Real-Time file transfer support, but not FTP?

[Thoric]

I may have a requirement to transfer files from a CompactRIO to a networked location, but FTP is not an available option.

I would normally establish a secure FTP server on the network and push my files off the CompactRIO from within the Real-Time code, but FTP isn't an option in this scenario. The circumstances here are:

1. The files must be pushed from the real-time controller to a location on the network.

2. FTP is not an option.

3. No bespoke software can be running on the server to accept a connection for receiving data, an existing and established communication protocol must be used.

Network-streams presumably require a LabVIEW based application on the receiving end, which conflicts with requirement 3 above.

Developing my own TCP/IP communications would also conflict with 3.

I don't believe Real-Time supports Windows networking file/folder sharing protocols?

I'm struggling to see another option here, am I missing anything obvious?

Thanks in advance for your ideas everyone.

[Ben]

I had to google "bespoke" to figure what it meant.

With the standrd methods ruled out I am wondering about some hair-splitting to get around #3.

VI Server is an existing protocol that rides on TCP/IP.

I once read a post by Jean-Pierre Drolet who reported he once forgot his code at home but

He new the IP of his machine at home and LV VI server was enabled.

So...

He invoked the File I/O functions using "invoke node call by reference" and copied the files from home to his office.

VI Server is used in most of the application we develop for RT to handle the complex hand-shaking and data transfers. My peers here seem to choose that option first. As of LV version 6i the RT course taught us that VI server was the way to go.

If that does not split the hair then maybe it will inspire a valide solution.

Ben

[JonN]

I wonder if you could use a USB network storage device?

[Thoric]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for your reply. Philosophically, your idea is interesting, but in reality I think the customer will frown. It still requires them to make changes and install stuff on their server. They'd rather stick with what they know, so I think VI Server is probably a no.

But thanks for the idea!

JonN: Some 'interim' network might be the way we have to go. I was thinking of perhaps a dedicated local PC running an ftp service that only the CompactRIO could access, doesn't need to be anything special, but also linked to the main system network using a second network card and adopting Windows Sharing to enable wider access to the stored files. This should circumvent #3 as the customer isn't setting up FTP on their servers, only on this dedicated PC.

[rolfk]

There is no way to do that. Any protocol will at least require some configuration to allow pushing data to a computer or it is a nice backdoor. As far as existing protocols go, I guess a network share might work, although to get an MS LAN client working on the CompactRIO is probably quite a stretch.

[Thoric]

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@rolfk wrote:

There is no way to do that. Any protocol will at least require some configuration to allow pushing data to a computer or it is a nice backdoor.

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Are you confirming there is no other supported protocol on the real-time controller than FTP? This is what I suspected from my research.

I agree, without an established protocol in place, if it were still possible to put files onto a networked location then there would be a serious breach of network security!

[rolfk]

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@Thoric wrote:

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@rolfk wrote:

There is no way to do that. Any protocol will at least require some configuration to allow pushing data to a computer or it is a nice backdoor.

---

Are you confirming there is no other supported protocol on the real-time controller than FTP? This is what I suspected from my research.

I agree, without an established protocol in place, if it were still possible to put files onto a networked location then there would be a serious breach of network security!

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You misunderstood me here. No protocol, established or not, should allow anyone to put files on a computer without proper authorization that needs to be specifically configured by someone.

[Thoric]

Ah, I see. But I'm not expecting to put files on the network without proper authorisation, I intend to use a proper secure protocol. My question could have been worded better, so maybe should have been: How to push files to a network location securely using an established protocol other than FTP from a CompactRIO?

[RavensFan]

Why is FTP not an option?

[Thoric]

Why no FTP? Beats me, customer says no, not up for debate.