Simulate (or comment out) EtherCAT devices within a project

[WNM]

Given a project topology like this:

Windows PC Host  <-> cRIO-9024 <-> NI-9114 backplane <-> NI-9144 EtherCAT #1 <-> NI-9144 EtherCAT #2   which is run in hybrid scan mode,   during development I wish that it were possible to, for example, tell the project to run without EtherCAT #2 being physically connected, instead using virtual/simulated IO. As things stand now, when I try to switch from Configuration to Active mode, I get an error saying that "the slave device cannot be found".

More generally, I often find myself thinking that the project explorer needs a good way to "comment out" various pieces of the project without having to resort to "Remove From Project".

[WNM]

Given a project topology like this:

Windows PC Host  <-> cRIO-9024 <-> NI-9114 backplane <-> NI-9144 EtherCAT #1 <-> NI-9144 EtherCAT #2   which is run in hybrid scan mode,   during development I wish that it were possible to, for example, tell the project to run without EtherCAT #2 being physically connected, instead using virtual/simulated IO. As things stand now, when I try to switch from Configuration to Active mode, I get an error saying that "the slave device cannot be found".

More generally, I often find myself thinking that the project explorer needs a good way to "comment out" various pieces of the project without having to resort to "Remove From Project".

[carlos_camargo]

This is very necessary.  It seems Ethercat is quite poorly supported in LabVIEW.  Even communication between slaves and masters can't be done without resorting to RT or some other host.  Direct FPGA to FPGA communication should be supported.