NI-Sync 21.3 for Linux Readme

October 2021


This file contains the latest information about NI-Sync for Linux and supersedes any information found in other documentation included in the distribution.

Refer to NI Linux Technology for the most recent information about Linux support at National Instruments.

Refer to NI-Sync Release Notes for known issues, bugs fixed since the last release, and other release details.


System Requirements

NI-Sync software for Linux 64-bit architecture has been tested on the following distributions:

  • openSUSE Leap 15.2
  • openSUSE Leap 15.1
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • CentOS 8
  • CentOS 7
  • Ubuntu 20.04
  • Ubuntu 18.04

NI-Sync for Linux requires a 64-bit distribution and does not support 32-bit applications.

Installation

NI provides a repository add-on for all supported drivers that you can install using your Linux distribution's native package manager.

  1. Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code LinuxRepository.
  2. Download the installer for the repository add-on for your Linux distribution.
  3. Run the command (e.g., rpm, apt, etc.) to install the repository add-on.
  4. Select and install the following NI-Sync driver packages through your Linux distribution's package manager:
    • ni-sync
    • (C support) libnisync1-devel
    • (LabVIEW support) ni-sync-labview-[year]-support

After the driver package(s) are installed, you must rebuild the new packages for the system kernel. NI recommends that you run the command 'dkms autoinstall' after installation, and before rebooting the system, to install the latest revision of all modules that have been installed for other kernel revisions. After doing so, the installed device drivers will function immediately on the next system start.

Supported Hardware

NI-Sync for Linux supports the following timing and synchronization hardware:

  • PXIe-6674T

Examples

This release includes examples showing the use of NI-Sync in C and LabVIEW.

C examples are located in /usr/share/doc/libnisync1/examples/ansi_c. A makefile is provided that links to the necessary libraries.

The LabVIEW examples are located in the LabVIEW examples directory.

Documentation and Help

Use a web browser to view the NI-Sync documentation at ni.com.

Linux Limitations

Some features discussed in the NI-Sync documentation are unavailable on Linux.

  • NI-Sync for Linux supports two application development environments:
    • LabVIEW (64-bit): 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021
    • C and C++ (gcc)
  • NI-Sync for Linux does not support other ADEs, such as the LabVIEW Real-Time Module, LabWindows/CVI, Microsoft Visual C/C++, or Microsoft Visual Basic.
  • While NI-Sync for Linux includes LabVIEW VIs, it does not provide other graphical utilities that are available for other operating systems:
    • LabVIEW Express VIs
    • The Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) graphical configuration utility. To read device aliases and device properties, use the lsni command.
    • Soft front panels.

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