PCI-6601 - Group Config error -10444 after 9 hours running

[Andrea Pede]

We developed a vi in order to acquire from the unique dma channel of the PCI-6601 counter 4 multiplexed inputs for a period measurement. We use the national VI buffered_measured_period_TIO. Each cycle the VI is supplied with one of the 4 input line.
Everything works fine until the 32211 second of measurement (about 9 hours) and after we receive the -10444 error on the group config block and the card freezes (not the software). We need to switch off and on again the PC to start again.
The cycle of measurement is exactly the one from the original Ni Vi and each cycle the reset is performed.
Looking in the database we found a similar problem after a long running (10hours) and a PCI-6602.
We suppose that after s
everal initialization some internal counter goes in overflow (maybe the TAskID counter?).
Does exist any explanation and workouround to solve this?
Is it possible initialize the card only one time for the 4 channel and how?
Regards
Andrea Pede

[rgharrison]

Hi Andrea,

What is probably happening is that your memory is becoming increasingly fragmented and after 9 hours there are no continuous blocks of memory available. If you are continuously reconfiguring your counters, that is what is morelikely causing the problem. I included an example that uses all 8 counters and only needs to configure them once. A couple other suggestions:
1) What happens when you create a larger buffer? Can you run the program for longer?
2) Have you tried running a disk defrag program on your memory? One suggestion I found on the net was mem-turbo from a shareware site.
3) What happens if you only use 1 counter? Does the error still occur?
4) Some issues (including error 10444) with the NI-DAQ driver and analog input were solved
by upgrading to NI-DAQ 6.9.3. What is your current computer configuration (software, hardware, driver version etc.)? This might help narrow the problem down.

Simultaneous Buffered-Event Counting on All Eight Counters of the 6602 or 6608 Devices
http://sine.ni.com/apps/we/niepd_web_display.display_epd4?p_guid=B45EACE3DC9F56A4E034080020E74861&p_node=DZ52325&p_source=External

Hope that helps. Have a good day.

Ron
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[Andrea Pede]

Many thanks Ron for your advices,
I will take a look to the example you sent and see how it works.
About your question:
1) No. The same problem on two different w98 PC, with different configuration (one in Rome and one in Paris).
2)No I didn't tried but the possibility to have the same problem in the same second after 9H it is a bit statistically improbable. Also cfr 1.
3)Didn't try. I will do it as soon.
4) Nidaq 6.9.3f4... Latest

Keep in touch...
Regards
Andrea

[rgharrison]

Hi Andrea, let me know how the example turns out.

Have a nice day.

Ron