New Kits Connect IEEE 488 Instruments to HP Workstations

Multitasking GPIB Software Gives Users Plug-In and External Options

July 22, 1993 -- Austin, TX - National Instruments announced today two new
kits that connect Hewlett-Packard 9000 Series 700 EISA workstations to
IEEE 488 (GPIB) instruments. Engineers and scientists can use the National
Instruments GPIB-HP700-AT high-performance plug-in controller board or the
GPIB-ENET/HP external interface kit with the HP 9000 Series 700
workstations in numerous instrumentation applications, including automated
testing and laboratory automation.

About the GPIB-HP700-AT 

The GPIB-HP700-AT is a low-cost, high-performance IEEE 488.2 interface for
Hewlett-Packard 9000 Series 700 workstations with EISA slots. The National
Instruments custom NAT4882 and Turbo488 ASICs make the GPIB-HP700-AT a
maximum-performance IEEE 488.2 interface board. The NAT4882 chip performs
the basic IEEE 488 Talker, Listener, and Controller functions, as well as
all of the Controller functions required by the IEEE 488.2 standard. By
using the Turbo488, the GPIB-HP700-AT can exceed rates of 1 Mbytes/s for
both read and write operations. The GPIB-HP700-AT includes high-level
NI-488.2M software for HP-UX version 9.01 and above.

About the GPIB-ENET/HP

The GPIB-ENET/HP kit controls IEEE 488 instruments from a HP 9000 Series
700 Ethernet host with access to a TCP/IP network. Users can program
GPIB-ENET controllers from driver-equipped host HP or Sun SPARC
workstations anywhere on Internet, a worldwide scientific, research, and
educational network. Scientists and engineers can also use the GPIB-ENET
to share GPIB peripherals between many networked users. For example, a
user can control a GPIB system interfaced to a network by the GPIB-ENET
from driver-equipped workstations located within the same building or from
another location in another state or country. The compact GPIB-ENET also
has an internal power supply, and includes high-level NI-488.2M software
for HP-UX.

About NI-488.2M 

Both the GPIB-HP700-AT and GPIB-ENET/HP include the National Instruments
NI-488.2M software for HP-UX. NI-488.2M is a multitasking, enhanced
version of the company's NI-488 GPIB driver software that is completely
IEEE 488.2 compatible. NI-488.2M has high-level functions that
transparently handle GPIB protocol and buffered DMA transfers as well as
low-level functions for maximum flexibility and configurability. NI-488.2M
software for HP-UX is compatible with existing NI-488 application programs
and automatically handles GPIB protocols. The NI-488.2M software is
portable across many computer platforms and operating systems.

Pricing and Availability 

The GPIB-HP700-AT is available now for $695 and includes NI-488.2M.
NI-488.2M for HPUX for existing AT-GPIB users is available for $200. The
GPIB-ENET/HP kit is available also now. Prices are $1,595 for the
AUI/Twisted Pair version and $1,695 for the AUI/Coxial version. These
prices are for single workstation use; an optional software site license
is available for several workstations. A software-only package is also
available for current GPIB-ENET/Sun users.

For more information, please contact National Instruments at 6504 Bridge
Point Parkway, Austin, TX 78730-5039, (512) 794-0100. Call toll free in
the U.S. and Canada at (800) 433-3488. Fax: (512) 794-8411.

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