NI-Serial for Windows, Version 3.4

© 2008 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved.

Thank you for using NI-Serial for Windows, Version 3.4.

This file contains release notes, patent information, and last-minute information for the NI-Serial for Windows software. Some information in this file may be too recent to be included in the official documentation set.

This readme contains the following main sections:

Release Notes

NI-Serial for Windows, Version 3.4, is the latest driver offering from National Instruments. Every attempt has been made to maintain backward compatibility with the installed base of existing NI-Serial applications.

New Firmware for USB and ExpressCard Hardware

NI-Serial 3.4 includes new firmware for USB and ExpressCard serial interfaces. If you are upgrading to NI-Serial 3.4 from a previous version, you should disconnect and reconnect your USB and ExpressCard devices to update to the latest firmware after finishing the NI-Serial 3.4 installation process. In the case of the USB-485/4 hardware, you should also disconnect and reconnect the power cable.

Repairing Your Installation

In the NI-Serial documentation and help files, there may be sections that instruct you to uninstall and reinstall your NI-Serial software to repair a problem. In certain circumstances, it might not be possible to uninstall your NI-Serial software without uninstalling other National Instruments software. To avoid this problem, you may choose to repair your software instead of uninstalling and reinstalling. To repair your NI-Serial software, complete the following steps:

  1. Select Start»Control Panel.
  2. On Windows XP/2000, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon. On Windows Vista, double-click the Programs and Features icon.
  3. Select National Instruments Software in the list and click the Change/Remove button on Windows XP/2000 or the Uninstall/Change button on Windows Vista.
  4. Select the software components you want to repair and click the Repair button. Repair checks all files and registry entries associated with the NI-Serial software and repairs or replaces files as necessary.
  5. Restart the computer to complete the repair process.

Problems after Upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista

Windows Vista allows users to upgrade from Windows XP, including migration of installed programs. You should uninstall NI-Serial from Windows XP prior to upgrading to Windows Vista. You also should remove National Instruments serial hardware before attempting to upgrade.

If you performed a Windows XP-to-Windows Vista upgrade without uninstalling your NI-Serial software and hardware first, do not attempt to install, uninstall, or otherwise use your NI-Serial software. Visit ni.com/info, enter Info Code RDSIIS, and follow the instructions to repair your system.

Incorrect Serial Number Displayed in Device Manager

If you swap one PCI/PXI serial card for another of the exact same type, the serial number shown in the device manager and MAX may not change. This happens because Windows cannot distinguish the old hardware from the new. To fix this problem, delete the interface from the system and either scan for new hardware in the device manager or restart your computer. This forces Windows to reinstall your hardware and the correct serial number should be displayed.

CreateFile COM Name Issue

The CreateFile function from the Microsoft Win32 API fails for port names COM10 and greater. To use these ports, and for the function to succeed, append the string "\\\\.\\" before the port name. For example, to open COM10, use the string "\\\\.\\COM10" for the port name. This is because the port's full name is actually \\.\COM10, and all "\" characters must be doubled per the C language syntax.

Changes and Fixed Issues in Version 3.4

USB and ExpressCard Hardware

NI-Serial 3.4 introduces improved functionality and performance for USB-232, USB-485, and NI ExpressCard-842x interfaces. This release also introduces support for all USB and ExpressCard interfaces on 64-bit Windows Vista.

Measurement & Automation Explorer Fixed Issues

The following issues for the Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) interface for serial devices have been fixed:

Windows 64-bit XP and Windows Server 2003

Support for Windows 64-bit XP and Windows Server 2003 is discontinued in this release.

Changes in Version 3.3

NI-Serial 3.3 adds new hardware support for LabVIEW Real-Time. Refer to the NI-Serial for LabVIEW Real-Time readme for more information.

Changes in Version 3.2

Add Support for Windows Vista

NI-Serial 3.2 adds support for Windows Vista. Refer to Supported Interfaces for a list of supported hardware.

ISA-232 and ISA-485

Support for the obsolete ISA-232 and ISA-485 interfaces is discontinued in this release.

Changes in Version 3.1

NI-Serial 3.1 adds new hardware support for LabVIEW Real-Time. Refer to the NI-Serial for LabVIEW Real-Time readme for more information.

Changes in Version 3.0

NI-Serial 3.0 adds new hardware support for LabVIEW Real-Time. Refer to the NI-Serial for LabVIEW Real-Time readme for more information.

Changes in Version 1.8

Windows XP x64 and Windows Server 2003 x64

NI-Serial 1.8 adds support for Microsoft Windows XP x64 and Windows Server 2003 x64 for all PCI, PXI, and PCMCIA interfaces.

Baud Rates up to 3 Megabits/s

NI-Serial 1.8 adds support for custom baud rates up to 3 Mbits/s on PCI/PXI-8431/8433 hardware. The two-wire auto control mode for RS-485 transceiver control has a maximum baud rate of 2 Mbits/s.

Communication Utility

NI-Serial 1.8 includes a new serial communication utility. You can use the Serial Communicator to test serial hardware configuration and communication. The Serial Communicator is available in Measurement & Automation Explorer.

Deprecated Serial I/O Requests

The following Serial I/O requests were deprecated in NI-Serial 1.8:

Supported Interfaces

NI-Serial for Windows, Version 3.4, supports the hardware listed below on Windows Vista/XP/2000. If the hardware also has support for Windows Server 2003, 64-bit XP, NT, Me, or 9x, the latest released driver with support for that interface is listed. To download previous versions of NI-Serial drivers, refer to ni.com/support.

PCI Interfaces Vista, 32-bit XP, 2000 64-bit XP, Server 2003 NT, Me, 9x Standard # Ports Isolated Max Baud (kbits/s)
PCI-8430/2 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 2 No 1000.0
PCI-8430/4 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 4 No 1000.0
PCI-8430/8 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 8 No 1000.0
PCI-8430/16 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 16 No 1000.0
PCI-8431/2 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 2 No 3000.01
PCI-8431/4 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 4 No 3000.01
PCI-8431/8 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 8 No 3000.01
PCI-8432/2 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 2 Yes 1000.0
PCI-8432/4 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 4 Yes 1000.0
PCI-8433/2 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 2 Yes 3000.01
PCI-8433/4 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 4 Yes 3000.01
PCI-232/2 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 2 No 115.2
PCI-232/4 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 4 No 115.2
PCI-232/8 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 8 No 115.2
PCI-232/16 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 16 No 115.2
PCI-485/2 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 2 No 460.8
PCI-485/4 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 4 No 460.8
PCI-485/8 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 8 No 460.8
PCI-232I/2 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 2 Yes 115.2
PCI-232I/4 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 4 Yes 115.2
PCI-485I/2 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 2 Yes 460.8
PCI-485I/4 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 4 Yes 460.8

1. The two-wire auto control mode for RS-485 transceiver control has a maximum baud rate of 2000 kbits/s.





PXI Interfaces Vista, 32-bit XP, 2000 64-bit XP, Server 2003 NT, Me, 9x Standard # Ports Isolated Max Baud (kbits/s)
PXI-8430/2 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 2 No 1000.0
PXI-8430/4 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 4 No 1000.0
PXI-8430/8 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 8 No 1000.0
PXI-8430/16 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 16 No 1000.0
PXI-8431/2 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 2 No 3000.01
PXI-8431/4 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 4 No 3000.01
PXI-8431/8 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 8 No 3000.01
PXI-8432/2 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 2 Yes 1000.0
PXI-8432/4 3.4 3.3 x RS-232 4 Yes 1000.0
PXI-8433/2 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 2 Yes 3000.01
PXI-8433/4 3.4 3.3 x RS-485/RS-422 4 Yes 3000.01
PXI-8420/2 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 2 No 115.2
PXI-8420/4 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 4 No 115.2
PXI-8420/8 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 8 No 115.2
PXI-8420/16 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 16 No 115.2
PXI-8421/2 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 2 No 460.8
PXI-8421/4 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 4 No 460.8
PXI-8421/8 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 8 No 460.8
PXI-8422/2 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 2 Yes 115.2
PXI-8422/4 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-232 4 Yes 115.2
PXI-8423/2 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 2 Yes 460.8
PXI-8423/4 3.4 3.3 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 4 Yes 460.8

1. The two-wire auto control mode for RS-485 transceiver control has a maximum baud rate of 2000 kbits/s.





USB Interfaces Vista, 32-bit XP, 2000 64-bit XP, Server 2003 NT, Me, 9x Standard # Ports Isolated Max Baud (kbits/s)
USB-232 3.4 x x RS-232 1 No 230.4
USB-232/2 3.4 x x RS-232 2 No 230.4
USB-232/4 3.4 x x RS-232 4 No 230.4
USB-485 3.4 x x RS-485/RS-422 1 No 460.8
USB-485/2 3.4 x x RS-485/RS-422 2 No 460.8
USB-485/4 3.4 x x RS-485/RS-422 4 No 460.8




ENET Interfaces 32-bit Vista, 32-bit XP, 2000 64-bit Vista, 64-bit XP, Server 2003 NT Me, 9x Standard # Ports Isolated Max Baud (kbits/s)
ENET-232/2 3.4 x 1.01 x RS-232 2 No 230.4
ENET-232/4 3.4 x 1.01 x RS-232 4 No 230.4
ENET-485/2 3.4 x 1.01 x RS-485/RS-422 2 No 460.8
ENET-485/4 3.4 x 1.01 x RS-485/RS-422 4 No 460.8




ExpressCard Interfaces Vista, 32-bit XP, 2000 64-bit XP, Server 2003 NT, Me, 9x Standard # Ports Isolated Max Baud (kbits/s)
NI ExpressCard-8420/2 3.4 x x RS-232 2 No 230.4
NI ExpressCard-8421/2 3.4 x x RS-485/RS-422 2 No 460.8




PCMCIA Interfaces 32-bit Vista, 32-bit XP, 2000 64-bit XP, Server 2003 64-bit Vista NT, Me, 9x Standard # Ports Isolated Max Baud (kbits/s)
PCMCIA-232 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-232 1 No 921.6
PCMCIA-232/2 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-232 2 No 921.6
PCMCIA-232/4 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-232 4 No 115.2
PCMCIA-485 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 1 No 921.6
PCMCIA-485/2 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 2 No 921.6
PCMCIA-2322 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-232 1 No 115.2
PCMCIA-232/22 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-232 2 No 115.2
PCMCIA-4852 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 1 No 115.2
PCMCIA-485/22 3.4 3.3 x 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 2 No 115.2

2. This hardware is obsolete, but NI-Serial for Windows still supports it.





ISA Interfaces 32-bit XP, 2000 Vista, 64-bit XP, Server 2003 NT, Me, 9x Standard # Ports Isolated Max Baud (kbits/s)
ISA-232/23 3.1 x 1.5 RS-232 2 No 115.2
ISA-232/43 3.1 x 1.5 RS-232 4 No 115.2
ISA-485/23 3.1 x 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 2 No 115.2
ISA-485/43 3.1 x 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 4 No 115.2
ISA-232I/23 3.1 x 1.5 RS-232 2 Yes 115.2
ISA-232I/43 3.1 x 1.5 RS-232 4 Yes 115.2
ISA-485I/23 3.1 x 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 2 Yes 115.2
ISA-485I/43 3.1 x 1.5 RS-485/RS-422 4 Yes 115.2

3. This hardware is obsolete.





Contacting National Instruments

Thank you for your interest in NI-Serial. We appreciate communicating with the people who use our products. We are also very interested in hearing about the applications you develop using our products. Our Web site, ni.com, provides advanced support and services and contact information.

Patent Information

For patents covering National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your CD, or ni.com/patents.