How can I start an exe running on a remote PC using LabView on my local PC?

[SteveBull]

I want to use LabView to control the running of a large number of simulations on different PCs on our network (they all have static IPs and I have admin accounts on them all). The simulations that need to be executed are something that has been written in-house and is in the form of a compiled exe file.

There are 2 stages to this problem – the first of which I’ve now solved

1) To copy the exe file (and a bunch of data files needed by the simulation) to each remote machine. I’ve worked out how to do this successfully by mapping a drive from each remote machine to my machine using the NET USE command in DOS and executing this from LabView using the systemexec.vi. There may be a better way of doing this, but at this stage what I have works.

2) To actually execute the exe file on the remote machine. I realise that this can’t be done with the systemexec.vi (if I try it, then the exe file will be executed from the mapped remote drive, but will run on my local processor – obviously, I don’t want this). So my thoughts are that I need to maybe use some of the networking features in LabView to communicate between the two machines and start the exe on the remote machine. Whilst I’m pretty familiar with the basics of LabView and various other features, I’ve never tried anything along these lines so any help would be really appreciated. Ideally I want a method that I can fully control from my local PC without having to start other software running on each of the remote machines.

Thanks for any help in advance

Steve

[MikeS81]

Hi Steve,

it´s not without programming, but you can write a small application which can start executables. Copy this to your target pc´s and start it (maybe with the autostart option). Program it, so that you can commands per tcp/ip to it.

Hope it helps.
Mike

[Joseph_Loo]

I personally use tightvnc to do my remote control of PC. It is a client server software that allows me to operate on the desktop of a remote computer as if I am physically there. You can start and stop programs all from your own desktop.

[smercurio_fc]

You can also try to use ActiveX/DCOM. The main issue you will run into with this method is permissions, depending on which OS you're using.

[SteveBull]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Replying to all the suggestions in turn:

1) This sounds a possibility - I'm not a afraid of some programming although still a little bewildered with where to start. When you say 'to make a program that can start executables' - do you mean in LabView or to write some other code? The 'autostart' you refer to - is this an option LabView somewhere? I'm not sure how this autostart will help unless it autostarts as soon as it is copied onto the remote PC.

2) I'm famliar with VNC programs, but am looking to build something automated.

3) I've had a play with ActiveX/DCOM and looked at one of the LV examples, but seem to be having problems connecting to a remote machine so I'm guessing I've got a problem with the setup of DCOM and permissions etc. All the systems at Win XP - any helpful hints from your experiece would be most appreciated.

Steve

[craigc]

Hi

Ihave done exactly this before for running matlab scripts on a remote computer.  To do this i used the Datasocket vi's and designed a Server which ran on the matlab computer which would idle.  I then wrote a simple command set to tell it to run scripts etc and return results / spreadsheets etc which was run from the local machine.

This used just a couple of datasocket vi's

Craig