VISA Resource Syntax and Examples

The following table shows the grammar for the address string. Optional string segments are shown in square brackets ([ ]).

Table 5. Grammar for Address Strings and Optional String Segments
Interface Syntax

ENET-Serial INSTR

ASRL[0]::host address::serial port::INSTR

GPIB INSTR

GPIB[ board ]:: primary address [:: secondary address ][::INSTR]

GPIB INTFC

GPIB[ board ]::INTFC

PXI BACKPLANE

PXI[interface]::chassis number::BACKPLANE

PXI INSTR

PXI[ bus ]:: device [:: function ][::INSTR]

PXI INSTR

PXI[ interface ]:: bus-device [ .function ][::INSTR]

PXI INSTR

PXI[interface]::CHASSISchassis number::SLOTslot number[::FUNCfunction][::INSTR]

PXI MEMACC

PXI[ interface ]::MEMACC

Remote NI-VISA

visa://host address[:server port]/remote resource

Serial INSTR

ASRL board [::INSTR]

TCPIP INSTR

TCPIP[ board ]:: host address [:: LAN device name ][::INSTR]

TCPIP INSTR

TCPIP[ board ]::[[credential information]@ host address [:: HiSLIP device name [,HiSLIP port]][::INSTR]

TCPIP SOCKET

TCPIP[ board ]:: host address :: port ::SOCKET

TCPIP SOCKET

TCPIP[ board ]::[[credential information]@ host address :: port ::SOCKET

USB INSTR

USB[ board ]:: manufacturer ID :: model code :: serial number [:: USB interface number ][::INSTR]

USB RAW

USB[board]:: manufacturer ID :: model code :: serial number [:: USB interface number ]::RAW

VXI BACKPLANE

VXI[ board ][:: VXI logical address ]::BACKPLANE

VXI INSTR

VXI[ board ]:: VXI logical address [::INSTR]

VXI MEMACC

VXI[ board ]::MEMACC

VXI SERVANT

VXI[ board ]::SERVANT

Use the GPIB keyword to establish communication with GPIB resources. Use the VXI keyword for VXI resources via embedded, MXIbus, or 1394 controllers. Use the ASRL keyword to establish communication with an asynchronous serial (such as RS-232 or RS-485) device. Use the PXI keyword for PXI and PCI resources. Use the TCPIP keyword for Ethernet communication.

Table 6. Optional String Segments
Optional String Segments Default Value

board

0

GPIB secondary address

none

LAN device name

inst0

HiSLIP device name

hislip0

HiSLIP port

4880

PXI bus

0

PXI function

0

credential information

none

USB interface number

lowest numbered relevant interface
Table 7. Address Strings
Address String Description

ASRL::1.2.3.4::2::INSTR

A serial device attached to port 2 of the ENET Serial controller at address 1.2.3.4.

ASRL1::INSTR

A serial device attached to interface ASRL1.

GPIB::1::0::INSTR

A GPIB device at primary address 1 and secondary address 0 in GPIB interface 0.

GPIB2::INTFC

Interface or raw board resource for GPIB interface 2.

PXI::15::INSTR

PXI device number 15 on bus 0 with implied function 0.

PXI::2::BACKPLANE

Backplane resource for chassis 2 on the default PXI system, which is interface 0.

PXI::CHASSIS1::SLOT3

PXI device in slot number 3 of the PXI chassis configured as chassis 1.

PXI0::2-12.1::INSTR

PXI bus number 2, device 12 with function 1.

PXI0::MEMACC

PXI MEMACC session.

TCPIP::dev.company.com::INSTR

A TCP/IP device using VXI-11 or LXI located at the specified address. This uses the default LAN Device Name of inst0.
TCPIP0::@1.2.3.4::hislip0::INSTR

A TCP/IP device using HiSLIP rev 2 located at IPv4 address 1.2.3.4. The connection is to be secured with an ANONYMOUS SASL authentication mechanism.
TCPIP0::SecureCreds@1.2.3.4::hislip0::INSTR

A TCP/IP device using HiSLIP rev 2 located at IPv4 address 1.2.3.4. The connection is to be secured using the credential information (user, password) specified by SecureCreds.

TCPIP0::1.2.3.4::999::SOCKET

Raw TCP/IP access to port 999 at the specified IP address.
TCPIP0::SecureCreds@1.2.3.4::999::SOCKET

Raw TCP/IP access to port 999 at the specified IP address. The TLS connection is to be secured using the credential information (user certificate) specified by the string SecureCreds.

TCPIP0::@1.2.3.4::999::SOCKET

Raw TCP/IP access to port 999 at the specified IP address. The TLS connection is to be secured using only the server certificate validation.

USB::0x1234::125::A22-5 ::INSTR

A USB Test & Measurement class device with manufacturer ID 0x1234, model code 125, and serial number A22-5. This uses the device's first available USBTMC interface. This is usually number 0.

USB::0x5678::0x33::SN999::1::RAW

A raw USB nonclass device with manufacturer ID 0x5678, model code 0x33, and serial number SN999. This uses the device's interface number 1.

visa://hostname/ASRL1::INSTR

The resource ASRL1::INSTR on the specified remote system.

VXI::1::BACKPLANE

Mainframe resource for chassis 1 on the default VXI system, which is interface 0.

VXI::MEMACC

Board-level register access to the VXI interface.

VXI0::1::INSTR

A VXI device at logical address 1 in VXI interface VXI0.

VXI0::SERVANT

Servant/device-side resource for VXI interface 0.