NI-Serial for Windows, Version 1.7 Copyright (C) 2004 National Instruments Corporation. All Rights Reserved. This file contains release notes, patent information, and last-minute information for NI-Serial for Windows. Some information in this file is too recent to be included in the official documentation set. Release Notes ------------- NI-Serial for Windows, Version 1.7, is the latest driver offering from National Instruments. Every attempt has been made to maintain backward compatibility with the installed base of existing NI-Serial applications. Supported Interfaces -------------------- NI-Serial for Windows, version 1.7, supports the hardware listed below on Windows 2000/XP. If the hardware is also supported on Windows NT/Me/9x, the last released driver with support for that interface is listed. Max Baud | 2000/XP | NT/Me/9x | Standard | # Ports | Isolated | kb/s | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PCI-232/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 2 | No | 115.2 | PCI-232/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 4 | No | 115.2 | PCI-232/8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 8 | No | 115.2 | PCI-232/16 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 16 | No | 115.2 | PCI-485/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 460.8 | PCI-485/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 4 | No | 460.8 | PCI-485/8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 8 | No | 460.8 | PCI-232I/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 2 | Yes | 115.2 | PCI-232I/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 4 | Yes | 115.2 | PCI-485I/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 2 | Yes | 460.8 | PCI-485I/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 4 | Yes | 460.8 | PCI-8430/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 2 | No | 1000.0 | PCI-8430/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 4 | No | 1000.0 | PCI-8430/8 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 8 | No | 1000.0 | PCI-8431/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 2000.0 | PCI-8431/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 4 | No | 2000.0 | PCI-8431/8 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 8 | No | 2000.0 | PCI-8432/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 2 | Yes | 1000.0 | PCI-8432/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 4 | Yes | 1000.0 | PCI-8433/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 2 | Yes | 2000.0 | PCI-8433/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 4 | Yes | 2000.0 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PXI-8420/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 2 | No | 115.2 | PXI-8420/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 4 | No | 115.2 | PXI-8420/8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 8 | No | 115.2 | PXI-8420/16 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 16 | No | 115.2 | PXI-8421/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 460.8 | PXI-8421/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 4 | No | 460.8 | PXI-8421/8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 8 | No | 460.8 | PXI-8422/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 2 | Yes | 115.2 | PXI-8422/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 4 | Yes | 115.2 | PXI-8423/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 2 | Yes | 460.8 | PXI-8423/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 4 | Yes | 460.8 | PXI-8430/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 2 | No | 1000.0 | PXI-8430/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 4 | No | 1000.0 | PXI-8431/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 2000.0 | PXI-8431/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 4 | No | 2000.0 | PXI-8432/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 2 | Yes | 1000.0 | PXI-8432/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 4 | Yes | 1000.0 | PXI-8433/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 2 | Yes | 2000.0 | PXI-8433/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 4 | Yes | 2000.0 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PCMCIA-232* | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 1 | No | 115.2 | PCMCIA-232/2*| 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 2 | No | 115.2 | PCMCIA-485* | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 1 | No | 115.2 | PCMCIA-485/2*| 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 115.2 | PCMCIA-232 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 1 | No | 921.6 | PCMCIA-232/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 2 | No | 921.6 | PCMCIA-232/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 4 | No | 115.2 | PCMCIA-485 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 1 | No | 921.6 | PCMCIA-485/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 921.6 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AT-232/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 2 | No | 115.2 | AT-232/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 4 | No | 115.2 | AT-485/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 115.2 | AT-485/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 4 | No | 115.2 | AT-232I/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 2 | Yes | 115.2 | AT-232I/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-232 | 4 | Yes | 115.2 | AT-485I/2 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 2 | Yes | 115.2 | AT-485I/4 | 1.7 | 1.5 | RS-485/422 | 4 | Yes | 115.2 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ENET-232/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 2 | No | 230.4 | ENET-232/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 4 | No | 230.4 | ENET-485/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 460.8 | ENET-485/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 4 | No | 460.8 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USB-232 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 1 | No | 230.4 | USB-232/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 2 | No | 230.4 | USB-232/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-232 | 4 | No | 230.4 | USB-485 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 1 | No | 460.8 | USB-485/2 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 2 | No | 460.8 | USB-485/4 | 1.7 | X | RS-485/422 | 4 | No | 460.8 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Obsolete hardware Enhancements in Version 1.7 ------------------------------------------ Windows Driver Signing - NI-Serial for Windows, Version 1.7, adds support for a Microsoft Windows Signed driver for all serial PCI and PXI hardware. Multiprocessor Support - NI-Serial for Windows, Version 1.7, adds support for the use of all PCI and PXI NI serial hardware in multiprocessor systems. MAX Support - NI-Serial for Windows, Version 1.7, adds support for Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) for ENET and USB serial interfaces. You can use MAX to view and configure your installed National Instruments hardware. Unified Installer and Troubleshooting Wizard - For the first time, NI-Serial for Windows, Version 1.7, combines the plug-in, ENET, and USB serial interface installers into one unified installer and provides a single Troubleshooting Wizard for all. CreateFile COM name issue: -------------------------- The "CreateFile" function from the Microsoft Win32 API will fail for port names COM10 and greater. To use these ports, and for the function to succeed, append the string "\\\\.\\" before the port name. For example, to open COM10, use the string "\\\\.\\COM10" for the port name. (This is because the full name of the port is actually \\.\COM10, and all '\'-characters must be doubled per the C language syntax.) ENET configuration issues: -------------------------- ENET-232 and ENET-485 devices are configured by default to use DHCP to acquire network parameters. If your network does not support DHCP, the Serial ENET's DHCP attempt will time out (after 90 seconds) and you will need to use the included NI Ethernet Configuration utility to assign static network parameters manually. In this case, it may be necessary for you to contact your network administrator for assistance. For more information regarding this utility, refer to the Serial Hardware and Software for Windows Help file. If your network does support DHCP, and you are experiencing problems communicating with your device either with the hostname or are having difficulties with the Troubleshooting Wizard, you may have a problem with your DNS Server. There is a detailed explanation of this problem in the Serial Hardware and Software for Windows Help file in the "Using DHCP" and "Troubleshooting" sections. Contacting National Instruments ------------------------------- Thank you for your interest in NI-Serial. We appreciate communicating with the people who use our products. We are also very interested in hearing about the applications you develop using our products. Our Web site, ni.com, provides advanced support and services and contact information. Patent Information ------------------ For patents covering National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help>>Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your CD, or ni.com/patents.