NI488.2 installation fails in Fedora 3

[m_j]

Hello

I am currently working on a project where we access instruments via GPIB  with the GPIB/ENET100 module. Our OS is Fedora 3, Linux kernel 2.6.9-1.667smp.  Programming is made in Java.  Due to the use of other equipment, we would not like to change operating system.

Previously in the project, we have used NI 488.2 v 2.2 with success for a long time but recently, when we access the GPIB bus, the JVM crashes. The java and C-part taking care of GPIB communication has not changed for a very long time. Thinking there may have been a problem in the gpib driver, we are trying to install NI 488.2 v 2.5.1f0.

Installation goes well and reports success.
However, running the troubleshooting wizard gpibtsw renders an error message:
"The NI-488.2 software is not correctly installed in your system.  - Restart - Reinstall - Run the trouble shooting wizard again."

Doing so brings us back to square one, installation reports success and the trouble shooting wizard renders the same error message.

Looking into some of the system logs gives us some hints but we are not shure of how to proceed from here.
<i>/var/log/messages:</i>
kernel: nikal: module license ' ... ' taints kernel
nipalsm: [libnipalu.so.1.11] Warning: source /lib/linux/linLoadKern,.cpp: 168 - libKernelDriverLoad: Failed to open nipalk, errno 2
....

<i>/tmp/nipalk-load.log:</i>
FATAL: Error inserting nipalk (/lib/modules/2.6.9-1.667smp/kernel/natinst/nipal/nipalk.ko): Accessing a corrupted shared library


<i>/tmp/clientKalMake.log</i>
...
Warning: "nNIPAL100_ckalcbInitModule" [/usr/local/natinst/nikal/src/objects/gpibprtk.ko] undefined
...


N.b the file /usr/local/natinst/nikal/src/objects/gpibprtk.ko does not exist.



I'd appreciate any help on where to go from here, what to do or if there are other logs to search for information.

[Jimmie_A.]

Hello!

I might have some information that can be helpful for you.

First we have a forum post that discusses another driver but talks about nikal issues and possible workarounds. Note that these are not tested and verified by NI but customers have played around and been successful

NI-DAQ mx Base for Linux Kernel 2.6? 

http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=250&message.id=11286&view=by_threading&page=1

Errors installing visa on Debian Linux (forum post again)

http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=140&message.id=15485&requireLogin=False

Some things another customer did in addition to make things work:

"I got it installed, and apparently working. Here's how:

Turns out the biggest problem is that the URB API changed, so that

instead of  URB_ASYNC_UNLINK, you need to use usb_unlink_urb(*urb) in nikal. Once that change has been made, you've got to alter the INSTALL script for

ni488 to _not_ try to install the original nikal RPM (as I just said, they're

broken) by commenting out the select line. Either install nikal by hand and update

it with that funky nidDriverUpdate script, or re-roll the RPM (I did the former, due

to a lack of a spec file).

End result is that the PCI GPIB card shows up in gpibexplorer, and passes the tests

in gpibtsw. Could be that it's broken in some subtle way, but I've got high hopes.

Please feel free to pass on this advice to anyone who needs it."