PXI System Basics
How do I use MAX with my PXI system?
The PXI system shows a hierarchy of all PXI chassis and PXI devices in your system. You can use MAX to configure your PXI system by identifying what type of controller you are using and each chassis in your system. If you have a desktop PC connected to a PXI chassis via a PCI-to-PCI bridging solution such as a National Instruments MXI-4 bridge, you must identify your PXI system controller as an external PC.
What if I don't have PXI in my system?
For desktop PCs not connected to a PXI chassis, your PXI system will be empty, and you can identify your PXI system controller as an external PC. If you extend your computer later with a PXI chassis via a PCI-to-PCI bridging solution such as a National Instruments MXI-4 bridge, you can configure your PXI system and devices then.
What can I do at the PXI system level?
You can identify your PXI system controller, communicate with devices, delete all identifications, or show hidden PXI buses in your system.
What do you want to do?
Identify my PXI system controller
Right-click your PXI System and select the controller family that represents your PXI system controller in the Identify As» menu. If you are using National Instruments MXI bridges from a desktop PC, identify your system controller as an External PC. If your controller type is not listed, select Other... and choose the file that describes your system controller.
If you are using a VISA device, select your PXI system. In the Devices view, right-click your PXI device and select Open VISA Session. You should see an interactive session to communicate with your device.
If your PXI system chassis hierarchy has changed (either by inserting/removing a chassis or plugging your PXI controller into a different PXI system), you may want to re-identify all your chassis. You can also use this option to remove all identifications and start over with identifying your PXI system.
To delete all identifications, right-click your PXI system and select Delete All Identifications. You can now identify your PXI system controller and any PXI chassis in your system.
If your PXI system contains a third-party bridging solution, you must enable this option to see your third-party bridge as a bus. Once you enable this option, you can create a chassis from the bus and identify it. By default, this option is not enabled.
To show PXI buses, right-click your PXI system and select Show PXI Buses. You should now see all buses that MAX knows about in your PXI system.