Lesson 2

Configuring Your Hardware

TOPICS
A. Hardware Setup and Installation
B. Target Configuration
C. Input and Output Hardware Configuration
D. Connecting to the Target in LabVIEW

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Configuring Your Hardware

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A. Hardware Setup and
Installation
• Refer to the documentation for your target
hardware for hardware setup and
installation instructions
• Target hardware arrives pre-installed with
operating system
• Classroom systems have been pre-
installed and set up

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Hardware Setup and
Installation, cont.
• hidden slide – do not delete

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Host PC Setup and Installation

• Install the LabVIEW Real-Time Module on

the host computer
• Install necessary drivers for your hardware
on the host computer. Refer to the
documentation for your target hardware
for driver installation instructions

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Configuring Your Hardware

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B. Target Configuration
• Use one of the following connection
methods:
• Connect target and host computer to the
same local area network
• Connect target directly to host computer
using a CAT-5 crossover cable

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Detect the Remote Target
• Use the Measurement & Automation Explorer
(MAX) to detect and configure your RT target
systems
• Host computer must be on the same subnet to
configure the
RT Series target systems

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Configured and Unconfigured
Systems
• An unconfigured RT system will have an IP
address of 0.0.0.0.

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Target Configuration—do not
delete slide, used for notes

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Assign IP Address to Target

• IP Address – the unique address of a device.

−a set of four one- to three-digit numbers in the
range 0–255
−dotted decimal notation. The IP address
224.102.13.24 is an example of dotted
decimal notation.
• Subnet Mask – a code that helps the network
device determine whether another device is
on the same network. 255.255.255.0 is the
most common subnet mask.
• Gateway – address of a gateway server (a
connection between two networks).
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• DNS Address – address of a device that storesng 11
Assign IP Address to Target
• Assign an IP address to your target using
one of these methods:
•

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Static IP – Network Settings
• Static IP Address Configuration for RT
Target
4

2
blank.
leave them 3
available,
not
and DNS are
If a Gateway
1

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Static IP – Crossover Cable

• Crossover Cable
requires
both PC and RT
Target to
use static IP
addresses
• Set PC to use static
IP address
−Control
Panel»Network
Connections
−Local Area
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Static IP – Crossover Cable

• Set host computer • Specify an IP address

to use a static IP • Subnet mask is
address optional
•
• No Gateway or DNS
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Assign IP Address – Automatic
IP
• Automatic IP Address Configuration for RT
Target
3
2

1
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Assign IP Address – Automatic
IP
Automatic IP Address from DHCP Server
•

• Automatically obtains an IP address from

the DHCP server on each reboot. New
address might not be the same. You
must check the address frequently.
− To avoid this, use a static IP.
• Some DHCP servers are not compatible.
Returns 0.0.0.0 after three failed
attempts.

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Add/Remove Software on
Target

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 Exercise 2-1: Configure
Hardware

Configure the cRIO target systems and

•

the I/O hardware using MAX.

GOAL

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Configuring Your Hardware

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C. Input and Output Hardware
Configuration
• Use MAX to configure the remote I/O
hardware if necessary
• Refer to product-specific documentation
for assistance

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 Demonstration

PXI Configuration in MAX

• Demonstrate the configuration of a PXI

system in MAX.
GOAL

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Configuring Your Hardware

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D. Connecting to the Target in
LabVIEW
For LabVIEW to connect to the RT target
•

you must configure the target in a project.

1.Create a project
2.Create a real-time target
3.Connect to the target
4.Add VIs to the target

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LabVIEW Projects

• Projects manage files

and targets
• Projects allow you to
build executables or
use source control
• Targets represent
systems that can run
VIs
−Host computer
−Real-time systems
−FPGA systems
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Adding Folders to a Project
• Virtual folder
− Organizes project items and does not
represent files on disk
• Auto-populating folder
− Adds a directory on disk to the project
− LabVIEW continuously monitors and updates
the folder according to changes made in the
project and on disk

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Project Explorer Views

• Items view • Files view

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Project Libraries

• Group a set of VIs,

controls, and
variables
−Libraries create a
namespace
−Items can be
public/private
L−ib
Allra ry variables
shared
must be in a library
•

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Creating a Project
• Select File»New
Project to open
the Project Explorer
window
• Project starts with
the
My Computer
Target
− Add VIs that run on
the
host computer to
the
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Creating a Real-Time Target
• Right-click the project
in the Project
Explorer window and
selecting
New»Targets and
Devices
• Select the type of RT
target
• Select a device

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Connecting to a Target
• Ways to connect to
a target:
• Right-click the RT
target and select
Connect
• Run a VI on the
target

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Adding VIs to a Target
• Any VIs added to the
target become
targeted to that
system
− Right-click to
create new VIs or
add existing VIs
− Drag VIs from
Windows Explorer
or other project
folders
• Targeted VIs
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Running VIs on a Target
• When you run an RT VI, the compiled code
for the VI downloads to the RT target
• The compiled code on the RT target and the
VI on the RT host exchange data through
front panel communication

Host PC RT Target
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Closing a Front Panel
Connection Without Closing
VIs
• Selecting File»Exit while a
VI runs results in the dialog
box at right:
• Right-click the target and select
Disconnect
− RT VIs continue to run on the target, but
no longer exchange front panel
communication or debugging information
with the host
− Reconnecting to the target automatically
opens and
re-establishes a connection with any
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 Exercise 2-2: Targeting
Real-Time Hardware

Create a LabVIEW project and an RT

•

target to use for the project exercises in

GOAL

the course.
•

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Summary – Quiz

1.Which of following are methods for

connecting target and host
computers?
a.Connect target and host
computers to the same local
area network
b.Connect target computer directly
to host computer using a CAT-5
crossover cable
c.Both a & b
•
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Summary – Quiz Answer

1.Which of following are methods for

connecting a target and host
computer?
a.Connect target and host computer
to the same local area network
b.Connect target directly to host
computer using a CAT-5
crossover cable
c.Both a & b
•

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Summary – Quiz

2.True or False? If your target is configured

to obtain an IP address automatically
from a DHCP server, the target will
have the same IP address every time it
boots up.

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Summary – Quiz Answer

2.True or False? If your target is configured

to obtain an IP address automatically
from a DHCP server, the target will
have the same IP address every time it
boots up.
3.
• False

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Summary – Quiz

3.For LabVIEW to connect to and run VIs on

the RT target, you must create a
________.
a.DHCP server
b.Local Area Network
c.LabVIEW Project

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Summary – Quiz Answer

3.For LabVIEW to connect to and run VIs on

the RT target, you must create a
________.
a.DHCP server
b.Local Area Network
c.LabVIEW Project

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