My cFP time server in NI-MAX appears in reverse order !!

[dfousek]

Hi 

I am trying to  synchronize several cFP-2120 modules (using Fieldpoint 6.09) and I am getting mad  when I set

as time server the: 192.168.9.102 and the module after Save/Reboot displays it in reverse order (see picture) !!!

What kind of bug is it ?

Regards,

Dimitri

[Eric_LV]

That's a very peculiar bug.  What version of MAX are you using?  I'd like to check and see if the issue is with MAX or with your FieldPoint.  If you could FTP into your cFP controller and post a copy of your INI file I could take a look and see if the cFP is seeing the time server address backwards or not.  

[dfousek]

Hi Eric !

The NI-MAX version I use is 5.0.0f1. As you can imagine, I tried several times (by rebooting my cFP-2120s, my PC) so that

NI-MAX finally displays (attached picture) the correct time server (of course no sync. was taking place, and I was stuck).

After your reply, I looked at the ni-rt.ini file (attached) and the time server is still in reverse order !!!

However, I got no message that the 2 configurations mismatch....

Now, while waiting for your reply, I will try to edit ni-rt.ini file to see if I can sync. my modules.

Normally, in order to have my 5 modules time-synchronized in a local LAN (behind a firewall though), I suppose that all it is required is the two actions below:

1) set the one as time server

2) 'point' all the others' time-servers to the 'master' one.

As a test, within NI-MAX, I modify the Master's time and I expect that within 10sec all the others are equally modified.

Am I wrong?

Finally, I would really appreciate if you can advise me on the following:

I want my distributed cFPs (5x cFP-2120+AI118+CTR500) continuously acquire data at ~1-2Hz and store time-series in CFlash cards.

So, the deterministic loop, in all of them, does this. Now, I want to monitor with a browser the process, without affecting the data acquisition.

Which is the way to go? Remote panels or Web Services ? 

Regards,

Dimitri

[dfousek]

Hi again Eric !

I just want to let you know that when I edited the .ini file with the correct setting, time-synchronization took place.

However, when I launched afterwards NI-MAX, then the time-server appeared in reverse order again !! 

Then, I modified several times the Master time, checking whether the Slaves follow, by monitoring: 1) NI-MAX 2) my actual application.

The result is that my application refreshes automatically OK, but not NI-MAX. I have to press several times the Refresh button and yet it doen't display always the correct time (that appears in my browser's remote panels).

Peculiar, isn't it ?

Dimitri

[Eric_LV]

You may want to do a MAX Reset Data Configuration, or a repair of MAX because it sounds like MAX is the only thing at fault.  As for your remote panel/web service if you are looking to check the front panel from just one computer I would recommend the Remote Front Panel.  a helpful tutorial can be found in the link below

http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3277

[dfousek]

Hi Eric !

I just re-checked the entire configuration and the peculiar problem with the reverse display of the time server's IP address persists.

How can this happen ?

Right now, I am obliged to work by direct editing the ni-rt.ini file. If NI-MAX reads the configuration file, it displays it in reverse....

By the way, is there a setting to configure the time-synchronization between my cFP-2120s to a value other than 10sec ?

Regards,

Dimitri

[Eric_LV]

This is such a strange issue.  When you did the MAX reset configuration data was the INI file edited to the correct IP address?  Have you tried using the same timeserver on another computer and see fi it is in the correct order?

[dfousek]

Yes, Eric, the bug appears not only in my desktop PC, but in my laptop too (using again: NI-MAX 5.0.0f1 and FieldPoint 6.0.9).

It writes down correctly the Time Server's IP: 192.168.9.102 (confirmed by FTP the ni-rt.ini) but when closing and restarting NI-MAX, then it reads 102.9.168.192 !!!

The workaround I found is to ignore NI-MAX reading and trust only that of the ni-rt.ini file.

By the way, is there a setting to configure the time-synchronization between my cFP-2120s to a value other than 10sec ?

Regards,

Dimitri

[Eric_LV]

Hey Dimitri,

Your Fieldpoint uses the NI-Logos program for time synchronization, it seems that the only configurable setting using Logos is the IP address for the Time Server.  This means the interval for synchronization is not able to be changes as far as I can tell.  Other Real-Time Controllers have different Time Server programs and can be changed, but not the cFP 2120.  

As for your original issue, at this point it seems it's a bug with the cFP because it is consistent on both computers.  All I can suggest is a software reformat to see if that clears up the issue.  

[dfousek]

Hi Eric !

It took me ~1 day to download the latest versions (2011sp1, FP 6.0.10) and to clean install to my test-PC.

The result is that the bug remains as I explained before.

Dimitri