linux-gpib-installer compiles and installs GPIB/VISA using open source drivers from the linux-gpib project.
It is an automated implementation of the instructions by jonathanschilling which install drogenlied/linux-gpib-dkms.
Currently only¹ Debian 11 (aka Bullseye) is supported.
Automatic /etc/gpib.conf configuration is done for the National Instruments GPIB-USB-HS USB dongle, if you are using a PCI card (after following the instructions below), see /etc/gpib.conf.example and make the appropriate changes to /etc/gpib.conf.
$ sudo apt-get install python3-pip -y
$ pip install --force-reinstall git+https://[email protected]/jakeogh/linux-gpib-installer
$ source ~/.profile
$ linux-gpib-installer debian-11
That last command compiles and installs the kernel drivers and userspace components. If it completed sucessfully, the last line should read:
"Debian 11 linux-gpib install completed OK, A REBOOT IS REQUIRED."
- Plug in the GPIB-USB-HS (National Instruments USB->GPIB dongle)
- Connect GPIB-USB-HS to a GPIB device (note GPIB connectors are often difficult to seat)
- Power on the GPIB device
- Execute a test program:
$ python
Python 3.10.8 (main, Oct 26 2022, 13:25:27) [GCC 11.3.0] on linux
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import pyvisa
>>> rm = pyvisa.ResourceManager()
>>> rm.list_resources()
libgpib: invalid descriptor # NOTE: this message is repeated, this is normal and needs to be fixed in the linux-gpib package
('ASRL/dev/ttyS0::INSTR', 'ASRL/dev/ttyUSB0::INSTR', 'GPIB0::2::INSTR')
>>> inst = rm.open_resource('GPIB0::2::INSTR')
>>> print(inst.query("*IDN?"))
TEKTRONIX,AFG3022B,C037086,SCPI:99.0 FV:3.2.2
- Verify that GPIB-USB-HS is listed in the output of
lsusb:
$ lsusb | grep GPIB-USB-HS
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 3923:709b National Instruments Corp. GPIB-USB-HS
- Observe the kernel log while plugging GPIB-USB-HS into the computer, the output should be:
$ sudo dmesg -w
[114002.392720] usb 1-3: USB disconnect, device number 3
[114005.075248] usb 1-3: new high-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
[114005.300772] usb 1-3: New USB device found, idVendor=3923, idProduct=709b, bcdDevice= 1.01
[114005.300774] usb 1-3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[114005.300776] usb 1-3: Product: GPIB-USB-HS
[114005.300777] usb 1-3: Manufacturer: National Instruments
[114005.300778] usb 1-3: SerialNumber: 015E2ABE
[114005.302890] ni_usb_gpib: probe succeeded for path: usb-0000:02:00.0-3
[114005.579304] usb 1-2: new full-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
[114005.736502] usb 1-2: New USB device found, idVendor=067b, idProduct=2303, bcdDevice= 3.00
[114005.736504] usb 1-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[114005.736506] usb 1-2: Product: USB-Serial Controller
[114005.736507] usb 1-2: Manufacturer: Prolific Technology Inc.
[114005.753835] gpib0: exiting autospoll thread
[114005.753917] ni_usb_gpib: attach
[114005.753924] usb 1-3: bus 1 dev num 4 attached to gpib minor 0, NI usb interface 0
[114005.755170] product id=0x709b
[114005.758501] ni_usb_hs_wait_for_ready: board serial number is 0x15e2abe
[114005.766442] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbserial_generic
[114005.766873] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for generic
[114005.771186] usbcore: registered new interface driver pl2303
[114005.771815] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for pl2303
[114005.771942] pl2303 1-2:1.0: pl2303 converter detected
[114005.780654] usb 1-2: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[114005.864431] /var/lib/dkms/gpib/4.3.5+svn2039/build/drivers/gpib/ni_usb/ni_usb_gpib.c: ni_usb_hs_wait_for_ready: unexpected data: buffer[7]=0x4, expected 0x3 or 0x5 or 0x6
[114005.864437] /var/lib/dkms/gpib/4.3.5+svn2039/build/drivers/gpib/ni_usb/ni_usb_gpib.c: ni_usb_hs_wait_for_ready: unexpected data: buffer[10]=0x3, expected 0x96 or 0x07
[114005.864438] ni_usb_dump_raw_block:
[114005.864441] 40
[114005.864442] 1
[114005.864443] 0
[114005.864444] 8
[114005.864445] 30
[114005.864446] 0
[114005.864447] 2
[114005.864448] 4
[114005.864450] 0
[114005.864451] 0
[114005.864452] 3
- Verify the output of
pyvisa-infois similar to:
$ pyvisa-info
Machine Details:
Platform ID: Linux-5.10.0-18-amd64-x86_64-with-glibc2.31
Processor:
Python:
Implementation: CPython
Executable: /usr/bin/python3
Version: 3.9.2
Compiler: GCC 10.2.1 20210110
Bits: 64bit
Build: Feb 28 2021 17:03:44 (#default)
Unicode: UCS4
PyVISA Version: 1.12.0
Backends:
ivi:
Version: 1.12.0 (bundled with PyVISA)
Binary library: Not found
py:
Version: 0.5.3
ASRL INSTR: Available via PySerial (3.5b0)
USB INSTR: Available via PyUSB (1.0.2). Backend: libusb1
USB RAW: Available via PyUSB (1.0.2). Backend: libusb1
TCPIP INSTR: Available
TCPIP SOCKET: Available
GPIB INSTR: Available via Linux GPIB (b'4.3.5 r[2041]')
GPIB INTFC: Available via Linux GPIB (b'4.3.5 r[2041]')
-
Observe the 2x LED's that are on the GPIB-USB-HS dongle:
a. The "READY" LED should be illuminated whenever the dongle is plugged into the computer.
b. The "ACTIVE" LED should illuminate whenever data is sent. Use the following command to test it:
$ python3 -c "import pyvisa; rm=pyvisa.ResourceManager(); print(rm.list_resources())"c. If the green "ACTIVE" LED illuminates, then the computer->GPIB-USB-HS is working correctly, and the problem is further down the line. Verify the GPIB connector is correctly seated in the instrument.
The libgpib: invalid descriptor messages are normal. Use gpibtool $ gpibtool addresses if you want a convenient CLI to list addresses (and hide these messages).
Native Debian sudo apt-get install linux-gpib, please send patches!
On Gentoo, sudo emerge linux-gpib is all that is necessary, you do not need to install this repo. The testing and troubleshooting secions of this README still apply.
$ linux-gpib-installer --help
Usage: linux-gpib-installer [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]...
Options:
--help Show this message and exit.
Commands:
debian-11