05-21-2012 12:07 AM
We have a PXI Controller 8106 which is running on Windows OS. We want to run it on Real Time OS from NI. What steps I need to perform to install that. Currrently when I boot in LabView RT fron BIOS, it displays "Transferring Control to User Program. System Unconfigured, Rebooting ...". I am able to connect it to MAX through Host PC and able to install Veristand 2011. But it does not reflect while booting Controller.
Solved! Go to Solution.
05-21-2012 02:45 PM
When converting from Windows to RT, there are some very important things you must do to manage the conversion; the big one is your hard disk. Your hard disk must be formatted with a FAT32 partition - most likely Windows formatted it NTFS, which RT cannot read or use. Converting your disk will be a manual step for you; if you follow these steps you can use an RT PC Desktop Utility disk to perform the swap (these instructions done with a PXI-8106):
First we have to put a FAT32 partition on it, and format.
Now we have to get the controller to think it's a PXI controller and not an RT Desktop PC
Now let's put the controller into RT mode so we can use it.
There you go. Now you're ready to deterministically rule the world.
-Danny
05-22-2012 08:02 AM
Hi Danny,
I'm interested you don't mention licenses. So is there any reason (other than convenience) why we shouldn't all buy the significantly cheaper Windows PXI systems and install the RTOS ourselves?
Thanks,
Ian
05-22-2012 01:07 PM
There's no active licensing mechanism on the RT controller, but we do require that you have a license for each RT deployment you have - when you boot the controller using the USB key, you'll see a great message in solid white:
Also, when you format the controller, you'll see a similar message:
The LabVIEW Real-Time Module requires a unique
deployment license for each PC you use as an RT target. Refer to ni.com/info
and enter the info code "RT_Deployment" for information about purchasing the
NI LabVIEW Real-Time Deployment License for Standard PCs.
When you purchase a PXI controller for Windows, you aren't guaranteed to get an RT BIOS extension with the controller; some of our controllers (such as the PXIe-8130) have Windows and RT variants of the hardware that will determine what you can run. So, if you purchase a Windows PXIe-8130 you actually cannot run RT on that controller.
Additionally, when you purchase the RT variant of a controller, you get a license bundled with that purchase. You do not get a license bundled with the Windows variant.
-Danny
05-23-2012 11:17 AM
08-13-2012 04:54 PM
Hi Danny,
I tried these instructions and was not successful. In step 12 where Option 6 should be Format Options, I have Format Disk. When I choose it, it won't format because it is not already FAT16 or FAT32.
Is there is a size restriction on the USB drive? You say make sure it's at least 256Mb, but can it be too big. I'm using an 8Gb USB thumb drive.
Thanks for any extra information you can provide.
Ralph
08-13-2012 05:18 PM
There is a maximum size to the USB Flash Drive; a Utilities drive made pre-LVRT 2010 has a maximum of 256GB, but for 2010 and newer it's something like 2TB - you're definitely not in any danger of either limitation with an 8GB thumbdrive. The minimum size restriction isn't really a "restriction", it has to do with how the USB "auto" Emulation in the BIOS will treat the drive - you may have to force USB emulation to force an HDD emulation if you're below 256MB (otherwise it may treat it as a floppy drive, which isn't supported for the Utilities drive). I've used 8GB thumbdrives personally with no problem, though daily I use primarily 2GB and 4GB drives.
Yes - if your menu just says, "Format Disk" then you're using an older Utilities image - that image doesn't have the ability to obliterate the partition and create a new one from scratch, it can only format what's there (and only if it's FAT). I highly recommend updating your boot drive image, you can download an updated imager free here:
Just extract, and run the USBCreate.exe program to create your drive. This set of utilties is backwards compatible, so the file partitions you create are still usable with LVRT back to 7.1.1. However, the PC Evaluator functionality is for 2012 - so if the PC Evaluator says it's compatible you need to verify on your version of RT.
-Danny
08-13-2012 05:45 PM
Thank you for your quick reply. I'll try in the morning.
FYI, I'm using MAX 4.6.1; LabView 8.2.1; LabView 8.2
Thanks again,
Ralph
08-14-2012 09:40 AM
Danny,
That did the trick. Thanks!
Ralph
08-14-2012 03:43 PM
I have one more issue.
Everything seems to be setting up fine. Until I start configuring the Devices. Typically they would show up as "PXI1SLOT2." I have 4 cards that show up as "DEV1" "DEV2" and so on. When you click on it, it doesn't know the slot or the chassis.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Ralph