Do I need the FPGA Module if I am just accessing a Bitfile?

[rds2112]

Obviously I need something, because my program will not load the bitfile. Seems like there should be a way to access the "host" side of the FPGA, i.e. access the bitfile, without having full-blown FPGA Module installed. On this particular machine, I don't want to do any FPGA programing, I just want to use the FPGA as a "black box".

[Terry_ALE · Accepted solution]

This is definitely possible.

See https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/labview-fpga-module/page/lvfpgahosthelp/interface_no_module.htm...

Depending on which device you are using, see https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YHPfCAO&l=en-US

I think you may just need the drivers (e.g., FlexRIO, R Series) for the board you are using. Which board are you using?

[rds2112]

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@Terry_ALE wrote:

I think you may just need the drivers (e.g., FlexRIO, R Series) for the board you are using. Which board are you using?

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Thanks for you help. The FPGA is a PXIe-7857 and the controller is a PXIe-8861. When I load the program, it's trying to find the things in the attached.

edit: the things done in the links you provided are known and have been done. The bitfile has been made and accessed and has been working for a few years. My question is more on the lines of: "what must I install to get THAT stuff to work, hoping its not the full-blown FPGA Module.".

[crossrulz]

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@rds2112 wrote:
The FPGA is a PXIe-7857

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That is an R-Series board, so you will need the NI R Series Multifunction RIO Driver.  Just find that version that works with your version of LabVIEW.

[rds2112]

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@Terry_ALE wrote:

I think you may just need the drivers (e.g., FlexRIO, R Series) for the board you are using. Which board are you using?

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Thanks all. It was indeed only the drivers that I needed. The confusion was that the drivers WERE installed, yet LabVIEW on my newly built machine wasn't giving me the FPGA interface nodes. The issue, I guess, was a broken installation of the drivers. I re-installed and, with no other work besides the re-install, everything is now working.