Archived: NI LabVIEW RIO Evaluation Kit FAQ

Where should I connect the included Ethernet Cable?
The easiest way to connect to your LabVIEW RIO evaluation kit over Ethernet is via a local network with a DHCP server.  If you're connected to a network in your home or office, there is likely a DHCP server on the network which automatically assigns IP addresses to connected network devices.

If this describes your network configuration, simply use the included Ethernet cable to connect the target to a router or switch on the same network as your Windows development PC. This will allow the target to receive an IP address from your DHCP server automatically. If this does not describe your network configuration, see the next section.

A network with DHCP is not available to me.  How else can I connect to my evaluation hardware?
If the DHCP connection method described above is not available, you may connect the RIO evaluation hardware directly to your computer and follow the steps below to manually configure a static IP address. If your Windows PC has only one Ethernet port, this will require disconnecting from whatever network your computer was previously on. It is not advised to have more than one network interface card with hardware directly connected. Once the RIO evaluation hardware is directly connected to your PC, plug in the power supply and follow these steps to configure a static IP address:

While using the NI LabVIEW RIO Evaluation Setup Utility (Start »All Programs»National Instruments»LabVIEW RIO Evaluation Kit), on Step 4 you should be prompted to configure the target's network settings. In the Manual section, type the target’s static IP address and Subnet Mask as shown below and click Manual IP.

IP address:10.0.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
DNS IP: 0.0.0.0
Default Gateway: 0.0.0.0

1. While the utility is setting the kit’s IP address, open Control Panel.
   • Windows Vista/7 default start menu: Start » Control Panel
   • Windows 8 Start Screen: PC Settings » Control Panel
2. View Network Connections.
   • Windows Vista/7/8:  select Network and Sharing Center
   • <IMAGE>

1. 4. Open Connection Properties. 
   • Windows Vista/7: Click Local Area Connection, then select Properties
     
     

• Windows 8: Click Ethernet connection then select Properties
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1. 5. Open Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties.

• Windows Vista/7/8: Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) from the list, then select Properties

Note: if configuration fails with this selection, you may need to configure Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) instead.

2.6. Configure Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties.

• Windows XP/Vista/7/8: Select Use the following IP address: and enter the following values for your laptop’s configuration
  (leave the rest blank):

            IP address: 10.0.0.1
           Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

3. Select OK and close the Local Area Connection Properties (Windows 7) or Ethernet Status (Windows 8) window.

4. The target should now have an acceptable static IP address, allowing you to continue through the Setup Utility.

5. If you have any issues with the setup utility, the target static IP address can also be configured in NI MAX (Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI MAX) following the instructions here.

What will be installed when I run the DVD installer?
The LabVIEW RIO Evaluation DVD will install 90-day extended evaluations of NI LabVIEW, LabVIEW FPGA Module, and the LabVIEW Real-Time Module. It will also include the NI-RIO driver, LCD Character Display Driver, FPGA Interface C API, C/C++ Development  Tools for NI Linux Real-Time: Eclipse Edition, and a setup utility for configuring the evaluation hardware. 

What else is on the DVD?
In addition to the installer, the LabVIEW RIO Evaluation DVD contains a tutorial, exercises, and additional getting started resources. These files are automatically copied to your computer when you run the DVD installer, but are accessible on the DVD if you ever need to restore your files.

I already have licensed version(s) of LabVIEW on my computer. Will this installer conflict with my licenses?

The evaluation licenses included in this installer should not override existing licenses unless they are evaluation licenses of a shorter duration. In other words, if you have activated versions of NI software, they should not be affected by installing this kit. If you already have evaluation licenses of NI software with a shorter duration, they will be extended by this installer.

If you have an existing LabVIEW development license that is a version later than the evaluation software included with the kit and you ran the setup utility, then you may need to reinstall your NI-RIO driver after the LabVIEW installation.

My evaluation software has expired. How do I activate it so I can continue using it?

The LabVIEW RIO Evaluation DVD is for evaluation purposes only and cannot be activated. If you are satisfied with the software and would like to continue using it, please contact a NI sales representative, or visit ni.com to find the product right for you.

I've installed the LabVIEW RIO Evaluation software. Now what?

After installing the evaluation software, reboot your computer. After the reboot, a program titled National Instruments LabVIEW RIO Evaluation Setup should automatically launch. This program will help you verify that the RIO evaluation hardware is set up correctly and is ready to be used in the tutorials. Use the Next button to go through all five steps of the setup program.

If this program does not appear automatically after the first reboot, you should be able to launch it by selecting Start»All Programs»National Instruments»LabVIEW RIO Evaluation Kit»Setup Utility.

Note: Your firewall software may prompt you to block or unblock this program from communicating with the target. Select unblock at these prompts and ensure the necessary ports are unblocked in your firewall. You can find a listing of ports here: Configuring Software and Hardware Firewalls to Support NI Products.

I've scanned for devices, but my RIO evaluation hardware doesn't appear. What's wrong?
First, check the troubleshooting tips included in the setup utility. If these do not resolve your problem, there may be something wrong with your hardware, firewall configuration, or network. One way to troubleshoot is to force the RIO evaluation hardware back into a known network configuration. To do this:

1. Hold the Reset button down for 5 seconds, then release it. The Status LED turns on, then starts blinking three times every few seconds. The device is now in Safe Mode to attempt a new DHCP connection.
   
2. Hold the Reset button down again for 5 seconds, then release it. The Status LED repeats the same behavior. The RIO evaluation device attempts to establish a new DHCP connection. Wait a few minutes; if it fails, it assigns itself a link-local IP address. This process may take a few minutes for the computer and kit to negotiate a link-local IP address. If the DHCP connection is successful and appropriate for your application, skip to step 4.
   
3. Configure the IP and other network settings in NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (NI MAX) as instructed in the Getting Started with CompactRIO Hardware and LabVIEW tutorial.
   
4. Press and release the hardware Reset button to reboot the device.
    

If you are still not successful in connecting with your target, please follow these troubleshooting steps or contact NI support at ni.com/ask.

I'm being prompted to configure my target's network settings. What should I choose?

Before testing the configuration, the program may need to configure the target's network settings and/or install LabVIEW software to the target.  If the target does not have a valid IP address, you will be prompted to configure the target's network settings. You should see two options, one Automatic and one Manual. If you're using the USB Host-to-Host cable, choose Static IP in the Setup Utility and leave the default IP address as-is. For Ethernet, in most cases, you will want to select the automatic option. This is for targets connected to the Windows development PC through a network router or switch with IP addresses assigned by a DHCP server.  If you're not sure what type of network you have, try this option first. If you need to manually assign an IP address to meet your IT requirements and if you configured it as described above, you should be able to just select Manual IP with the default values. Otherwise, follow the tips in the setup program to determine the appropriate settings.

My target is detected, but it tells me that "Installing Target Software failed."

Failure to install software to a detected target may be due to the target having an IP address on a different subnet. The last step on the Hardware Detection troubleshooting page explains how to manually clear your IP address so that you can reconfigure it with the utility. These steps are as follows:

1. Hold the Reset button down for 5 seconds, then release it. The Status LED turns on, then starts blinking three times every few seconds. The device is now in Safe Mode to attempt a new DHCP connection.
   
2. Hold the Reset button down for 5 seconds, then release it. The Status LED repeats the same behavior. The RIO evaluation device attempts to establish
   a new DHCP connection. Wait a few minutes; if it fails, it assigns itself a link-local IP address. This process may take a few minutes for the computer and kit to negotiate a link-local IP address. If the DHCP connection is successful and appropriate for your application, skip to step 4.
   
3. Configure the IP and other network settings in NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (NI MAX) as instructed in the Getting Started with CompactRIO Hardware and LabVIEW tutorial.
   
4. Press and release the Reset button to reboot the device.
    

After doing this, wait a few moments for your target to finish booting and select Rescan for Targets on the Hardware Detection page. 

Your target should appear (again), but this time you should be prompted to configure its network settings. If this succeeds, the setup utility should now be able to communicate with your target.

The setup program gets to the Hardware Test step, but it shows a Deployment Failed error.

If the target is not configured correctly, deployment will fail and you should see a troubleshooting screen. If there do not seem to be any problems with the hardware connections and settings, the target software may have somehow become corrupt. To perform a system restore on the target, note the warnings in the setup program and select Restore Target System.

 This will reformat the target, prompt you to configure the target's IP address (see above), and then re-image the target. This process may take several minutes. Once this completes, the program should attempt to test the target again.

If this fails, try manually resetting the target's IP address as explained above. Then retry restoring the target.

The setup program says that "Deployment Finished," but I do not see the LCD displaying text. 

The small board for the LCD on the target may be improperly connected.  Look closely at where these two boards connect and ensure that they are fitting together and that the small board is securely attached (there should be no more than 1-2 mm of visible pins between the connectors). Next ensure the LCD Contrast knob, located to the left of the screen, is adjusted to be visible. If the LCD is obviously connected correctly and adjusting contrast doesn't help, it may be defective. Please contact NI Support (ni.com/ask) for help.

I have received an "Unhandled Error." What do I do now?

If for some reason you encounter an Unhandled Error Detected screen, there is something wrong with your network configuration. First, retry the operation that failed. If this still causes an error, follow the troubleshooting tips below. If none of these succeed in fixing the problem, please contact NI for support.

• Ensure that the target is powered on (one of the four LEDs on the edge of the main board should be on) and located on the same subnetwork as the host PC.
• The Evaluation Kit may not have the correct software installed on it. If you can see the device in MAX under remote systems, then pick the drop down beside it, and right click the software tab. Follow the add or remove software wizard to install software consistent with the version of LabVIEW you are using. 
• Press the hardware Reset button (next to the Ethernet jack on the main board). Wait a minute for the target to boot before trying the operation again.
• Check to see that the LEDs in the Ethernet jack are on or blinking. If they are not, ensure that the cable is fully connected at both ends, the Ethernet switch or router is powered on, and that the cable itself is not faulty (may need to try another cable to verify this).
• A firewall may be blocking communication with the target. Try temporarily reconfiguring or turning off your firewall to see if this fixes the problem. For more specific ports to open, read Configuring Software and Hardware Firewalls to Support NI Products. Warning: Leaving your computer in this state may make it vulnerable to attack. When you are finished troubleshooting, remember to restore the original firewall settings.
• If you have a wireless network, disable it and try again.
• If you are using a virtual machine or Parallels®, be sure it is a bridged connection so that the computer and hardware are configured to be on the same subnet and that the Eval Setup application has Public access enabled on the Windows firewall.
• If you are still not successful in connecting with your target, please follow these troubleshooting steps or contact NI support at ni.com/ask.

If you have completed all of the included tutorials, join the ni.com/rioeval/nextstep community to find more advanced exercises, ask questions on the discussion form, read industry case studies, and explore NI embedded systems products.