Recovering from a partial RT Image

[nate]

We use the RT Replication VI to setup our RT controllers.  Recently we had the imaging process get interrupted due to a network failure.  After the failure we could no longer see the RT controller in MAX.  In order to get it back up and running, we had to format the CF card (we are using the 8145RT card).  Is there a way to recover from a partial install other then formating the CF card?  I was hoping that putting the controller in User-Defined Safe Mode would allow it to reappear in MAX, but it doesn't.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[LaurenLL]

Hi Nate,

When a network process gets interrupted, it basically corrupts the connection and leaves an open reference.  To the best of my understanding, the only way to fix that is to reformat it, which it sounds like you have done already.  I am sorry that there is not an easier solution.

Regards,

Lauren

[nate]

I thought that putting the controller in safe-mode caused the controller to boot from ROM.  If this worked, we would be able to re-configure the controller using MAX.  If safe-mode does not do this, what shoud safe-mode be used for then?

[LaurenLL]

Hi Nate,

Safe-mode does indeed boot from ROM, and it should allow you to reconfigure from MAX.  It is possible, given the situation that caused the corruption, that you may have been in something other than user-defined safe mode.  How exactly did you set the controller to safe mode?  Did you check the VGA input of the controller when it was set in safe mode?  If you did, or if this happens again, could you send me the message that appears?

Regards,

Lauren

Message Edited by Lauren L on 04-08-2008 04:55 PM

[nate]

I moved the S3 switch forward.  I did not check serial-redirect to see the output from the controller.

[LaurenLL]

Hi Nate,

My best guess is that you were actually in Safe Mode-Software Error, as opposed to User Directed Safe Mode, resulting in the behavior you experienced.  I know that you already reformatted, so you cannot go back and check to be sure.  If the situation occurs again, check the actual safe mode in the BIOS and let me know.

Regards,

Lauren

[nate]

We were able to reproduce the issue.  Below is the serial output from the unit after the issues has ocurred.  The S3 switch for user-defined safe mode is enabled.

/fGeneral Software Pentium Embedded BIOS (tm) Version 4.3
Copyright (C) 2000 General Software, Inc.
National Instruments PXI-8140RT
BIOS Version 1.423;01H(C) 2000 General Software, Inc.
Pentium-4.3-6E69-EA4E;1;:6H08;01HHit ^C if you want to run SETUP.06;01H00000016K Low Memory Passed0000006400000128000001920000025600000320000003840000044800000512000005760000064000000640
00000000K Ext Memory Passed0000051200001024000015360000204800002560000030720000358400004096000046080000512000005632000061440000665600007168000076800000819200008704000092160000972800010240000107520001126400011776000122880001280000013312000138240001433600014848000153600001587200016384000168960001740800017920000184320001894400019456000199680002048000020992000215040002201600022528000230400002355200024064000245760002508800025600000261120002662400027136000276480002816000028672000291840002969600030208000307200003123200031744000322560003276800033280000337920003430400034816000353280003584000036352000368640003737600037888000384000003891200039424000399360004044800040960000414720004198400042496000430080004352000044032000445440004505600045568000460800004659200047104000476160004812800048640000491520004966400050176000506880005120000051712000522240005273600053248000537600005427200054784000552960005580800056320000568320005734400057856000583680005888000059392000599040006041600060928000614400006195200062464000629760006348800064000000645120006451208;01Hs                                    u08;01HWait.....

PCI Device Table.
Bus Dev Func VendID DevID Class              Irq
 00  00  00   8086   7100  Host Bridge       
 00  07  00   8086   7110  ISA Bridge        
 00  07  01   8086   7111  IDE Controller    
 00  07  02   8086   7112  Serial Bus         9
 00  07  03   8086   7113  PCI Bridge        
 00  08  00   104C   AC28  PCI-to-PCI Bridge 
 00  09  00   8086   1209  Ethernet           9
 01  0E  00   1093   2AB0  Unknown Device     9
 01  0F  00   1093   2B10  Unknown Device     9
Calling ROM extension...
Booting in safe mode...
2J01;01H02;01H03;01H04;01H05;01H06;01H07;01H08;01H09;01H10;01H11;01H01;01Hs+u01;
02Hs----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--u01;80Hs+u02;01Hs|u02;80Hs|u03;01Hs|u03;80Hs|u04;01Hs|u04;80Hs|u05;01Hs|u05;80
Hs|u06;01Hs|u06;80Hs|u07;01Hs|u07;80Hs|u08;01Hs|u08;80Hs|u09;01Hs|u09;80Hs|u10;0
1Hs|u10;80Hs|u11;01Hs+u11;02Hs--------------------------------------------------
----------------------------u11;80Hs+u02;12HSystem BIOS Configuration, (C) 2000
General Software, Inc.03;01Hs+u03;02Hs------------------------------------------
------------------------------------u03;80Hs+u04;41Hs|u05;41Hs|u06;41Hs|u07;41Hs
|u08;41Hs|u09;41Hs|u10;41Hs|u03;41Hs+u11;41Hs+u04;03HSystem CPU           : 04;2
6HPentium04;43HLow Memory           : 04;66H638KB05;03HCoprocessor          : 05
;26HEnabled 05;43HExtended Memory      : 05;66H63MB06;03HFloppy 0 Type        :
06;26HNot installed06;43HSerial Ports 1-2     : 06;66H03F806;70H 06;71H02F806;75
H 06;76H07;03HFloppy 1 Type        : 07;26HNot installed07;43HSerial Ports 3-4 
   : 07;66H07;70H 07;71H07;75H 07;76H08;03HIde 0 Type           : 08;26H308;43HP
arallel Ports       : 08;66H037808;70H 08;71H08;75H 08;76H09;03HIde 1 Type     
     : 09;26H309;43HROM Shadowing        : 09;66HEnabled 10;03HEmbedded BIOS Dat
e   : 10;26H12/15/0310;43HManufacturing Mode   : 10;66HDisabled12;01HIntel8255x
Ethernet found.

Initializing network...done.
IP address is 1.1.1.48

[LaurenLL]

Hi Nate,

The serial output states that you are using a PXI-8140, but you mentioned in your first post that you are using the 8145. 
Although the 8145 is part of the 8140 series, I don't believe that it reads that in the serial output.  Also what version of Real
Time are you running? 

This is an older controller that I am not quite as familiar with, but I am looking into it.  Let me know if there are any
developments.

Regards,

Lauren

[nate]

Yes, we are using the 8145RT and yes, it does show that it is a 8140 not a 8145.  It even showes that it is a PXI-8140RT in MAX for the model even though it is an 8145.  You can check out the informaiton based on the serial # 2F10CA2B.  I have even attached a screen shot of MAX with the unit selected under Remote Systems. 

We are currently using LabVIEWRT 8.2.1. 

[LaurenLL]

Hi Nate,

Just to verify, the serial output you included in the previous post is what you saw after a network failure, when you booted into safe mode using the dip switches?  And at the point where you saw this, you could not detect the controller in MAX?

When it is reformatted and working properly, is the serial output any different when set in safe mode?  How about if you set it to safe mode from the BIOS?

Regards,

Lauren