Field Point Explorer looses system configuration.

[Steve T]

My system constists of a Windows 2000 workstation with a fiber NIC connected via a 3COM fiber Ethernet switch switch to a media converter and then to a FP-2000 module. The FP-2000 module is connected to three FP-AI-100 modules.

I am running Lab View 6.1, Field Point 3.0.1, and LV RT 6.1. I can see my ethernet module when I browse for it and have it configured.

The problem arises when I try to find the AI modules. I have to select Find Devices three or more times before I can find the modules in the system. Is this typical?? Eventually modules are found. I can configure the system and save the config to a .iak file. The problem arises when I re-enter Field Point Explorer. When I re-enter FP Explorer, the
devices are listed but inaccessable (red circle with a white X)with a general OPC server error.

All Ethernet connections are good and all FP Module Power/Status indicators are normal. Any thoughts on this one???

Steve T

Programmer/Analyst II
Wind Science and Engineering
Texas Tech University

[Aaron_G]

Steve,

There are several things that may be going on here. First of all, the behavior you describe (browsable network module but failure to Find Devices) is a typical problem when multiple devices on the network have the same IP address. Make sure the FP-20XX module does not have the same IP address as other devices on the network. Also, if most of your network is uses DHCP, make sure that the DHCP server is not allocating the same IP used by the FP-20XX to another computer. Alternatively, there may be a problem with the media converter. I have seen some ethernet to other media converters that are pretty slow. You can try increasing the timeout period settings on the Comm Resource in FieldPoint Explorer.

Regards,
Aaron

[Steve T]

Aaron,

Thanks for the quick response. Before I continue hardware troubleshooting, I'm not confident that my NI software is correctly installed. I am running Windows 2000 Workstation with service pack three. I am using the Administrator account with full admin priviledges to install the NI software. I have three issues. The first is that I get a 1406 error when installing both Lab View 6.1 and Lab View RT 6.1 indicating that certain parts of the registry can't be accessed even from the local admin account. At the end of the install I get a successful install message. However, the sucessful install message doesn't leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling.

The second issue is that the Field Point Vis don't show up in Lab View 6.1 even when they are se
lected for installation.

The third issue is that other that the three supporting services provided with Field Point, are there any other services that are part of Windows 2000 that must be running?

Steve T

[Steve T]

Aaron,

I found an NI posting concerning the 1406 install error. Apparently I need to increse the allowed size of my regisry file. I will try this tomorrow, reinstall everything and report back.

Steve T

[Steve T]

Aaron,

The registry file was 13MB with 55 MB of allotted space. I increased the allotted space fom 55 to 150 MB. Removed all Lab View software and installed everything. Same problems. Lab View still can't access the registry during install and the Field Point Vis are not present in Lab View. Any suggestions?? Is there a patch or fix to correct this??

Steve T