DSA Support
Installation Procedures for DSA Instruments
You MUST install the software BEFORE installing your NI 455X or PCI-445X hardware in your computer.
- For both the NI-455X instruments and the PCI-455X boards you MUST install NI-DAQ 6.6 (or higher). Download the latest version of NI-DAQ, if you do not already have it.
Note 1: If you had an older version of NI-DAQ (6.5 or older) already installed in your system go to Start » Settings » Control Panel » Add/Remove Programs and search the list for the NI-DAQ version that you have installed currently. Select it and then click on the Add/Remove button to uninstall it before attempting to install a newer version of NI-DAQ.
Note 2: After uninstalling an older version of NI-DAQ, delete the niconfig.daq file before installing the new version. This file should be located in your C:\Windows (or C:\Winnt for Windows NT) folder. If you cannot find the file there, then go to the Start menu and perform a search through the Find window. The niconfig.daq file contains the configuration settings that your hardware was using in the older version of NI-DAQ. Deleting this file will delete the old configuration and force NI-DAQ to create a new configuration file for the new version of NI-DAQ.
- The NI 455X instruments also require the NI-DSA driver. Install the NI-DSA driver only if you are using an NI 455X instrument. Download the latest version of NI-DSA, if you do not already have it.
- Turn off your computer and insert your DSA board. The boards are PCI-based, so resources should be assigned automatically by the BIOS chip built into your computer's motherboard.
Caution: You must turn off your PC before installing the hardware. To prevent damage due to ESD or contamination, handle the board using only the edges or the metal bracket on the end of the board.
- Launch the Measurement & Automation Explorer (this ships with NI-DAQ 6.5 or higher). Look for the blue and yellow icon on your Windows Desktop (as shown below) and double-click it.
- Once in the top level window of the Measurement & Automation Explorer, double-click on "Devices and Interfaces", then double-click on your PCI-445X or NI-455X device.
- Double-click on the label "Device Number" and the Configuration window will open.
Note: The resources shown in this window may differ from the ones that you will see.
- Click on the Test Resources button to test the resource assignments for your hardware. You should see the message: "The device has passed the test".
- If the device passed, then you are ready to run the functionality tests:
