INSTALLATION GUIDE

NI PXI-8232
This document explains how to install the Ethernet and NI-488.2 drivers for
your NI PXI-8232 (part number 189140x-02L, where x is D or higher).

The Ethernet port on the NI PXI-8232 is based on the

Intel 82541PI-compatible Ethernet controller.

Installing Your PXI Board

Complete the following steps to install the PXI-8232 hardware:
1. Shut down Windows, if it is running, by selecting Start»Shut Down.
2. Power off your PXI or CompactPCI chassis. Keep the chassis plugged
in so it remains grounded as you install the adapter.
3. Remove the filler panel from a PXI peripheral bus master slot. The
adapter requires a bus master slot to take advantage of the onboard
DMA and Ethernet controllers. All PXI chassis and most CompactPCI
chassis contain only bus master slots. Refer to your chassis
documentation to verify you are using a bus master slot.
4. Touch a metal part on your chassis to discharge any static electricity
that might be on your clothes or body.
5. Insert the adapter into the selected bus master slot. Use the
injector/ejector handle to fully inject the device into place.
6. Screw the adapter front panel to the PXI or CompactPCI chassis front
panel mounting rail.
Connect the Network Cable
Connect a network cable to the adapter, as shown in the following figure.

• For 1000BaseT (gigabit over copper), use Category 5 (must be 4-pair

wiring). Be sure to use Category 5 cable that complies with the
TIA-568 wiring specification. For more information on this
specification, refer to the Telecommunications Industry Association
Web site, www.tiaonline.org.
• For 100BaseTX, use Category 5 wiring or better.

Caution If using less than 4-pair cabling, you must manually configure the adapter and
link partner speed and duplex setting. In addition, with 2- and 3-pair cabling, the adapter
can achieve speeds of up to only 100 MB/s.

• For 10BaseT, use Category 3 wiring or better.

• To use this adapter in a residential environment (at any speed), use
Category 5 wiring. If the cable runs between rooms or through walls
and/or ceilings, it should be plenum rated for fire safety.
• The cable length is limited to 100 m.
• The adapter must be connected to a compatible link partner, preferably
set to auto-negotiate speed and duplex.
• The PXI-8232 automatically accommodates either MDI or MDI-X
connections. You can use the auto-MDI-X feature to connect two
adapters directly without using a crossover cable.

NI PXI-8232 Installation Guide 2 ni.com

Install the Drivers
Follow the installation instructions for your operating system. The adapter
works with the following operating systems:
• Windows XP and later
• LabVIEW Real-Time 2010 or higher

Windows XP and later

Complete the following steps to install the driver software for Windows XP
and later:
1. Insert the NI-488.2 media. The autorun launches to start the
installation process.

Tip The View Documentation link on the autorun screen provides access to NI-488.2
documentation, including detailed hardware installation instructions.

2. When you have completed the software installation, restart the

computer.
3. Install the Windows XP and later Ethernet drivers.

Note The NI-488.2 Hardware Installation utility may run at this time. Finish the Ethernet
installation described below before using the utility.

(Windows Vista and later) Windows automatically detects the new

hardware and installs the Ethernet driver.
(Windows XP and Server 2003) Cancel the Found New Hardware Wizard
and insert the PCI/PXI Gigabit Ethernet Adapters media. From the
media, launch the appropriate executable: PROWin32.exe for 32-bit
systems or PROWinx64.exe for 64-bit systems. Follow the
instructions to install the driver for your Ethernet port.
4. Use the NI-488.2 Hardware Installation utility.

LabVIEW Real-Time
LabVIEW Real-Time includes drivers for the Ethernet port on your
PXI-8232 board; no additional software is needed.

The GPIB interface requires additional software. Complete the following

steps to install the NI-488.2 software:
1. On the Windows host, insert the NI-488.2 media. The autorun launches
to start the installation process.
2. In the installation feature tree, ensure that the NI-488.2 for
LabVIEW Real-Time feature is selected to install.

© National Instruments 3 NI PXI-8232 Installation Guide

 3. When you complete the software installation, restart the computer if
prompted.
4. In Measurement & Automation Explorer, deploy the software to your
target. Make sure that NI-488.2 is selected to be installed to your
target.

Troubleshooting
Adapter Cannot Connect to the Network
• Make sure the cable is installed properly.
The network cable must be installed properly at both the adapter and
hub. The maximum cable distance is 100 m. If the cable is connected
properly and within the allowed distance, try another cable.
• Check the LEDs on the adapter.
The adapter has two LEDs on the RJ-45 connector. The following table
lists the function of each LED.

LED Color Function Indication Meaning

Green Action/Link On The adapter is receiving power. The cable
connection is good.
Off The adapter is not sending or receiving
network data. The adapter is not receiving
power. The cable connection is bad or you
have a driver problem.
Flashing The adapter is sending and receiving
network data.
Yellow/Green Speed Yellow The adapter is operating at 1000 Mb/s.
Green The adapter is operating at 100 Mb/s.
Off The adapter is operating at 10 Mb/s.

• Verify that you are using the drivers that came with the adapter.

NI PXI-8232 Installation Guide 4 ni.com

Computer Hangs When Drivers Are Loaded
• Change the PCI BIOS interrupt settings. Refer to the PXI Installation
Tips section for more information.

Link LED Does Not Light

• Make sure the network drivers are loaded by checking the Driver tab
of the adapter’s Device Manager properties.
• Check the cable connection.

ACT LED Does Not Light

• Make sure the correct network drivers are loaded by checking the
Driver tab of the adapter’s Device Manager properties.
• The network may be idle.

Adapter Has Stopped Working

• Reseat the adapter in the PXI slot or try a different slot.
• The network drivers may be corrupt or missing. Remove and reinstall
the drivers.
• Reboot the computer.
• Use another cable.
• Use a different adapter.

Link LED Is Not Lit When Computer Is Shut Down and Power Is Connected
• Make sure the network cable is attached.

PXI Installation Tips

PXI computers are designed to configure add-in boards automatically each
time the computer starts. The PXI computer sets the I/O address and IRQ
level for the peripheral boards when the computer starts. The network
drivers cannot change these values. If you experience problems when the
computer starts, you may need to follow additional steps.

On some computers, manual configuration is possible through the

computer’s BIOS setup utility. Refer to the documentation for your
computer. You may need to verify or change some BIOS settings.

© National Instruments 5 NI PXI-8232 Installation Guide

 The following common solutions may correct your problem:
• Make sure you have installed the adapter in a bus master-enabled slot.
On some computers, not all slots are bus master enabled by default.
Check your BIOS settings. Enable PXI bus mastering, if your BIOS
has such an option.
• Reserve interrupts (IRQ) and/or memory addresses for ISA adapters.
This prevents PXI boards from using the same settings ISA boards are
using. Try changing some of the interrupts reserved for ISA, but not
being used, to reserved for PXI.
• Update your BIOS. Sometimes updating the BIOS corrects some
configuration problems.
• Configure the PXI slot for level-triggered interrupts instead of
edge-triggered interrupts in BIOS.

Ethernet Adapter Specifications

LEDs
Green ...............................................Activity/Link
Yellow/Green ..................................Speed

Refer to ni.com/products for complete specifications.

NI PXI-8232 Installation Guide 6 ni.com

LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI, ni.com, the National Instruments corporate logo, and the Eagle
logo are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Refer to the Trademark Information at
ni.com/trademarks for other National Instruments trademarks. Other product and company
names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. For patents
covering National Instruments products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in
your software, the patents.txt file on your media, or the National Instruments Patents Notice at
ni.com/patents. Refer to the Export Compliance Information at ni.com/legal/
export-compliance for the National Instruments global trade compliance policy and how to
obtain relevant HTS codes, ECCNs, and other import/export data.

© 2003–2013 National Instruments. All rights reserved. 372288D-01 Jan13