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HOW TO SIMULATE INSTRUNET HARDWARE
REFERENCE > ADVANCED TECHNIQUES >

One can simulate the existence of instruNet hardware (e.g. i2x0, i4xx, i100, i60x), when none exists, for purposes of demonstration and testing. This can be done via several methods, summarized below. Simulated hardware produces random waveforms when digitizing.

When simulating, disconnect or power off the real instruNet hardware to avoid confusing real with simulated.

1) Run instruNet World in i100/i200 Demo Mode
One can run the instruNet World strip chart record application program with one simulated i555 (i.e. i430 card in slot #2) by selecting in the START menu: instruNet / Demonstration Software / instruNet World Demo_.exe.

2) Simulate i555 Hardware via "iNet32 Demo On.txt" file
All software that works with instruNet (e.g. instruNet World, DasyLab, C/C++, Basic, etc) can be set up to connect to simulated i555 hardware where one receives random numbers instead of real a/d data -- everything else stays the same. To enable simulation, one places an empty text file named "iNet32 Demo On.txt" at location "..Documents\instrunet\end user\iNet32 Demo On.txt". After one installs instruNet software, there will be a file named "iNet32 Demo Offf.txt" at this location. Change filename "Offf" to "On" to turn on i555 simulation, and change it to any other name to turn it off. Simulation requires instruNet iNet32.dll version ≥ 3.6.0.1.

3) Simulate i4xx/i60x via "iNet32 Demo On.txt" file

If one wants to simulate hardware other than an i555, they can place a list of model numbers into file "iNet32 Demo On.txt" at location "..Documents\instrunet\end user\iNet32 Demo On.txt". For example, the above illustration shows a simulated i100 device, followed by an i4xx card cage with i410/i430/i420 cards. In this example, the i2x0 controller is not listed, yet its existance is inferred by the presence of an i100 or i4xx box. Alternatively, one could place the following in the text file to simulate one i430 and four i423's:

240
400
410
430
423
423
423
423

Or simulate an i555 (i.e. one i430):

240
400
410
430

Or simulate two i555's (requires ≥ v3.6.0.3):

240
400
410
430
240
400
410
430

Or simulate three i601's (requires ≥ v3.7):

601
601
601

To check your work, run instruNet World software and select INSTALLED HARDWARE REPORT under the HARDWARE menu. Note that the simulator converts the i240 controller to an i200 controller, which has the same effect. One often powers off real hardware (e.g. remove i312 power to i240 usb controller) when doing simulation to decrease likelyhood that simulated hardware is not confused with real hardware.

4) Instruct any program to run in i555 Demo mode
Any application program (.exe file) that works with instruNet can be placed into Demonstration mode (where an i555 is simulated) by placing the word "demo_" into the application file name. For example, change the name of "instruNet World" software to "instruNet World demo_", or the name of "DASYLab.exe" to "DasyLab demo_.exe".

5) Simulate via instruNet World Plus (iW+) Script Language
For information on how to simulate multiple devices and controllers using the iW+ script language, please click here.