NI1722 camera not detected by NIMax or Vision Builder

[d3ns1ty]

Dear all,

We have encountered an issue with our NI1722 camera while attempting to install it on a more recent system. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in this attempt. Furthermore, when we tried to revert to the previous system (that remained untouched), we were unable to locate the camera. Currently, the camera's power LED is on, and the Status LED is flashing green. Despite our efforts, which included attempting an IP reset switch, safe mode, and console, we have been unable to resolve the issue.

The camera is connected via an Ethernet port, and we have access to NI Max software and Vision Builder 2013. We have also attempted to configure the IP address without success. Despite consulting the manuals and documentation for troubleshooting guidance, we have been unable to detect the camera using either of the software programs, and we are unable to add it.

If anyone has any advice or suggestions on how to resolve this issue, we would greatly appreciate your assistance.

Kind regards,

[rolfk]

NI devices are generally a little particular about getting to run when out of the box or after a device reset.

Most tend to default to DHCP configuration and if you connect them to your PC directly or don't have a DHCP service in your network, they default to a so called Automatic Private IP Addressing. This is an address in the range 169.254.xx.xx. If your network card in your PC is not configured to also use DHCP (despite not having a DHCP server on that network), it will sit on its static address which for sure is different than the APIPA address of the device. And then most NI tools can often sort of find the device but not communicate with it as the network address of the device is in a different range and the TCP/IP routing used for most configuration tasks doesn't work. NI Max is a particular bad application as it seems to synchronously try to communicate with such devices and completely blocks until the according network communication attempts finally time-out after umpteen retries.

The easiest is usually if you have a network with an active DHCP server. Then the device starts up with a valid address in your network range and the NI tools can find it and also communicate with it. If you connect the camera directly to your PC network port, try to configure the network port in your PC to initially use DHCP. See if NI Max then can find the device. Once the device is found, and can be configured, you can assign it a static address and then reconfigure your PC network port to use also a static address in the same range. Don't forget to grab your label printer and stick a label with the configured address to your device!!

If you connect the device directly to your PC and it still doesn't work with the DHCP configured PC network port, you may also have to try using a so called network patch cable, which crosses the communication lines. Ethernet Autonegotiation is a feature that is nowadays present in every single network device even down to the small embedded devices but back when NI introduced the Smart Camera product line, it wasn't always properly implemented in the Network Phy hardware or Ethernet controller.

Last but not least if it still won't work after all these trials, there is the chance that your device got somehow damaged and might need an RMA.

[d3ns1ty]

Dear Rolf,

Thanks for your detailed reply.

We have already try to connect the camera directly to our PC network port, but is not recognized by the PC.

We going to try your next suggestion to use a network patch cable.

It is strange that the PC does not recognized the camera when directly connected.

If you have any further suggestions, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Kind regards,