The Agilent/Keysight E9851A is a C-size, 2-slot VXI embedded PC controller designed for integration into Keysight VXI mainframes. It combines a 700 MHz Pentium III processor with Windows NT 4.0 to deliver message-based instrument control and automated test system management. The controller addresses applications requiring reliable VXI infrastructure, data acquisition, and multi-instrument coordination within a compact mainframe-embedded form factor.
Technical Specifications
Processor & Memory
• Intel Pentium III at 700 MHz
• 64 MB standard RAM, expandable to 384 MB via two SODIMM sockets
• 4.2 GB Ultra DMA 33 hard drive with 3.5-inch 1.44 MB floppy drive
Operating System
• Windows NT 4.0
Expansion & Storage
• One internal AT/PCI slot accepting full-length PCI cards or 16-bit XT-height ISA cards
• Two front-panel PCMCIA slots: one Type I/II/III and one Type I/II peripheral slot
• Advanced Graphics Port (AGP) with 2 MB 64-bit accelerated SGRAM
Interfaces
• Wide Ultra SCSI-3 port
• 10/100 BaseT Ethernet (RJ45)
• IEEE 488.2 GPIB
• Two RS-232 serial ports
• IEEE-1284-compatible parallel port
• Two USB ports (not supported under Windows NT 4.0)
• PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports
– Key Features
• Message-based VXI architecture for standardized instrument communication
• Embedded PC controller design—no external computer required
• Wide peripheral connectivity enables mixed-protocol instrument systems
• SCSI and Ethernet for high-speed data transfer and network integration
• PCMCIA expansion for field-installable I/O modules
– Typical Applications
• Automated test systems requiring VXI-based instrument control
• Multi-channel data acquisition with centralized processing
• Production test environments with continuous instrument integration
• System configurations demanding embedded, mainframe-resident control logic
– Compatibility & Integration
Compatible with Keysight E84XX series, E1401B, and E1421B VXI mainframes. Operates as the control element within larger VXI instrument chassis, simplifying system architecture and reducing external computer dependencies.
