Where does the processing take place when using a remote front panel?

[Billy]

Hi,
I am considering upgrading my LabView software from 6i to 6.1 for the new "two click" remote front panel feature. I have already seen a demo of this feature but have just a few questions before I get the upgrade:

My setup consists of several pieces of equipment connected to Labview via GPIB, to aid in the evaluation of a new microchip.

1. I wish to grant control of the setup to anyone with a web browser, Is the remote monitoring feature compatible with both Netscape and IE?

2. The VI which controls the setup is currently located on the PC beside my setup. When I embed a VI in a remote front panel, where does the processing take place, is the local VI still controlling the setup? and
the remote panel just sending and receiving data from the local VI.

Thanks, Troy

[Lab Viewer]

Hi Troy,

1. I am not using LV 6 yet. But, as far as I understood from a NI Field Engineer, the remote front panel is based on an ActiveX control. Regarding the browsers, you have to wait Netscape to include ActiveX support.

2. The processing is taking place on the same machine (the one hooked to your devices). The browser is just transferring the user interaction from a client to the machine running the test. Anyway, one thing to consider is the bandwidth needed in case the client interaction and front panel changes are intensive.

Hope this helps

[Lab Viewer]

Update:

1. I did a little research and I found out that Netscape is supported too (using plug-ins). If you will encounter any problems related to client's browsers, take a look in Web Browser Returns a Missing Plugin Error with the LabVIEW Run-Time Engine Installed

2. You can read about some other details to consider in Developing Remote Front Panel LabVIEW Applications

Good Luck

[Greg_McKaskle2]

> I am considering upgrading my LabView software from 6i to 6.1 for the
> new "two click" remote front panel feature. I have already seen a demo
> of this feature but have just a few questions before I get the
> upgrade:
>
> My setup consists of several pieces of equipment connected to Labview
> via GPIB, to aid in the evaluation of a new microchip.
>
> 1. I wish to grant control of the setup to anyone with a web browser,
> Is the remote monitoring feature compatible with both Netscape and IE?
>


Yes. Provided they are resonably modern versions.

> 2. The VI which controls the setup is currently located on the PC
> beside my setup. When I embed a VI in a remote front panel, where does
> the processing take place, is the local VI still controlling the
>
setup? and the remote panel just sending and receiving data from the
> local VI.
>


The computer which we refer to as the server, the one with the GPIB card
in your case, will execute as it does now. In fact, its window will
even be open. The remote client computer, the one with the web browser
will be running the runtime engine and processing user events, value
change and property/method events from the server. So in reality, both
computers will be sharing the load a bit. This allows for very small
packets to be sent between the computers. It is in fact quite similar
to publishing the data between the computers using datasocket.

One thing to keep in mind. Standard LV includes a license for one
connection. If you want to allow for multiple web browsers to view at
the same time, additional licenses are available. Also, only one user,
remote or server may be in control of the panel at a time. That means
that if you want to be able to operate the panel, changing kn
obs or
flipping switches, the others will become viewers only until you give up
control. Hopefully this isn't a surprise, but I thought you might want
to hear about it now.


Greg McKaskle