Desktop Real Time on Intel NUC?

[JoeLesker]

I'm exploring small form factors to run RTOS, but don't have the need for FPGA (i.e. CPU only).  Just curious if anyone has tried to install LabView Desktop Real Time on any of the new Intel NUC SFF-PCs, such as the DN2820FYKH?  If so, are all the necessary devices (especially ethernet) supported?  Thanks.

-Joe

[Kelly_B]

Hi Joe, 

NI has a White Paper that documents the hardware requirements to use a PC as a LabVIEW Real-Time target.  You can find the document here.

I hope this answers your questions!  Let us know if you need more information.

Link: https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/08/requirements-for-desktop-pcs-as-phar-lap...

[BartyMoffett]

Joe,

   I'm trying to do this same thing - Building the world's smallest NI RealTime System using the Intel NUC - D54250WYKH.

   Its been an uphill battle...

   The compatibility list states the 4th generation Intel processors (in my case, an i5) in this unit is supported, but in the next month or two Intel will be releasing the the 5th generation which is currently not on the compatibility list..

   Anyone from NI care to tell us when this might happen? 

   My troubles have been around the ethernet port. The D54250WYKH has only 1 ethernet port and its the l218V chipset - This chipset is not on the currently supported list..

   Once again, Anyone from NI care to tell us when this might happen? 

   I actually need 2 ethernet ports for my application on the NUC, but have been having a terrible time finding an ethernet expansion card for the miniPXIe expansion ports that use the supported chipsets. I found 1, but it doesn't work even though it passes the "NI PC RT Evaluator" software test...   

   I'm now looking at an adaptor that converts the miniPCIe port back to the PCI format. I give this about a 50% chance of working... It's due to be delivered this Friday...

   Does any know of a PCI card that is supported by NI RealTime with 2 ethernet ports?

Barty

[Kelly_B]

Hi Barty, 

Regarding the Intel processors, we test the most recent version available once a year.  The last time we performed this test, Haswell was the newest one available which is why it is the newest processor on the list.  Since the 5th generation processors have not been released yet, we have not yet been able to test them.  If these processors are released before we do the testing for 2015, we will perform those tests and determine at that time if they will be supported.

In the meantime, LabVIEW Real Time 2014 might work on the 5th generation processors, and you are welcome to try it.  However until we perform our testing there is no guarantee that it will work, and it is not a supported processor.

Regarding the ethernet port chipsets, those do have specific requirements for drivers and only the ones listed are currently supported.  Any testing for new chipsets will be done with the 2015 testing alongside the testing for the newest Intel processors.  

If there is a PCI card with 2 ethernet ports that is supported, it would be on that list.

[BartyMoffett]

Thanks for the reply Kelly -

I have lower my sites a little on this project...

Currently I have been testing with the:

   D54250WYKH - 4th Generation i5 (Haswell) with onboard NIC chipset I218V

   The NIC Chipset is currently not supported under NI RealTime and I have given up using add-on device solutions (They didn't work either)...

   MiniPCIExpress NIC cards that use the "approved NIC Chipset" are hard to find, and after 2 failed attempts, I took another approach...

   I found an MiniPCIExpress to PCI adapter and installed the "official" NI Card for RealTime ($1,100.00) into the device.

   No joy here. It passed the "Evaluator Software" test, but would not work. 

I have gone back and ordered earlier versions of the Intel NUC units (3rd Generation) that have compatible onboard NIC Chips installed... 

   DC53427HYE - 3rd Generation Intel i5 (Ivy Bridge) with NIC chipset 82579LM  

   DC3217IYE - 3rd Generation Intel i3 (Ivy Bridge) with NIC chipset  82579V

And just for fun, I ordered one of the lastest NUC

   NUC5i5RYK - 5th Generation Intel i5 (Broadwell) with onboard NIC chipset I218V

   I don't expect this unit to work since both the processor and NIC chipset are not currently on the compatability list yet... Looking toward the future...

I'll let you know how the testing goes...

[Kelly_B]

Hi Barty, 

Thank you for the update, and good luck with the testing!

[billywei]

Barty, I have luck here to make it work with NUC5i3RYH, I guess it should also works with your NUC5i5RYK. I started with this article: http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/8677AD0A928D1EA2862574EA007AB2D6 It tells us how to cheat the RT system. After trying several combinations, I finally got one group that work for I218-V. You just have to create the enetwhitelist.ini file according to the above article, and use the following content: [GENERAL] Drivers=i1000e.dll VerboseLoading=TRUE [i1000e.dll] Adapters=82579 LoadPredefinedChipsets=TRUE [82579] ChipID=15A3 EEPROM=Legacy FAMILY=i1000e Description="Kung Hai Fat Choy!" Hope it works for you as well. Regards, Billy