DAQMx Driver Download Size

[jspaarg]

Is anyone else bothered  by the method needed to download the DAQmx driver updates; and especially the MAX application?

I just finished downloading 8.3.1.  It is a 583M zip file that I had to do overnight because it took so long.

It is also not a self-extracting zip that performs an autorun.  It requires the user to unzip the file to a temp directory.

Once in the temp directory it is 694M of file of which 133M is PDF.

While I don't know how much of the rest is unneeded, it seems at a minimum the PDF can be a separate download to save time and space.

This seems dramatic overkill when I all I really want to do is update MAX!

I am stuck with have to download a huge file, extract it, run an installer that takes five-ten minutes just for MAX.

Even if I wanted the full DAQmx, it seems that a better way should exist.

[jspaarg]

Not only that, I just tried to do the install and got the error:

Developer Error.  The following errors were found in your ini file:

1. Specified file not found: [MsiEngine]WinNTPath = SupportFiles\instmsiw.exe.

Correct the ini file and try again.

Thanks NI.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Since I have a high speed connection at both work and home, the size doesn't bother me that much but I can see where it would be a big problem with a dial-up connection. My suggestion would be for you to contact your local sales engineer and ask if he or she could burn a CD for you or drop by and let you make a copy.

[jspaarg]

I don't have a dial-up, I have a TCP/IP connection at work.  I started the download an hour before I left and it was 39% done when I went home.

It's not just the download time.  It is also the fact that it isn't an application that performs the install.

Most other downloads that I get (either free or purchased) come as a self-extracting zip and the downloaded file performs the installation.

It seems that NI could at least do that much.

[Jesse_O]

Hello,

When you are programming with DAQmx you will want to download full DAQmx as you have done.  There are smaller Run-Time version available here, and the file size can drop to under 200 MB.

I just downloaded DAQmx 8.3.1 and tried the installation.  It works ok for me.  If you are still having problems installing DAQmx 8.3.1 please let me know.

I hope this helps,

Jesse O.
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[jspaarg]

---

@jesse O wrote:
Hello,

When you are programming with DAQmx you will want to download full DAQmx as you have done.  There are smaller Run-Time version available here, and the file size can drop to under 200 MB.

I just downloaded DAQmx 8.3.1 and tried the installation.  It works ok for me.  If you are still having problems installing DAQmx 8.3.1 please let me know.

I hope this helps,

Jesse O.
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

---

Once again, this is not the point.

Why doesn't the download come as a self-extracting zip that installs itself?  WinZip self-extractor is about $50.

Why do I have to download 133M of PDF if all I want to do is update the driver?

Why do I have to download a 580M zip file if all I want to do is update MAX?

I understand that MAX comes with all drivers, but even the smallest ones are still a 100M zip file.

Why can't MAX be downloaded by itself?

[Jesse_O]

When a new driver is released it will ship with all the documentation PDF files because there are usually additions or small updates made to some of them.  However, I agree that 133MB of PDF files would take a lot of time to download on a dial up connection.  You are also correct in saying that MAX ships with our drivers and not as a standalone application.  If you already have an existing driver on your machine that installed MAX, you will typically not need to update just MAX.  We do appreciate the feedback, and if you would like to place a product suggestion for MAX to be available by itself or a DAQ install with ATE support but no manuals  you can do that here.

Regards,

Jesse O.
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[jspaarg]

I don't know where this "dial up" connection comment keeps coming from, but I have a TCP/IP connection at work and a high-speed cable at home.

The time is not necessarily the issue, although downloading 580 M of file takes a long time even at broadband speeds.

The reason for wanting to download a new version of MAX is simply that MAX also gets updated occasionally.  Features are added, bugs are fixed, etc.

It still works with older versions of other drivers.

[Dennis_Knutson]

I think the confusion about your type of connection is the actual time it took to download. I just downloaded the latest version and it took 30 minutes. My cable modem at home took much less time (about 20). I really encourage you to go to the link provided and make a product suggestion. NI really pays attention to what is posted there.