal Name  
GND  
Signal Description  
Ground  
2
USBD–  
USBD+  
CPUSB#  
RESERVED  
RESERVED  
SMBCLK  
SMBDATA  
+1.5V  
USB Data –  
USB Data +  
USB Presence  
3
4
5
Reserved by spec for future use  
Reserved by spec for future use  
SMBus Clock  
SMBus Data  
Power  
6
7
8
9
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
26  
+1.5V  
Power  
WAKE#  
+3.3VAUX  
PERST#  
+3.3V  
PE Wake  
Power  
PE Reset  
Power  
+3.3V  
Power  
CLKREQ#  
CPPE#  
Clock Request  
PE Presence  
REFCLK–  
REFCLK+  
GND  
Reference Clock –  
Reference Clock +  
Ground  
PERn  
PE Data Receive –  
PE Data Receive +  
Ground  
PERp  
GND  
PETn  
PE Data Transmit –  
PE Data Transmit +  
Ground  
PETp  
GND  
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Chapter 3  
I/O Information  
Front Panel Features  
The NI PXI-8108 controller has the following front-panel features:  
A controller reset pushbutton (press the button to generate a reset to the  
controller)  
Two front panel LEDs that show PC status  
The POWER OK LED indicates the power status of the  
controller. The LED will indicate one of the following states:  
ON steady—PXI and onboard power is on and within  
regulation limits  
Blinking—One of the PXI or onboard supplies is operating  
outside of the normal limits, or is not functioning.  
OFF—The power to the controller is off.  
The DRIVE LED indicates when an access to the internal hard  
disk is occurring.  
Data Storage  
The NI PXI-8108 has the following data storage features:  
2.5 in. SATA notebook internal hard drive  
USB storage support—USB CD-ROM, mass storage device, or floppy  
drive  
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4
Common Configuration  
Questions  
This chapter answers common configuration questions you may have when  
using the NI PXI-8108 embedded controller.  
General Questions  
What do the LEDs on the NI PXI-8108 front panel mean?  
Refer to the LED status descriptions in the Front Panel Features section of  
Chapter 3, I/O Information.  
How do I check the configuration of the memory, hard drive,  
time/date, and so on?  
You can view these parameters in the BIOS setup. To enter the BIOS setup,  
reboot the NI PXI-8108 and press <Delete> during the memory tests. Refer  
to the Accessing BIOS Setup Utility section of Chapter 2, Installation and  
Configuration, for more information.  
Can I use the internal hard drive and an external hard drive at the  
same time?  
Yes.  
Boot Options  
What devices can I boot from?  
The NI PXI-8108 can boot from the following devices:  
The internal hard drive  
An external SCSI hard drive or CD-ROM if an SCSI adapter, such  
as the PXI-8214, is used  
A network PXE server on the same subnet  
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Chapter 4  
Common Configuration Questions  
An external USB mass storage device such as a USB hard drive or  
CD-ROM  
An external USB floppy drive  
Most PCI-based boards that provide an Option ROM  
Note There are some limitations when booting from a USB device. Windows XP  
can be installed from a USB CD-ROM, but earlier versions of Windows cannot. The  
NI PXI-8108 BIOS configures the USB devices so that they will work in a DOS  
environment.  
How do I configure the controller to boot from these devices?  
There are two methods.  
Enter Setup and select the Boot menu. You will see a list of all  
bootable devices, ordered by device type. You can set the boot order  
using <+> and <–>. Set the order by device type and set the order for  
the devices listed within the device type.  
To boot from a different device without permanently changing the  
boot order, press <F10> during POST. After the BIOS completes the  
POST and just before the controller boots the OS, the Boot menu is  
displayed. You can select the device type you want to boot from.  
Cables and Connections  
How do I plug both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard into the  
controller?  
The NI PXI-8108 has no PS/2 connector, and you need to use a USB  
Y-splitter cable as shown in Figure 4-1, or a similar device, to connect both  
a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard. National Instruments Part Number  
778713-01 is such a cable and is available through the online catalog  
at ni.com/products.  
Figure 4-1. Y-Splitter Cable  
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What if I don’t have a Y-splitter cable? Can I still use a mouse and  
keyboard?  
If you do not have a Y-splitter cable, plug a USB keyboard into any  
USB connector. You can also plug a USB mouse into any USB connector.  
How do I connect a standard 25-pin LPT cable to the  
NI PXI-8108?  
The NI PXI-8108 uses a type C LPT connector. Most parallel port  
devices use a type A connector. To use a device with a standard type A  
LPT connector, you need to use a type C-to-type-A LPT adapter. Parallel  
port adapter cables, part number 777169-01, are available through the  
online catalog at ni.com/products.  
How do I connect a VGA monitor to the NI PXI-8108?  
A VGA-to-DVI-I adapter (part number 762559-01) is included with your  
kit. You can use this adapter to connect a VGA monitor to the DVI-I port.  
Software Driver Installation  
How do I install or reinstall the video driver?  
Refer to KnowledgeBase 3H3COSD8 at ni.com support.  
How do I install or reinstall the Ethernet driver?  
Refer to KnowledgeBase 3H3COSD8 at ni.com support.  
How do I install or reinstall the GPIB driver?  
The NI-488.2 driver for your GPIB port is installed by default when your  
controller is first shipped from the factory. To change the default installed  
driver, complete the following steps:  
1. Download the latest GPIB driver from ni.com/downloads.  
2. Install the driver and verify that the driver has properly detected the  
GPIB driver in the Device Manager. If you need more assistance, refer  
to ni.com/support/install.  
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Chapter 4  
Common Configuration Questions  
How do I install software from a CD?  
The compact size of the NI PXI-8108 does not allow for an integrated  
CD-ROM drive. You have the following options:  
USB CD-ROMYou can install from a USB CD-ROM using a  
bootable installation CD.  
SCSI CD-ROM—Other types of CD-ROM drives are available.  
Check with the vendor to make sure Windows XP supports the drive.  
Mapped network driveYou can use the Ethernet to connect to  
another computer. If you share the CD-ROM drive on the other  
computer, you can map the shared CD-ROM drive to a drive letter  
on the NI PXI-8108.  
Upgrade Information  
How do I upgrade system memory?  
You can change the amount of installed RAM on the NI PXI-8108 by  
upgrading the DDR2 SO-DIMM.  
To upgrade the RAM, remove the NI PXI-8108 from the PXI chassis.  
National Instruments offers the following types of SO-DIMMs for use with  
the NI PXI-8108 controller.  
PC2-6400 1 GB, 128 MB × 64, 1.18 in. max  
PC2-6400 2 GB, 256 MB × 64, 1.18 in. max  
Note National Instruments has conducted thermal testing as well as mechanical shock and  
vibration testing, and has verified that the DDR2 SO-DIMMs we sell work with the  
NI PXI-8108. We recommend you purchase your DDR2 SO-DIMM modules from  
National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf DDR2 SO-DIMM modules are not guaranteed to  
work properly.  
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Common Configuration Questions  
1
2
1
DDR2 SO-DIMM Module  
2
DDR2 SO-DIMM Socket  
Figure 4-2. Installing a DDR2 SO-DIMM in an NI PXI-8108 Controller  
How do I flash a new BIOS?  
You can download the new BIOS from ftp.ni.com/support/pxi/.  
For more information, refer to KnowledgeBase 2GIGKD0Z.  
Where do I get the latest software drivers?  
The latest National Instruments software is available from ni.com/  
downloads. For peripheral drivers, refer to KnowledgeBase 3H3COSD8  
at ni.com.  
My NI PXI-8108 does not have an internal floppy drive. Is there a way  
to use an external drive?  
Yes. The NI PXI-8108 controller supports and can boot from USB floppy  
drives. A USB floppy drive will not work with Windows NT4, but will  
work with Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Refer to the Boot Options  
section for more information.  
A USB floppy drive is available from National Instruments, part number  
778492-02.  
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Chapter 4  
Common Configuration Questions  
PXI Configuration  
How do I use the SMB trigger on the front panel?  
For details, refer to the PXI Features section of Chapter 2, Installation and  
Configuration.  
Why doesn’t the NI PXI-8108 work with the PXI-8220 or PXI-8221?  
A serialized IRQ conflict with the PXI-8220/8221 and the NI PXI-8108  
prevents PC cards using ISA interrupts from working with the  
NI PXI-8108 controller. For more information, refer to KnowledgeBase  
2G3ED80Z at ni.com/support.  
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5
Troubleshooting  
This chapter answers common troubleshooting questions you may have  
when using the NI PXI-8108 embedded computer.  
What if the NI PXI-8108 does not boot?  
Several problems can cause a controller not to boot. Here are some things  
to look for and possible solutions.  
Things to Notice:  
Which LEDs come on? The Power OK LED should stay lit.  
The Drive LED should blink during boot as the disk is accessed.  
Was the display installed prior to power-on? What appears on the  
display? Does it hang at some particular point (BIOS, Operating  
System, and so on)? If nothing appears on the screen, try a different  
monitor. Does your monitor work with a different PC? If it hangs, note  
the last screen output that you saw for reference when consulting  
National Instruments technical support.  
What has changed about the system? Did you recently move the  
system? Was there electrical storm activity? Did you recently add  
a new module, memory chip, or piece of software?  
Things to Try:  
Make sure the chassis is plugged in to a working power source.  
Check any fuses or circuit breakers in the chassis or other power  
supply (possibly an uninterruptible power supply).  
Make sure the controller module is firmly seated in the chassis.  
Remove any nonessential cables or devices.  
Try the controller in a different chassis.  
Try a similar controller in this same chassis.  
Clear the CMOS. (Refer to the System CMOS section of Chapter 2,  
Installation and Configuration.)  
Recover the hard drive on the controller. (Refer to the Hard Drive  
Recovery section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration.)  
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Troubleshooting  
My controller boots fine until I get to Windows, at which point I cannot  
read the screen. This may include garbled output, white screen, black  
screen, or an out of synch message from the monitor.  
This problem usually results from having the video card output set past the  
limits of the monitor. You will need to boot Windows in Safe Mode. To do  
this, reboot the controller. As Windows begins to boot, hold down <F8>.  
You should now be able to reset the video driver to lower settings. Try  
setting the resolution to 640 × 480 and the refresh rate to 60 Hz. Once you  
reboot, you can raise these values again, using the test option in Windows.  
These settings are accessible through the Advanced tab of the Display item  
in the Control Panel. Alternately, you can try a different monitor,  
preferably a newer and larger one.  
If the system has been booted to Windows without a monitor attached, the  
driver may have defaulted to the video output connector being disabled.  
Press <Ctrl-Alt-F1> to re-enable the video display in Windows. Press  
<Ctrl-Alt-F4> to re-enable a DVI display. For more information, refer to  
KnowledgeBase 3OHCFRD8 at ni.com/support.  
My system boots fine as long as a particular module is not in my  
chassis.  
The most common cause of this is a damaged module. Try the module in a  
different chassis or with a different controller. Also, remove any external  
cables or terminal blocks connected to the system. If the module does not  
work in these cases, it is likely damaged. Contact the module manufacturer  
for further troubleshooting.  
Refer to the KnowledgeBase or product manuals section at ni.comfor  
more information specific to the chassis and controller with which you are  
having difficulties.  
My CMOS is corrupted. How do I set it back to default?  
1. Enter the BIOS setup program as described in the Accessing BIOS  
Setup Utility section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration.  
2. Check the battery utility.  
3. Press <F9> to load BIOS defaults.  
4. Answer Y (Yes) to the verification prompt.  
5. Select Save and Exit Setup.  
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Chapter 5  
Troubleshooting  
As an alternative method, complete the following steps:  
1. Power off the chassis.  
2. Remove the controller from the chassis.  
3. Press and hold down push-button switch SW2 for 2 to 3 seconds.  
The switch location is shown in Figure 5-1.  
4. Reinstall the controller in the chassis.  
1
1
Push-Button Switch SW2  
Figure 5-1. Clearing the CMOS Contents  
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A
Specifications  
This appendix lists the electrical, mechanical, and environmental  
specifications of the NI PXI-8108 embedded computer.  
Features  
NI PXI-8108  
CPU  
Intel® Core2 Duo processor  
T9400 (2.53 GHz dual core  
processor), 800 MHz FSB  
On-die L2 cache  
6 MB  
Dual-Channel DDR2 RAM,  
PC2 6400  
1 GB Standard  
4 GB Maximum  
Hard Drive  
80 GB Serial ATA, minimum  
Ethernet  
10/100/1000 BaseTX  
GPIB (IEEE 488 Controller)  
Serial Ports (RS-232)  
Parallel Port  
Yes  
Yes (1)  
Yes (1)  
Yes (4)  
Yes  
Hi-Speed USB (2.0) Ports  
ExpressCard/34 Slot  
PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Connector No  
PXI Trigger Bus Input/Output  
Installed Operating System  
Yes  
Windows XP Professional,  
Windows Vista Business  
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Appendix A  
Specifications  
Electrical  
Current (A)  
Maximum  
Voltage (V)  
Typical  
2 A  
+3.3  
3 A  
8 A  
.3 A  
0 A  
+5 (+5 VDC and +5 VIO)*  
6 A  
+12  
–12  
.1 A  
0 A  
* Does not include any attached USB devices or ExpressCard.  
Physical  
Board dimensions ...................................PXI 3U-size module  
8.1 cm × 13 cm × 21.6 cm  
(3.2 in. × 5.1 in. × 8.5 in.)  
Slot requirements....................................One system slot plus three  
controller expansion slots  
Compatibility..........................................Fully compatible with  
PXI specification  
Weight ....................................................0.914 kg (2.02 lb) typical  
Environment  
Maximum altitude...................................2,000 m (at 25 °C ambient  
temperature)  
Pollution Degree.....................................2  
Indoor use only.  
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Appendix A  
Specifications  
Operating Environment  
Ambient temperature1  
Base................................................. 5 to 50 °C2  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-1 and  
IEC-60068-2-2)  
Extended temperature ..................... 0 to 55 °C  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-1 and  
IEC-60068-2-2)  
Relative humidity............................ 10% to 90%, noncondensing  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-56.)  
Caution Clean the NI PXI-8108 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device  
is completely dry and free from contaminants before powering-on the controller again.  
Storage Environment  
Ambient temperature  
Base................................................. –40 to 65 °C  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-1 and  
IEC-60068-2-2.)  
Extended temperature .................... –40 to 70 °C  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-1 and  
IEC-60068-2-2.)  
Relative humidity ........................... 5% to 95% noncondensing  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-56.)  
1
2
For chassis that are not available in the online catalog at ni.com, contact National Instruments for supported operating  
temperatures.  
5 to 40 °C for the PXI-1000B DC.  
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Appendix A  
Specifications  
Shock and Vibration  
Operational shock...................................30 g peak, half-sine, 11 ms pulse  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-27. Test profile  
developed in accordance with  
MIL-PRF-28800F.)  
Random vibration  
Operating.........................................5 to 500 Hz, 0.3 grms  
(with solid-state hard drive)  
Nonoperating...................................5 to 500 Hz, 2.4 grms  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-64. Nonoperating  
test profile exceeds the  
requirements of  
MIL-PRF-28800F, Class 3.)  
Note Specifications are subject to change without notice.  
Safety  
This product is designed to meet the requirements of the following  
standards of safety for electrical equipment for measurement, control,  
IEC 61010-1, EN 61010-1  
UL 61010-1, CSA 61010-1  
Note For UL and other safety certifications, refer to the product label or the Online  
Product Certification section.  
Electromagnetic Compatibility  
This product is designed to meet the requirements of the following  
standards of EMC for electrical equipment for measurement, control,  
and laboratory use:  
EN 61326 (IEC 61326): Class A emissions; Basic immunity  
EN 55011 (CISPR 11): Group 1, Class A emissions  
AS/NZS CISPR 11: Group 1, Class A emissions  
FCC 47 CFR Part 15B: Class A emissions  
ICES-001: Class A emissions  
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Appendix A  
Specifications  
Note For the standards applied to assess the EMC of this product, refer to the Online  
Product Certification section.  
Note For EMC compliance, operate this device with shielded cabling.  
CE Compliance  
This product meets the essential requirements of applicable European  
Directives as follows:  
2006/95/EC; Low-Voltage Directive (safety)  
2004/108/EC; Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC)  
Online Product Certification  
Refer to the product Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for additional  
regulatory compliance information. To obtain product certifications and  
the DoC for this product, visit ni.com/certification, search by model  
number or product line, and click the appropriate link in the Certification  
column.  
Environmental Management  
National Instruments is committed to designing and manufacturing  
products in an environmentally responsible manner. NI recognizes that  
eliminating certain hazardous substances from our products is beneficial  
not only to the environment but also to NI customers.  
For additional environmental information, refer to the NI and the  
Environment Web page at ni.com/environment. This page contains the  
environmental regulations and directives with which NI complies, as well  
as other environmental information not included in this document.  
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)  
EU Customers At the end of their life cycle, all products must be sent to a WEEE recycling  
center. For more information about WEEE recycling centers and National Instruments  
WEEE initiatives, visit ni.com/environment/weee.htm.  
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National Instruments  
Ё೑  
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RoHS  
ni.com/environment/rohs_china  
(For information about China RoHS compliance, go to  
.)  
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B
Technical Support and  
Professional Services  
Visit the following sections of the award-winning National Instruments  
Web site at ni.comfor technical support and professional services:  
Support—Technical support at ni.com/supportincludes the  
following resources:  
Self-Help Technical Resources—For answers and solutions,  
visit ni.com/supportfor software drivers and updates,  
a searchable KnowledgeBase, product manuals, step-by-step  
troubleshooting wizards, thousands of example programs,  
tutorials, application notes, instrument drivers, and so on.  
Registered users also receive access to the NI Discussion Forums  
at ni.com/forums. NI Applications Engineers make sure every  
question submitted online receives an answer.  
Standard Service Program Membership—This program  
entitles members to direct access to NI Applications Engineers  
via phone and email for one-to-one technical support as well as  
exclusive access to on demand training modules via the Services  
Resource Center. NI offers complementary membership for a full  
year after purchase, after which you may renew to continue your  
benefits.  
For information about other technical support options in your  
area, visit ni.com/services, or contact your local office at  
ni.com/contact.  
Training and Certification—Visit ni.com/trainingfor  
self-paced training, eLearning virtual classrooms, interactive CDs,  
and Certification program information. You also can register for  
instructor-led, hands-on courses at locations around the world.  
System Integration—If you have time constraints, limited in-house  
technical resources, or other project challenges, National Instruments  
Alliance Partner members can help. To learn more, call your local  
NI office or visit ni.com/alliance.  
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Appendix B  
Technical Support and Professional Services  
Declaration of Conformity (DoC)—A DoC is our claim of  
compliance with the Council of the European Communities using  
the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity. This system affords  
the user protection for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and  
product safety. You can obtain the DoC for your product by visiting  
ni.com/certification.  
If you searched ni.comand could not find the answers you need, contact  
your local office or NI corporate headquarters. Phone numbers for our  
worldwide offices are listed at the front of this manual. You also can visit  
the Worldwide Offices section of ni.com/niglobalto access the branch  
office Web sites, which provide up-to-date contact information, support  
phone numbers, email addresses, and current events.  
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Glossary  
Symbol  
Prefix  
nano  
micro  
milli  
kilo  
Value  
10–9  
10– 6  
10–3  
103  
n
μ
m
k
M
G
T
mega  
giga  
106  
109  
tera  
1012  
Symbols  
°
Degrees.  
Ohms.  
Ω
%
Percent.  
A
A
Amperes.  
AC  
ASIC  
Alternating Current.  
Application-specific integrated circuit.  
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Glossary  
B
B
Bytes.  
backplane  
An assembly, typically a printed circuit board, with connectors and signal  
paths that bus the connector pins.  
BIOS  
Basic Input/Output System—BIOS functions are the fundamental level  
of any PC or compatible computer. BIOS functions embody the basic  
operations needed for successful use of the computer’s hardware resources.  
C
C
Celsius.  
cache  
Small portion of high-speed memory used for temporary storage of  
frequently used data.  
CMOS  
Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor—A type of integrated circuit.  
CompactPCI  
An adaptation of the PCI specification for industrial and/or embedded  
applications that require a more robust mechanical form factor than desktop  
PCI. CompactPCI provides a standard form factor for those applications  
requiring the high performance of PCI as well as the small size and  
ruggedness of a rack-mount system.  
Controller  
An embedded computer module which configures and accesses a series of  
devices connected to a chassis backplane.  
D
DC  
Direct Current.  
DDR2  
DIMM  
DMA  
Double Data Rate, 2nd generation.  
Dual In-line Memory Module.  
Direct Memory Access—A method by which data is transferred between  
devices and internal memory without intervention of the central processing  
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Glossary  
DRAM  
DVI-I  
Dynamic RAM (Random Access Memory)—Storage that the computer  
must refresh at frequent intervals.  
Direct Video Interface, Integrated—A video technology enabling the use of  
both analog and digital video signals.  
E
ECP  
Extended Capabilities Parallel.  
EEPROM  
EMC  
Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.  
Electromagnetic Compatibility.  
EMI  
Electromagnetic interference.  
EPP  
Enhanced Parallel Port.  
expansion ROM  
An onboard EEPROM that may contain device-specific initialization and  
system boot functionality.  
F
FCC  
Federal Communications Commission.  
G
g
1. Grams.  
2
2. A measure of acceleration equal to 9.8 m/s .  
GPIB  
grms  
General Purpose Interface Bus (IEEE 488).  
A measure of random vibration—The root mean square of acceleration  
levels in a random vibration test profile.  
H
Hz  
Hertz—Cycles per second.  
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Glossary  
I
I/O  
Input/output—The techniques, media, and devices used to achieve  
communication between machines and users.  
IDE  
Integrated Drive Electronics—Hard disk and built-in controller.  
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.  
Inches.  
IEEE  
in.  
instrument driver  
A set of routines designed to control a specific instrument or family of  
instruments, and any necessary related files for LabWindows/CVI or  
LabVIEW.  
interrupt  
interrupt level  
IRQ#  
A means for a device to request service from another device.  
The relative priority at which a device can interrupt.  
Interrupt request signal.  
ISA  
Industry Standard Architecture—The original PC bus architecture,  
specifically the 16-bit AT bus.  
K
kB  
Kilobytes of memory.  
L
LAN  
Local Area Network—Communications network that serves users within  
a confined geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations,  
a network operating system, and a communications link.  
LED  
Light-emitting diode.  
M
m
Meters.  
master  
A functional part of a PXI device that initiates data transfers on the  
PXI backplane. A transfer can be either a read or a write.  
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Glossary  
MB  
Megabytes of memory.  
Mean time between failure.  
Mean time to repair.  
MTBF  
MTTR  
N
NI-488 or NI-488.2  
The National Instruments software for GPIB systems.  
NI-DAQ  
The National Instruments software for data acquisition instruments.  
NI-VISA  
The National Instruments implementation of the VISA standard—An  
interface-independent software that provides a unified programming  
interface for VXI, GPIB, and serial instruments.  
NMI  
Non-maskable interrupt—High-priority interrupt that cannot be disabled.  
It is used to report malfunctions such as parity, bus and math coprocessor  
errors.  
P
PCI  
Peripheral Component Interconnect—The PCI bus is a high-performance  
32-bit or 64-bit bus with multiplexed address and data lines.  
PCI Express  
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express—A faster, serialized version  
of the PCI bus.  
PCMCIA  
peripheral  
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association.  
Any hardware device connected to a computer, such as a monitor,  
keyboard, printer, plotter, disk or tape drive, graphics tablet, scanner,  
mouse, and so on.  
POSC  
PXI  
Power On Self Configuration.  
PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation—An open implementation of  
CompactPCI that adds electrical features that meet the high-performance  
requirements of instrumentation applications by providing triggering,  
local buses, and system clock capabilities. PXI also offers two-way  
interoperability with CompactPCI products.  
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Glossary  
R
RAM  
Random Access Memory—the computer’s primary workspace.  
RAMDAC  
Random Access Memory Digital to Analog Converter—the VGA  
controller chip that maintains the color palette and converts data from  
memory into analog signals for the monitor.  
resource  
Hardware settings used by devices in a computer system, including  
ISA interrupt level, DMA channel, and I/O address.  
RMS  
RTC  
Root mean squared. See also grms.  
Real Time Clock—An electronic circuit that maintains the time of day and  
also can provide timing signals for timesharing operations.  
S
s
Seconds.  
slave  
A functional part of a PXI device that detects data transfer cycles initiated  
by a PXI bus master and responds to the transfers when the address  
specifies one of the device’s registers.  
SO-DIMM  
SRAM  
Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module.  
Static RAM—A memory chip that requires power to hold its content.  
It does not require refresh circuitry as a dynamic RAM chip, but it does  
take up more space and uses more power.  
U
USB  
Universal Serial Bus.  
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Glossary  
V
V
Volts.  
Video Graphics Array—The minimum video display standard for all PCs.  
VGA  
W
W
Watts.  
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Index  
USB configuration menu, 2-9  
Video Configuration menu, 2-8  
boot options, configuring controller, 4-2  
A
B
basic PXI system configuration, 2-22  
BIOS  
flashing new BIOS, 4-5  
setup  
menu, 2-13  
CD-ROM drive, installing software from, 4-4  
CE compliance, specifications, A-5  
ICH9M, 1-4  
menu, 2-13  
CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities  
CPU configuration menu, 2-8  
clearing contents (figure), 2-16, 5-3  
(figure), 3-5  
Floppy Drive BBS Priorities  
LabVIEW RT options menu, 2-11  
SATA Configuration menu, 2-7  
Serial/Parallel Port Configuration  
menu, 2-10  
connector signals (table), 3-5  
common configuration questions  
boot options, 4-1  
chassis configuration, 2-22  
figure, 2-22  
driver installation, 4-3  
general questions, 4-1  
PXI configuration, 4-6  
upgrade information, 4-4  
CompactPCI specification, 1-1  
configuration, common questions  
boot options, 4-1  
Parallel Port menu, 2-10  
Serial Port 0 menu, 2-10  
Trigger Router Configuration  
menu, 2-11  
cables and connections, 4-2  
chassis configuration, 2-22  
figure, 2-22  
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Index  
driver installation, 4-3  
general questions, 4-1  
PXI configuration, 4-6  
upgrade information, 4-4  
NI resources, B-1  
obtaining latest drivers, 4-5  
DVI-I  
overview (table), 3-1  
connectors  
COM1 connector and signals, 3-5  
ExpressCard connector and signals, 3-12  
parallel port connector and signals, 3-7  
(table), 3-1  
trigger connector and signals, 3-10  
Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector  
specifications, A-5  
WEEE information, A-5  
Ethernet, connector  
location and pinout (figure), 3-6  
signals (table), 3-6  
conventions used in the manual, ix  
examples (NI resources), B-1  
ExpressCard, 2-25, 3-12  
configuration menu, 2-9  
connector  
D
data storage, 3-14  
location and pinout (figure), 3-12  
signals (table), 3-13  
from National Instruments (note), 2-23,  
4-4  
installing, 2-23, 4-4  
removing a module, 2-26  
slot, 1-4  
figure, 2-24, 4-5  
Declaration of Conformity (NI resources), B-2  
directories and files installed on hard  
drive, 2-21  
drive, 2-21  
documentation  
conventions used in manual, ix  
how to use this documentation set, ix  
NI resources, B-1  
Floppy Drive BBS Priorities menu, 2-14  
floppy drive, using external floppy drive, 4-5  
front panel  
related documentation, x  
DRIVE LED, 3-14  
connectors, 3-1  
dimensions, 3-2  
drivers, 2-21  
features, 3-14  
installation  
functional description of NI PXI-8108, 1-2  
functional overview of NI PXI-8108, 1-2  
GPIB (IEEE 488.2), 4-3  
video, 4-3  
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ni.com  
G
Gigabit Ethernet, 1-4  
GPIB (IEEE 488.2), 3-11  
block, 1-4  
connector  
LabVIEW, 1-4  
RT configuration switches, 2-19  
(figure), 2-20  
H
RT installation and configuration, 2-17  
RT network settings (figure), 2-18  
RT options menu, 2-11  
hard drive, 3-14  
files and directories installed on, 2-21  
RT software installation, 2-17  
LabWindows/CVI, 1-5  
recovery, 2-24  
LPT cable, connecting to NI PXI-8108, 4-3  
I
IDE controller, using SCSI hard drive in  
addition, 4-1  
IEEE 488.2, 3-11  
installation  
Main Setup menu, 2-6  
manuals directory, 2-21  
See also configuration  
(caution), 2-2  
GPIB (IEEE 488.2), 3-11  
parallel port, 3-7  
Measurement Studio, 1-5  
modular instruments, 1-5  
mouse, plugging PS/2 mouse and keyboard  
into controller, 4-2  
removing NI PXI-8108 from PXI  
chassis, 2-4  
(figure), 2-22  
removing protective screw caps  
(figure), 2-2  
installing an OS, 2-25  
instrument drivers (NI resources), B-1  
N
National Instruments  
software, 1-4  
support and services, B-1  
Network Device BBS Priorities menu, 2-14  
© National Instruments Corporation  
I-3  
NI PXI-8108 User Manual  
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.  
Index  
NI PXI-8108  
BIOS setup, 2-5  
NI-VISA, 1-6  
connectors, 3-1  
DVI-I connector and signals  
operating environment specifications, A-2,  
signals, 3-12  
installation from CD-ROM, 2-25  
installation overview, 2-25  
signals, 3-7  
connector and signals, 3-9  
data storage, 3-14  
P
parallel port  
connector  
location and pinout (figure), 3-7  
signals (table), 3-8  
description, 1-2  
front panel  
overview (table), 3-1  
dimensions, 3-2  
physical specifications, A-2  
PS/2, plugging PS/2 mouse and keyboard into  
hard drive recovery, 2-24  
connectors, function (logic block), 1-4  
features, 2-21  
(table), 3-1  
trigger connectivity, 2-21  
PXI-8220/PXI-8221, using NI PXI-8108  
with, 4-6  
PXI trigger connectivity, 2-21  
removing from a PXI chassis, 2-4  
software, 1-4  
pxisys.ini file, 2-22  
specifications, A-1  
troubleshooting, 5-1  
upgrading RAM, 2-23, 4-4  
NI PXI-8108 User Manual  
I-4  
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.  
ni.com  
environmental management, A-5  
WEEE information, A-5  
features, A-1  
online product certification, A-5  
operating environment, A-2, A-3  
physical, A-2  
R
RAM  
DDR2 SO-DIMMs  
from National Instruments (note),  
2-23, 4-4  
safety, A-4  
recycling hardware, A-5  
related documentation, x  
shock and vibration, A-4  
storage environment, A-3  
storage environment specifications, A-3  
super I/O logic block, 1-4  
S
safety, specifications, A-4  
SATA  
system CMOS, 2-15  
block, 1-4  
Configuration menu, 2-7  
Save & Exit menu, 2-14  
serial port, 3-1  
See also COM1 connector  
Serial/Parallel Port Configuration menu, 2-10  
Parallel Port menu, 2-10  
Serial Port 0 menu, 2-10  
shock and vibration specifications, A-4  
SMB to PXI trigger, 1-4  
socket 479 1 CPU, 1-3  
SO-DIMM logic block, 1-3  
software  
training and certification (NI resources), B-1  
trigger, 3-10, 4-6  
connector  
location and pinout (figure), 3-10  
signals (table), 3-10  
Trigger Router Configuration menu, 2-11  
troubleshooting  
CMOS reset, 5-2  
controller does not boot, 5-1  
See also drivers  
installed on your hard drive, 2-21  
installing from CD-ROM, 4-4  
LabVIEW, 1-4  
video display, 5-2  
LabWindows/CVI, 1-5  
Measurement Studio, 1-5  
National Instruments software, 1-4  
NI resources, B-1  
NI-DAQmx, 1-5  
NI-VISA, 1-6  
Universal Serial Bus (USB), 3-1, 3-9  
connector  
function, 1-4  
location and pinout (figure), 3-9  
signals (table), 3-9  
specifications  
CE compliance, A-5  
electrical, A-2  
electromagnetic compatibility, A-4  
overview (table), 3-1  
USB configuration menu, 2-9  
© National Instruments Corporation  
I-5  
NI PXI-8108 User Manual  
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.  
Index  
V
Y
video, 3-1  
Y-splitter cable  
figure, 4-2  
using mouse and keyboard without, 4-3  
using with PS/2 mouse and keyboard, 2-3  
W
watchdog timer, 1-4  
Web resources, B-1  
WEEE information, A-5  
NI PXI-8108 User Manual  
I-6  
Download from Www.Somanuals.com. All Manuals Search And Download.  
ni.com  

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