Keysight IO Libraries Suite 2024

Keysight IO Libraries Suite 2024 continues support for features described in the previous versions but with the following changes.

Defect fixes:

• Resolved issue related to the M9537A Chassis displaying inaccurate information in the Keysight Connection Expert. The underlying issue, a legacy issue with the M9506A system module driver, was resolved by assigning the lowest child system module to the chassis in the cascade relationship.
• Resolved defect in ktvisa32.cs causing build errors for 32-bit applications in IOLS 2023 and 2023 Update 1. The fix involves changing attribute values to signed 32-bit, ensuring compatibility.
• Resolved critical defect causing Keysight PSS IC-CAP & WaferPro Express crashes on Linux with PCI-GPIB card.
• Resolved defect blocking keyboard interrupts during USB INSTR sessions. The issue, specific to USB INSTR and caused by a handler problem in the SetConsoleCtrlHandler API, is resolved in this version.
• Resolved USB plug-and-play detection issue for composite USB-PXI instruments like N7731C.

What's new?:

• KDI utility updated from version 3.2 to 3.4
• Removed installation of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables 2008, 2010, 2012 (x86/x64) as a prerequisite.
• Not supported or tested in Windows 7 (all service pack versions) or Windows 8/8.1. The Release Notes and Help File have mistakes and do not document this correctly.
  

Known Issues:

• Running a repair with this installer has unexpected behavior. If you have a side-by-side installation with NI-VISA and 32-bit Keysight VISA is secondary, running a repair would make 32-bit Keysight VISA primary without any warnings or prompts. Do not run a repair with IOLS 2024's installer if you have other vendor's VISA installed. Only use the Modify or Uninstall options on the installer.

Notes on .NET Framework 3.5/2.0 and Known Issues:

• Ivi.Visa.Interop.dll is missing in the 32-bit VISA COM applications
• If users want to use VISA.NET drivers which are provided by the IVI Organization rather than Keysight Technologies, Inc., then they must install .NET Framework 3.5/2.0.
• The workarounds to resolve the issue is as follows:
  • Install .NET Framework 3.5
    
  • You can install .NET Framework 3.5 using the IO Libraries Suite installer with the net35 directive. For example: IOLibSuite_version.exe /s /z"typical;net35"
  • Uninstall VISA shared component
  • Repair IO Library Suite to install VISA shared component
• Another way to fix the issue is as follows:
  • Open Visual Studio developer command window with elevated privilege 
    
  • Change to C:\Program Files (x86)\IVI Foundation\VISA\VisaCom\Primary Interop Assemblies
  • Run "IviPiaRegistration.bat"

Keysight Secure Instrument Communication Expert

Keysight Secure Instrument Communication provides a secure way to control instruments using HiSLIP protocol revision 2.0 (r2). HiSLIP r2 enables secure connections, which are achieved using the Transport Layer Security (TLS) for encryption and decryption. HiSLIP r2 also enables authentication: the server (instrument) authenticates its identity by sending an X.509 certificate to the client (VISA library) when the TLS connection is established. The client authenticates to the server using a server-supported SASL (Simple Authentication and Security Layer) mechanism.

The challenges to establish a secure connection are: how to proffer the required certificates and authentication information, how to authenticate server/client mutually, and how to configure server/client compatibly, etc.

To overcome the challenges and support secure communication between instruments and test stations, Keysight is providing updates to certain instruments and Keysight IO Libraries Suite. Keysight also provides a configuration tool called Keysight Secure Instrument Communication (SIC) Expert to configure both instruments and test stations to perform secure communication.

Keysight Secure Instrument Communication system consists of three main elements:

• Keysight instrument that supports SIC
• Keysight IO Libraries Suite (installed on test station)
• Keysight Secure Instrument Communication Expert (SIC Expert)