Linux 2.6 nikal GPIB kernel 2.6.13-8 - module loads, apps don't work

[Jens Benecke]

Hi,

is there a chance that a *portable* driver for the Linux OS will be
developed? Currently, the NiKAL drivers are only for one specific Linux
dustribution, which is already outdated since several versions, and the
drivers don't compile once you upgrade.

We have several notebooks doing mobile measurements which should be recorded
and processed with LabVIEW under Linux, but those notebooks *require* a
current Linux kernel (2.6.11 plus) to run properly.

I got the nikal kernel module to compile (with a lot of warnings) but it
does not seem to detect my GPIB-USB-B device, and the "gpibexplorer" just
displays an empty popup window with an OK button, no matter what I do.


Any ideas?
Thanks!


--
Jens Benecke
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[Shawn B.]

Jens,

Currently the NI-488.2 version 2.3 driver for linux is supported on more than one distribution.  A list of the supported distributions can be found in the README file for the driver, as well as on the Linux FAQ page:

http://www.ni.com/linux/support.htm 

It should be noted that nothing has been done to prevent users from using other distributions.  However, only the supported distributions have been thouroghly tested to ensure compatability.  There has also been nothing done to prevent our drivers from working on newer versions of the supported distributions.  The main problem is that many versions of the 2.6.x kernel have not provided a backwards compatable API.  Thus we can only recommend that you use a supported distribution and version. 

I do understand that none of the currently supported distributions are using the 2.6.11 or greater kernels.  I would recommend checking the Drivers and Updates page in the future for updated drivers that will support newer versions of the distributions. 

You have mentioned that you are trying to use the 2.6.13-8 kernel.  Currently SuSE, Mandriva, and Redhat Entriprise do not have released versions that come with this kernel.  Which distribution are you attempting to use?

Shawn B.
National Instruments

[Jens Benecke]

Shawn B. wrote:

> Jens,

Hello,

thank you for your quick reply (and sorry for my long wait ...) 🙂

> Currently the NI-488.2 version 2.3 driver for linux is supported on
> more than one distribution.  A list of the supported distributions
> can be found in the README file for the driver, as well as on the Linux
> FAQ page:
> <a href="http://www.ni.com/linux/support.htm"
> target="_blank">http://www.ni.com/linux/support.htm</a>

Yes. With a few patches (mostly renaming functions) I can get the driver to
load under Linux 2.6.13-8 (openSUSE 10) and SuSE 9.3. So, this part of the
problem has been solved. However, the utilities - gpibexplorer for example
- do not work. I only get an empty error message popup window (containing
just an OK button) when starting it, either as user or as root.

I am attaching a screenshot to show you the problem. When I click on
"refresh" the gpibexplorer tells me "You must be superuser", although I
*did* call this program via "su - -c 'gpibexplorer'"!

I have a NI GPIB-USB-B adapter that is detected by Linux, but not by the
nikal kernel module:

usb 3-1: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 11
jens@get1431p4:~> /usr/sbin/lsusb
Bus 003 Device 011: ID 3923:702b National Instruments Corp.

However, wenn I run the 'gpibtsw' programm to test my GPIB setup, it tells
me the GPIB software is not installed. What exactly is it looking for? I
just installed all the RPMs that were in the Linux package to their default
directories under /usr/local/natinst.

> It should be noted that nothing has been done to prevent users from
> using other distributions.&nbsp;

This is good.

> The main problem is that many versions of the 2.6.x kernel have not
> provided a backwards compatable API.&nbsp; Thus we can only recommend
> that you use a supported distribution and version.&nbsp;

I think the basic idea for driver developers is to include all drivers in
the mainstream kernel and thus be notified of API changes (and voice
objection if necessary). Most of the changes I've seen in recent kernels
are just function renames and they can be solved by search&replace - and
such procedures are usually automated in the main kernel build tree _if_
the driver is included in the mainstream kernel.

I realize that Linux is a very fast moving system, though. However, even so
it should be possible to keep drivers portable without having them in the
main kernel. Multiple other vendors (VMware for example) do it too.

> You have mentioned that you are trying to use the 2.6.13-8
> kernel.&nbsp; Currently SuSE, Mandriva, and Redhat Entriprise do not
> have released versions that come with this kernel.&nbsp; Which
> distribution are you attempting to use?

On some machines (notebooks) we have changed to SuSE 10.0 which has just
been released because of performance improvements and hardware support. The
API difference between 2.6.11 and 2.6.13 is not noticeable however and with
a few changes the driver compiles and works on both platforms.

> Shawn B.
> National Instruments

Thank you for your support!

I would like to get the GPIB Explorer running under Linux and I'm willing to
test out a few more things. I would really appreciate if you could assist.


--
Jens Benecke
http://www.hitchhikers.de - Europas kostenlose Mitfahrzentrale seit 1998
http://www.rb-hosting.de - Webhosting mit Extras - PHP ab €9 - SSH ab €19
http://www.spamfreemail.de - 100% saubere Postfächer, garantiert!

[Florian S]

Hi Jens,

I am also interested in using the GPIB USB-B Module under Suse Linux 9.3. But up to now I was not able to configure my system in a way to be able to install the driver to run properly. In my case the NiKal driver terminates the installation process because the make script detects an error. I already tried to change the c source, but it still doesn't work. I prepared the Install script in a way to do the installation without the NiKal environment, but now my Linux doesn't detect the GPIB device.

It would be nice if you could send me a detailed description of your changes.

Thanks a lot!

Kind Regards,

Florian

florian.starzer@infineon.com