Specifying the System Configuration Parameters

Use the MEG System Configuration Utility interface to specify all the configuration parameters of the system.

The Multi-Emitter Generation (MEG) System Configuration Utility opens when you click Query or Edit.
Note When the System Configuration Utility initially launches, it creates an example MEG Command file in the following location: C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI MEG\Command Files\Example Commands File.tdms.
  1. Select the INI file to edit in the System Configuration File.
  2. Click Load to load the parameters from an existing INI file for visualization and editing in the configuration utility.
    Note Clicking Load does not load the configuration to the system, it only loads the values into the configuration utility. The system configuration parameters are not reflected in the INI file until you click Save. The parameters are not deployed until you click Initialize.
  3. Set the Chassis Configuration Options:
    • VST Chassis Configuration—Select Single-Controller, Single-Chassis or Single-Controller, Multi-Chassis configuration.
    • Signal Routing File—Specify the Signal Routing INI file when the VST Chassis Configuration is Single-Controller, Multi-Chassis. The default file paths are to locations used by the Instrument Control System Component (ICsc): C:\Program Files\National Instruments\NI ICsc\Support.
    • Clock Routing File—Specify the Clock Routing INI file when the VST Chassis Configuration is Single-Controller, Multi-Chassis. The default file paths are to locations used by the Instrument Control System Component (ICsc): C:\Program Files\National Instruments\NI ICsc\Support.
  4. Set the Hardware Group Configuration Options:
    • Hardware Group—Select a hardware group to configure.
    • Create New Hardware Group—Click to create a new set of one or more VSTs for the purpose of control and RF compensation.
    • Remove Hardware Group—Click to remove an existing hardware group.
    • Frequency Extension—Select Enabled to use the 54 GHz mmWave extension hardware.
    • Center Frequency (Hz)—Specify the center frequency, in Hz, for all VSTs (channels) in the hardware group.
    • Pre-Filter Gain (dB)—Specify the pre-filter gain, in dB, for all VSTs (channels) in the hardware group.
    • Power Level (dBm)—Specify the power level, in dBm, for all VSTs (channels) in the hardware group.
    • Compensation Type—Select None, Coherent, or Aligned for the VSTs within the hardware group. Refer to Performing RF System Compensation for definitions of the compensation types.
    • LO Configuration—Select Onboard or Daisy Chain.
    • Reference Clock Source—Select PXI_CLK or OnboardClock.
    • Start Trigger—Select None, PFI0 through PFI3, PXI_Trig0 through PXI_Trig7, PXI_STAR, or TrigIn as a start trigger for the hardware group.
  5. Set the Hardware Link Configuration Options:
    • Hardware Group—Select a hardware group to configure a hardware link.
    • Hardware Link—Select a hardware link to configure for a hardware group.
    • Create New Hardware Link—Click to create a new hardware link of a VST and coprocessor pair.
    • Remove Hardware Link—Click to remove a hardware link.
    • VST Alias—Select a VST to pair with a coprocessor.
    • Port—If the VST uses the Frequency Extension module, specify the connected port.
    • Coprocessor Alias—Select a coprocessor to pair with a VST.
    • Commands File—Specify the MEG command TDMS file for the coprocessor. The Core Composition and User Waveform Group information populates from the command file.
  6. Click Save to save the parameters to the INI file.
  7. Click Exit to exit the configuration utility.
    Note When you exit the System Configuration Utility, the System Configuration File selection dialog box updates with the file from the utility.