different RT versions, not compatible

[Graziano]

Hi all!
   I'm evaluating LabView 8.5 and it's drivers.

   Previously, we shiped good products with LV 7.1, RT, and fieldpoint drivers 4.  Now, I'd like to turn to 8.5.  But....

   ...this issues a maintainability problem! If I have LV 8.5 + FieldPoint 6.0 on my PC, and try to access old cFP-2020 with RT 7.1, I get an error.  The same happens if I have LV 7.1 and try to access a later version of RT target.  

    This means that each version of FieldPoint drivers is compatible only with it, on both sides of developement gear (PC side, RT-target side). 

   At the moment, I figure this scenario: to keep old project maintainable (i.e. going to the field, where cFP-2020 is running, and access/modify application, repair...), I have to install on my PC a virtual machine (I would use VMware for this), each machine with a complete set of tools:

   VM a:

• LV 7.1
• RT 7.1
• MAX and drivers FiledPoint 4

    VM b:

• LV 8.5
• RT 8.5
• MAX + FieldPoint 6

   And for newer versions of labview and Fieldpoint drivers......

  I cannot see a better solution, but I'd like some feedback on this.  I fear install/unistall drivers, depending on target I'm maintaining....

   In my test of LV 8.5, Virtual machine works great, but I've not tested FP drivers 6 because actually I don't have new cFP to use for testing, they'll arrive soon....

   Waiting opinions on this.... thanks everybody for attention

graziano

[AndreaN]

Hi Graziano,

here is a link that show compatibility between LabVIEW, LabVIEW RT and Field Point:

Software Installation Compatibility for FieldPoint Real-Time Controllers

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/B730A501736C999486256E59005A5BD7?OpenDocument

You can keep on your computer both LabVIEW 8.5 and LabVIEW 7.1 and then use one or the other depending on the target you have (RT 8.5 or RT 7.1)

As for the drivers, once you get them, you can install Field Point 6.0.

Ciao,

Andrea N.

[Graziano]

Hi!

   You mean that opening LV 8.5 + RT 8.5  or LV 7.1 + RT 7.1 shouldn't matter about fieldPoint drivers, the only thing to care about is the cFP version of RT software....?

graziano

[AndreaN]

Hi Graziano,

You're correct the only thing that matters is that you use the same version of LabVIEW and LabVIEW RT, LabVIEW 8.5 and LabVIEW 8.5 RT, LabVIEW 7.1 and LabVIEW 7.1 RT.

For the drivers you need to use a compatible version, this means that if you want to use a Field Point with LabVIEW 8.5 you need to have Field Point 6.0. This version of the drivers are also compatible with LabVIEW 7.1.

Field Point 4.0 are compatible with LabVIEW 7.1, but not with LabVIEW 8.5, that requires Field Point 6.0 as stated in the document that I linked in the previous message

Ciao,

Andrea N.

[Devin_K]

Hi Graziano,

As Andrea mentioned, you will be able to maintain your previous FieldPoint setups by having multiple versions of LabVIEW and LabVIEW Real-Time installed on your computer.  It is not neccessary to set up any virtual machines; you can simply have both versions installed at the same time.  For example, I set up a test computer that had the following setup:

LabVIEW 7.1 with LabVIEW RT 7.1 and FieldPoint 4.1
LabVIEW 8.5 with LabVIEW RT 8.5 and FieldPoint 6.0

With this setup I was successfully able to communicate with controllers set up with 7.1 and 8.5.  You will need to make sure that the RT version of your development environment matches the version on your controller, but aside from that you should not run into any problems.

Regards,

[Graziano]

Hi all!
   my aim was to try keeping exactly the same development gear for each project, and it seemed to me that FieldPoint drivers 6.0 overwrites 4.0 version.  I guess that 6.0 is back-compatible, anyway, it's better not to take risks!

   I choose the VM solution because Virtual Machines work great with ethernet, maybe I'd have encountered some problems trying to map DAQmx devices, but I can't proove this.

   Another advantage of VM, is that I can have Linux on my PC, and inside, a VM running XP and LabView for Windows (which has less compatibility problems than LabView for linux... ).

   Thanks everybody for suggestions, I'll try what you proposed soon, since I'll be given a new PC for maintenance purposes, and that's a good chance for testing.

graziano