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  5. GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet

GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet Hardware

NI GPIB, serial, and Ethernet products deliver reliable instrument-to-controller communication for automated test systems. From legacy integration to high-speed networked measurements, these solutions simplify workflows, ensure accurate data exchange, and work seamlessly with NI LabVIEW to enable scalable automation and analysis.

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PXIe-8431/8 Serial Interface Hardware

What GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet Hardware Is Right for You?

Shop by Communication Standard

Ethernet
GPIB

Additional GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet Products

An NI Partner is a business entity independent from NI and has no agency or joint-venture relationship and does not form part of any business associations with NI. 

PXIe-8431/8 Serial Interface Hardware

Support for GPIB (IEEE 488) and Serial (RS232, RS422, and RS485) Protocols Across a Variety of Buses

NI instrument control and serial interface devices include various module and device connection options to meet your system needs.


Supported Buses

  • USB
  • PCI Express
  • PXI Express
  • GPIB
  • Ethernet
  • C Series
PCIe-8432/2 Serial Interface Device

Isolation Options

NI PCI Express and C Series serial interfaces include options that offer isolation, ensuring higher measurement integrity and reliable data.


Isolated Serial Protocol Support Options

  • RS232
  • RS485/RS422
PXIe-8285 PXI Ethernet Interface Module

Ethernet I/O and Data Movement

Ethernet modules offer flexible connectivity for peripherals and enable high-speed data streaming directly to network storage devices.


Data Rates, Connectors, and Protocols Provide

  • 10 Mbit/s to 100 Gbit/s
  • 1 to 4 channels
  • RJ-45, SFP+, QSFP+
  • TCP/IP, RDMA (RoCEv2)
Browse PXI Ethernet hardware
Serial

Explore Related Categories

Industrial Protocols
Automotive Protocols
Avionics Protocols
Bus Extender
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Instrument Fundamentals Guide

Get the most out of your measurements by adopting these best practices in acquiring, generating, and interpreting analog and digital signals.
Download the guide

GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet Fundamentals

Terminology

Specifications Explained: C Series Modules
Instrument Bus Performance: Making Sense of Competing Bus Technologies for Instrument Control
How can I calculate the Bandwidth of my Data Acquisition?

Selection Guides

What Makes a Bus High Performance?
How to Choose the Right Hardware Bus for Your Instrument Control System
Six Things You Need to Know About USB Instrument Control

Product Benefits

The NI GPIB Advantage

NI Software for GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet Hardware

Selecting GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet Software


The hardware you choose defines which protocol/standard you use to communicate with your instrument and the driver software that you need.

NI LabVIEW

NI LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment that provides unique productivity accelerators for test system development, such as an intuitive approach to programming, connectivity to any instrument, and fully integrated user interfaces.

NI-VISA

NI-VISA provides support for customers using Ethernet, GPIB, serial, USB, and other types of instruments.


GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet Resources

Download NI-VISA

Download driver for high-level instrument control

Download NI-488.2

Download driver for NI GPIB devices

Download NI-Serial

Download driver for NI serial devices

GPIB Applications

Eight Ways to Increase GPIB System Performance
Group of partners working together in a lab

Get Help from an NI Partner

The NI Partner Program offers domain, application, and overall test development expertise to help your team get ahead and stay ahead. Connect with our global community of trusted NI Partners ready to give your business a competitive edge.
Find a partner

Frequently Asked Questions About GPIB, Serial, and Ethernet Products

  • These interfaces enable communication between instruments and computers in automated test setups. GPIB is widely used for legacy instruments, serial supports simple point-to-point connections, and Ethernet offers high-speed networking for LXI and distributed systems. Engineers use GPIB, serial, and Ethernet interfaces to connect instruments like oscilloscopes, power supplies, and analyzers to PCs or controllers. They help to ensure reliable data transfer and device control in diverse applications.

  • Engineers should consider instrument compatibility, required data transfer speed, distance between devices, and system scalability. For example, GPIB is ideal for legacy instruments, serial for simple setups, and Ethernet for high-speed, networked environments.

  • NI GPIB, serial, and Ethernet products deliver robust connectivity, reliable NI-VISA drivers, and seamless integration with software like LabVIEW. This enables engineers to automate test sequences, log data, and perform advanced analysis without writing low-level communication code.

GPIB Messages
Eliminate Noise in Your GPIB System
GPIB Instrument Control Tutorial
Ethernet Instrument Control Tutorial
Set Up Communication with Serial Instruments in LabVIEW using NI-VISA

NI-VISA

Choosing Between Synchronous and Asynchronous NI-VISA Functions
NI-VISA .NET Library
Serial, GPIB, and VXI Instrument Control with Measurement Studio VISA
Termination Characters in NI-VISA
Serial Baud Rates Supported By NI-VISA

NI-488.2

GPIB Error Codes and Common Solutions
Configuring Your GPIB Driver to Match Your System
Dynamic System Configuration Using NI-488.2 Routines
Serial Polling and SRQ Servicing with NI-488.2 Software and Basic
Serial Polling and SRQ Servicing with NI-488.2 Software and LabVIEW