Fluke NetDAQ 2645A - Manual (Page 263)

I-1
Appendix I
Network Considerations
Introduction I-1.
This is a tutorial on commonly used Network communication technology and how
to get started using the NetDAQ instruments. It’s not necessary to know the details
of Network communication methods in order to use NetDAQ effectively.
However, there are such a wide variety of Network techniques and technology in
use that you can become lost in the jargon used by Network Professionals.
This tutorial will attempt to take some of the mystery out of Networking. After all,
Networking is just a way of communicating digital information from one point to
another. Computer Networks are very similar to a postal service. Just like in postal
services, in networks you can:
•
Write a message.
•
Assign a destination address.
•
Add a return address on the message in case of delivery problems.
•
Specify a delivery method (overnight, two day, etc.)
•
Drop the message into the network.
•
Expect the message to arrive at its destination some time later.
The software, hardware, and wiring of a network ensures that a message with
proper addressing and type gets to its destination, and that errors are detected.
NetDAQ and Network Communication Techniques I-2.
In the past, Fluke data acquisition instruments depended on RS-232 and IEEE-488
communication methods. This was OK with limited channel measurement rates,