HP E2050A LAN/GPIB Gateway setup instructions

[CodingMarco]

Hi all,

I know the E2050A LAN/GPIB gateway is not widely used, but anyway I wanted to post these short instructions on how to set it up because it may not be very intuitive at first, even with the manual.
Steps 2. and 9. were the most unintuitive ones for me.

Initial setup for usage with PyVISA:

1. Plug in power and connect the Gateway with a LAN cable to your computer
2. Press the "Config Preset" button on the back of the E2050A. This will temporarily start the gateway with a default configuration. The saved configuration is not changed or resetted except when you tell it explicitly to do so. When it is rebooted, the saved configuration is loaded again.
3. Configure your LAN interface:
    - IPv4 address: 192.0.0.1
    - Netmask: 255.255.255.0
    - Gateway: doesn't matter (eg. 0.0.0.0)
4. Connect to the E2050A using telnet: telnet 192.0.0.192. This IP is the default IP when the "Config Preset" button was pressed.
5. Enter factory-reset, hit enter. Confirm and reconnect as necessary.
6. Enter ip: 192.168.178.188 (or whatever IP address you like)
7. Enter default-gw: 192.168.178.1. The subnet (here: 192.168.178) has to match that of the IP above
8. Enter subnet-mask: 255.255.255.0
9. Enter hpib-name: gpib0. This is a very important step. The zero is there intentionally.
10. Change other configuration values if you like
11. Enter reboot to save the config and reboot
12. Configure your LAN interface to match the configuration you chose for the gateway:
    - IPv4 address: same as default-gw
    - Netmask: 255.255.255.0
    - Gateway: doesn't matter (eg. 0.0.0.0)

Connect to instruments through the gateway using PyVISA:

Code: [Select]

import pyvisa
rm = pyvisa.ResourceManager()
instr = rm.open_resource("TCPIP0::<IP of E2050A>::gpib0,<gpib address>::INSTR")
print(instr.query("*IDN?"))

Hope this helps and saves some headaches.

[gslick]

I haven't tried using PyVISA with my E2050A yet, I have only used it with the Agilent / Keysight IO Libraries software so far. I'll have to try using it with PyVISA sometime.

It is also possible to do the initial configuration of the E2050A through the serial port instead getting it configured for a Telnet connection. That might be easier in some cases.

You can connect a terminal or PC running a terminal emulator to the E2050A RS-232 port using a null modem cable at 19200,N,8,1 and after hitting <CR> it should bring up the configuration menu.

Serial port output at 19200,N,8,1 after sending a CR to the E2050A after power up:

Code: [Select]

Welcome to the E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway configuration utility.

Commands
  ?                Show additional commands
  exit, quit       Exit WITHOUT saving configuration changes
  reboot           Save configuration changes and restart
  status           Show the LAN/HP-IB Gateway connection status

Configuration Parameters
  hostname:        E2050           # Internet domain name
  hardware-addr:   0800091AEE6E    # Ethernet station address
  ip:              192.168.1.20    # Internet Protocol address
  default-gw:      192.168.1.1     # Default subnet gateway IP address
  subnet-mask:     255.255.255.0   # Network subnet mask
  syslog-svr:      0.0.0.0         # Syslog server IP address
  bootp:           OFF             # Obtain config via BOOTP/TFTP
  lan-timeout:     0               # LAN connect timeout in seconds
  io-timeout:      120             # Server I/O timeout in seconds
  allow:           *               # IP allow list

  hpib-address:    21              # HP-IB System Controller Address
  hpib-name:       gpib0           # HP-IB interface symbolic name
  hpib-unit:       7               # HP-IB logical unit number
> ?
Available commands are:
  allow: <ip> [<ip>]       Set the allow list for IP security
  bootp: <ON|OFF>          Turn ON or OFF use of BOOTP/TFTP
  bye                      Quit without saving configuration - see reboot
  config                   Show current settings
  default-gw: <ip address> Set the default subnet gateway address
  exit                     Exit without saving configuration - see reboot
  factory-reset            Reset configuration to factory defaults and reboot
  hardware-addr            Display the ethernet station address
  help                     Print help information
  hostname: <string*35>    Set the internet domain name
  hpib-address: <0-30>     Set the HP-IB system controller address
  hpib-name: <string*15>   Set the HP-IB interface symbolic name
  hpib-unit: <1-255>       Set the HP-IB logical unit number
  io-timeout: <seconds>    Set the server I/O timeout in seconds.  0 is Off.
  ip: <ip address>         Set the IP address
  lan-timeout: <seconds>   Set the LAN connect timeout in seconds.  0 is Off.
  quit                     Quit without saving configuration - see reboot
  reboot                   Save configuration and restart
  status                   Show the LAN/HP-IB Gateway connection status
  subnet-mask: <mask>      Set the network subnet mask
  syslog-clear             Clear the syslog
  syslog-display           Display the syslog contents
  syslog-svr: <ip address> Set the syslog server address
  version                  Show the firmware revision
> version
Software revision A.01.03
Bootrom revision A.01.00

[dxl]

Code: [Select]

import pyvisa
rm = pyvisa.ResourceManager()
instr = rm.open_resource("TCPIP0::<IP of E2050A>::gpib0,<gpib address>::INSTR")
print(instr.query("*IDN?"))


I build a simple GPIB-LAN gateway with the help of a GPIB-USB-HS Adapter, a raspberry pi and some python software. One thing that doesn't work is the automatic discovery of gpib devices. I've somewhere read that TCPIP::IP::gpib0::INSTR is used for that - so simply specifying gpib0 instead of gpib0.X. Do you know anything about that, or could you try what happens if you send such a request?

Thanks!

[CodingMarco]

I build a simple GPIB-LAN gateway with the help of a GPIB-USB-HS Adapter, a raspberry pi and some python software. One thing that doesn't work is the automatic discovery of gpib devices.

I think you'll have to implement this yourself. For example use rm.list_resources() on the raspberry pi and somehow return the result.

I've somewhere read that TCPIP::IP::gpib0::INSTR is used for that - so simply specifying gpib0 instead of gpib0.X. Do you know anything about that, or could you try what happens if you send such a request?

I don't think this address syntax is used. At least I can't find it in the manual of any LAN-GPIB gateway. If I try to open the E2050A like that, open_resource() works, but any operation on the opened resource results in an I/O error.

However, Keysight IOLibs support auto-discovery of instrument with the E2050A. I have attached a Wireshark dump of the packets being sent during the auto-discovery process. To me, it looks like it's just probing all addresses.

[dxl]

I build a simple GPIB-LAN gateway with the help of a GPIB-USB-HS Adapter, a raspberry pi and some python software. One thing that doesn't work is the automatic discovery of gpib devices.

I think you'll have to implement this yourself. For example use rm.list_resources() on the raspberry pi and somehow return the result.

Well, i did that. I used the python-vxi11-server from https://github.com/coburnw/python-vxi11-server.git as a "framework".

I've somewhere read that TCPIP::IP::gpib0::INSTR is used for that - so simply specifying gpib0 instead of gpib0.X. Do you know anything about that, or could you try what happens if you send such a request?

I don't think this address syntax is used. At least I can't find it in the manual of any LAN-GPIB gateway. If I try to open the E2050A like that, open_resource() works, but any operation on the opened resource results in an I/O error.

However, Keysight IOLibs support auto-discovery of instrument with the E2050A. I have attached a Wireshark dump of the packets being sent during the auto-discovery process. To me, it looks like it's just probing all addresses.

Thanks, that's very helpful. I'll take a look. The auto discovery feature isn't really required, but it would be a 'nice to have".

Otherwise it's already useful - i wrote a python script to calibrate the flatness on my 8563E which suffers from the usually RYTHM problem with the help of a 8340A Sweeper.

[dangvu]

Hi gslick,

You have mentioned that you used the Agilent / Keysight IO Libraries software to connect and control devices Via E2050A Gateway. Could you share more details? I have tried to use Keysight IO Libraries software connect to E2050 via LAN and control E3640A via GPIB but i failed.

[gslick]

Hi gslick,

You have mentioned that you used the Agilent / Keysight IO Libraries software to connect and control devices Via E2050A Gateway. Could you share more details? I have tried to use Keysight IO Libraries software connect to E2050 via LAN and control E3640A via GPIB but i failed.

Here are the steps I used to set up the E2050A for use with the Keysight IO Libraries:

• Connect a PC to the E2050A with a null-modem cable (RX and TX signals crossed between the two ends) with the terminal program serial port settings set to 19200,N,8,1
  
• Power on the E2050A and hit the return key on the terminal program after the E2050A finishes its flashing LED boot up diagnostic sequence.
  
• The "Welcome to the E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway configuration utility." message should appear along with the current Configuration Parameters and a ">" command prompt.
  
• Issue the "factory-reset" command to reset the E2050A to the default configuration.
  
• After the E2050A reboots with the default configuration, use the "ip:", "default-gw:", and "subnet-mask:" commands to set IP configuration values appropriate for your local network.
  
• Use the "hpib-name:" command to set the HP-IB interface symbolic name to "gpib0"
  
• Use the "reboot" command to save the modified configuration parameters and reboot the E2050A.
• Connect the configured and powered on E2050A to your local network.
  
• Start Keysight Connection Expert and add a new Remote GPIB interface.
  
• In the Specify Connection Information page, set the Hostname or IP Address: field to the value set with the E2050A "ip:" command.
  
• In the Specify Connection Information page, set the SICL Interface Name on Remote Host: field to the value set with the E2050A "hpib-name:" command.
  
• Press the Verify Connection: Test Connection button and if everything is now configured correctly the verification should be successful, and then press the OK button to save the settings for the E2050A Remote GPIB interface.
  
• If that was all successful so far, attach a GPIB instrument to the E2050A and press the "Rescan" button on the Remote GPIB interface page, and the attached GPIB instrument should be discovered.
  

Code: [Select]

Welcome to the E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway configuration utility.

Commands
  ?                Show additional commands
  exit, quit       Exit WITHOUT saving configuration changes
  reboot           Save configuration changes and restart
  status           Show the LAN/HP-IB Gateway connection status

Configuration Parameters
  hostname:        E2050           # Internet domain name
  hardware-addr:   0800091AEE6E    # Ethernet station address
  ip:              0.0.0.0         # Internet Protocol address
  default-gw:      0.0.0.0         # Default subnet gateway IP address
  subnet-mask:     0.0.0.0         # Network subnet mask
  syslog-svr:      0.0.0.0         # Syslog server IP address
  bootp:           OFF             # Obtain config via BOOTP/TFTP
  lan-timeout:     0               # LAN connect timeout in seconds
  io-timeout:      120             # Server I/O timeout in seconds
  allow:           *               # IP allow list

  hpib-address:    21              # HP-IB System Controller Address
  hpib-name:       hpib            # HP-IB interface symbolic name
  hpib-unit:       7               # HP-IB logical unit number
> factory-reset
A factory-reset will reset all parameters to their factory default state.
Are you sure you want to factory-reset the E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway (y/n) ? y
The E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway will now reboot.
Welcome to the E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway configuration utility.

Commands
  ?                Show additional commands
  exit, quit       Exit WITHOUT saving configuration changes
  reboot           Save configuration changes and restart
  status           Show the LAN/HP-IB Gateway connection status

Configuration Parameters
  hostname:        E2050           # Internet domain name
  hardware-addr:   0800091AEE6E    # Ethernet station address
  ip:              0.0.0.0         # Internet Protocol address
  default-gw:      0.0.0.0         # Default subnet gateway IP address
  subnet-mask:     0.0.0.0         # Network subnet mask
  syslog-svr:      0.0.0.0         # Syslog server IP address
  bootp:           OFF             # Obtain config via BOOTP/TFTP
  lan-timeout:     0               # LAN connect timeout in seconds
  io-timeout:      120             # Server I/O timeout in seconds
  allow:           *               # IP allow list

  hpib-address:    21              # HP-IB System Controller Address
  hpib-name:       hpib            # HP-IB interface symbolic name
  hpib-unit:       7               # HP-IB logical unit number
> ip: 192.168.1.20
  ip:              192.168.1.20    # Internet Protocol address (modified)
> default-gw: 192.168.1.1
  default-gw:      192.168.1.1     # Default subnet gateway IP address (modified)
> subnet-mask: 255.255.255.0
  subnet-mask:     255.255.255.0   # Network subnet mask (modified)
> hpib-name: gpib0
  hpib-name:       gpib0           # HP-IB interface symbolic name (modified)
> reboot
The reboot command will close any open connections/sessions.
Are you sure you want to reboot the E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway (y/n) ? y
Configured Parameters saved.
The E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway will now reboot.
Welcome to the E2050A LAN/HP-IB Gateway configuration utility.

Commands
  ?                Show additional commands
  exit, quit       Exit WITHOUT saving configuration changes
  reboot           Save configuration changes and restart
  status           Show the LAN/HP-IB Gateway connection status

Configuration Parameters
  hostname:        E2050           # Internet domain name
  hardware-addr:   0800091AEE6E    # Ethernet station address
  ip:              192.168.1.20    # Internet Protocol address
  default-gw:      192.168.1.1     # Default subnet gateway IP address
  subnet-mask:     255.255.255.0   # Network subnet mask
  syslog-svr:      0.0.0.0         # Syslog server IP address
  bootp:           OFF             # Obtain config via BOOTP/TFTP
  lan-timeout:     0               # LAN connect timeout in seconds
  io-timeout:      120             # Server I/O timeout in seconds
  allow:           *               # IP allow list

  hpib-address:    21              # HP-IB System Controller Address
  hpib-name:       gpib0           # HP-IB interface symbolic name
  hpib-unit:       7               # HP-IB logical unit number
>


[dangvu]

Hi gslick,
Thank you very much.
It works perfectly.
I failed because I thought it as a LAN interface.
Best,