jackson@curium.dec.com (SETH JACKSON 297-4751) (01/07/88)
Digital Equipment Corporation announces Version 1.2 of the VAXlab Data Acquisition and Analysis System family. Product Description ------------------- VAXlab is a family of products that provide tools and applications for realtime data acquisition and analysis in a VMS environment. The product set includes real-time hardware peripherals from Digital and third parties plus a software toolkit known as the VAXlab Software Library (VSL). VSL consists of subroutine libraries for realtime I/O, scientific plotting, signal processing, and mathematical and statistical analysis. Also included in VSL is the Interactive Data Acquisition Tool (IDAT), a menu-driven interface that allows users to interactively collect, plot, FFT, and store data. VAXlab uses a standard subroutine calling interface, known as Laboratory Input/Output (LIO) for real-time I/O. LIO makes it easy to write software in high-level programming languages to do real-time data acquisition. Also, it provides a common programming interface across a wide range of real-time I/O devices. This allows software applications to be easily ported among different I/O devices, VAX processors and I/O bus architectures. For convenience of ordering and installation, packaged systems have been created for the four most popular VAXlab configurations. Packaged systems bundle hardware and software under a single part number. Packaged systems are shipped with software preinstalled on the system disk, or on a pregenerated system tape. Version 1.2 Enhancements ------------------------ o VAXlab functionality has been extended to all Q-bus, VAXBI and VAX 2000-series systems, including the MicroVAX and VAXstation 3000-series. o Reduced price for the VAXlab Software Library o New packaged systems that include a VAXstation 3500 configuration o New high-speed analog-to-digital converter o New functions for the VAXlab Software Library include: - LIO support for the following VAXBI devices: DRB32 and DRB32W parallel interfaces; and the high-speed GMAD-series analog input subsystems from Preston Scientific, using the DRB32W as the interface to the VAXBI bus. - LIO support for serial lines, including the ability to take data from RS-232/DEC423 instruments remotely over the Ethernet, using DECserver-200's as instrument concentrators. Instruments with flow-control capabilities can be connected to the terminal ports on a DECserver. The devices can then be programmed with LIO as if they were connected directly to a local serial port. A DECserver-200 is capable of handling 8 serial lines, each running at rates of up to 9600 baud. - LIO subroutine support for the ADQ32 analog-to-digital converter, and for the IEQ11 IEEE-488 interface for the Q-bus. - Plotting library enhancements, including support for VT330 and VT340 terminals and POSTSCRIPT(TM) devices; input functions that allow the programmer to create pop-up menus and accept menu choices or screen coordinates as input; and log-scale plotting, - IDAT enhancements, including support for the full line of VAXlab analog I/O options from Digital, as well as the DRQ3B, DRV11-WA, DRV11-J, DRB32-E and DRB32-W digital I/O interfaces and the GMAD high-speed analog-to-digital converter from Preston Scientific; and power spectrum analysis The ADQ32, a new analog-to-digital converter for the Q-bus, offers 32 channels of input and data acquisition speeds of up to 200 KHz, as well as many other features which make it one of the most flexible products on the market. Features of the ADQ32 include: - 32 Channel 12 bit A/D, 200 KHz continuous throughput - 512-entry conversion parameter list - Programmable Gains of 1, 2, 4, 8 - Programmable single ended or differential operation per conversion - On board realtime clock with a wide range of triggering modes - Pre/post stimulus triggering - Efficient Block Mode DMA transfers The price of the VAXlab Software Library on the MicroVAX II has been reduced from $6,000 to $1,000. On the VAXstation II the price has been reduced from $2,000 to $312. On the other processors, which were not previously supported, the price is determined according to pricing tiers based on the rated performance of the processor. VSL prices range from $312 at the low end to $7,500 on a VAX 8800 processor. The price on MicroVAX 3xxx multiuser systems in $3750. The four new packaged systems are: Description Price ----------- ----- VAXlab/STD Multi-user MicroVAX II system $45,434 VAXlab/GPX VAXstation II/GPX 8-plane color system 41,131 VAXlab/3500 VAXstation 3500 4-plane color system 62,150 VAXlab/2000 VAXstation 2000 with 15" monochrome 8,625 monitor All VAXlab packaged systems include VMS, DECnet, VAX GKS, disk storage, streaming tape drive, and memory. On Q-bus systems, a real-time clock is included. A wide array of real-time hardware options and scientific software is available from Digital and its partners. Additional information can be found in the VAXlab Information Sheet (ED-31150-61), and the Realtime Systems and Options Catalog (ED-29869-47). Contact your local Digital sales office.