Multiple cPCI Graphics cards - System Hangs during Boot

[Scott.555]

We have 2 Kontron dual output CP332 cPCI graphics cards to install into a NI PXI rack in order to give us 4 graphics outputs.

When one card is installed it acts as the Primary graphics card and it is required to disable to NI on-board graphics card in order for this to boot and function correctley.

If a 2nd Kontron CP322 card is added the system will hang during WinXP boot, as it switches from VGA to SVGA mode.

Disabling the 2nd card via device manager allows the system to boot.

Re-enabling the 2nd card once booted, then configuring with the ATI driver application allows the 4 graphics output to work as expected.

If the system is re-powered it will once again hang during WinXp booting.

Is there anything that can be configured on the NI Embedded PC (BIOS) to prevent this ?

Is there anything in windows that can be set to prevent this ?

Can we control the windows device manager from labview in order to enable/disable the 2nd card after power-on and before shutdown.

many thanks

[JamesC]

Hi Scott,

To answer the question regarding what options you have in the PXI controller BIOS, I would need to know what NI controller you are using.

I will look at the other questions when we work out if there is a solution to this in BIOS.

Regards
JamesC
NIUK and Ireland

[Scott.555]

controller is NI PXI-8196

thanks

[JamesC]

Hi Scott,

I have some more information for you regarding your issue. We have tested the Kontron CP332 with the PXI-8196.
However when we tested the setup, we had 3 monitors working, the on-board graphics and the dual output from the card.
Until we get the on-board graphics working with a single CP332 I don't think we will get bot CP332's working.

So these are the steps to get on-board graphics working with a single Kontron card the steps come from talking to our PXI Product Support Engineer:

"The first thing you need to make sure is that you are using the driver for Windows XP, and not the one for Windows 2000. Here's a link to the driver download page:

http://us.kontron.com/index.php?searchword=cp+332&id=363

Notice that the first two driver downloads look just the same, but if you hover over them and look at the url, you'll notice that the first one is for Windows 2000 (w2k), and the second one is for Windows XP (wxp). So, just make sure you are using the second one. The PSE did mention that she was initially using the Win 2k driver, and was having some issues with it hanging and all. Here's the information she sent me about how she was able to get things working:
"Here is the info. My controller has BIOS version 1.3 but have him try this first before updating the BIOS.

The Kontron Board is the CP 332. I was able to get all three monitors working with the PXI-8196.

Configuration steps:
1) Insert both the controller and the kontron board in the chassis.
Note: When the computer is starting it will give you the Windows boot up screen on the DVI 1 on the Kontron board and then give you the login screen on the monitor connected to the 8196 so make sure you still have a monitor connected to the controller.
2) Cancel the NI installation wizard if it comes up.
3) Unzip the drivers and run the setup.exe file. Make sure you install both the ATI display driver and the ATI Control Panel. (Check the zip name to make sure you have the xp version of the driver)
4) After restart go to the Display Properties and under the Settings tab you should have monitors 1 and 2 on Mobility Radeon 9000 (Kontron CP-332)."

If you don't have BIOS version 1.20 or higher, please upgrade to BIOS version 1.30, if you need to upgrade the BIOS please make sure you fully understand the readme file. Then follow the steps above to enable triple output on the graphics cards.

When you have this working please try adding the second Kontron card.

Regards
JamesC
NIUK and Ireland

[Scott.555]

James,

Many thanks for the reply, we now seem to have it working.

We have one system running with the onboard graphics and a single Kontron CP332, so driving 3 monitors and another system running with the onboard graphics and two Kontron CP332, so driving 5 monitors.

We were using the XP drivers and cannot really expalin why it now works. All that we can think is that last time, we installed the ATI/Kontron drivers before installing the Kontron card and now we install the drivers after installing the card.

This is the procedure I just followed :

Remove Kontron Card

Re-start, connected to on-board Graphics output

Un-install all ATI/Kontron drivers using Add/Remove programmes from the Control panel

Enable the on-board graphics driver from Device Manager (this was previously disabled as when enabled it caused system lock during boot)

Re-start, check on-board graphics are OK

Shutdown

Fit Kontron Card

Re-Start (BIOS will not be displayed on On-board Graphics Output, but WinXP log-in will apear)

Install Kontrom WinXP drivers

Re-Start

ATI Error message appears, cancel this message after WinXp Log-In

Go to Control Panel and configure the 3-monitors that will now be shown

Re-Start

ATI Error message no longer appears

Expand desktop as required

Note : when booting with 3 monitors connected the following was noticed

Kontron Output 1 : Bios

Kontron Output 1 & 2 : WinXP loading Scroll screen

On-Board Output : XP Log- (Kontron OP1 & 2 Blank)

When logged in all 3 montiors display, if expanded across all 3 (set in display settings)

The above also applies when fitting a 2nd kontron card and the display can then be expanded across all 5.

Once again, many thanks for your help....

[Scott.555]

The only problem I know have with this setup, is that I have no BIOS information at boot and no visibility when 'i't ssafe to turn off your computer'.

This information is displayed on one of the Kontron outputs that 'when the system is complete' will not have a monitor connected as it will be driving into the equipment under test.

But I suppose I could default to using the Kontron output as the test interface display and use the onboard to drive into the equipment undertest.

[JamesC]

Hi Scott,

Glad to hear this now works. Unfortunately I don't think there is anything I can do for your shut-down issue. At least with a 8196.

If you were to use a PXIe-8105/8106, with a PXIe chassis, then these systems have acpi so when you shut them down they automatically turn off the power to the chassis.

Not the best solution I know, but something to think about in the future maybe.

Regards
JamesC
NIUK and Ireland

[Scott.555]

MORE PROBLEMS ........

when the system is up and running with either Onboard graphics & 1 Kontron, OR onboard graphics and 2 kontrons the system works fine.

windows can be 'restarted' as many times as you like and will continually run and output graphics as expected.

HOWEVER .......

If windows is shutdown and power is removed from the PXI rack, upon re-powering the unit (after several minutes, hours or days), the system will hang during the windowXP loading scroll screen.

Kontron appear to be blaming the NI PXI rack or NI embedded controller ???

[JamesC]

Hi Scott,

Sorry for not responding sooner, but I have been out of the office. What you are describing sounds almost as if the CMOS battery is dying, but I don't think that should be the case.

When you remove power from the system, and then boot back up, if you go to BIOS is the clock set for the correct date and time. If it is then this is a wild goose chase, if the date and time has been reset then you will need to change the CMOS battery.

Please can you try this and get back to me thanks.

Regards
JamesC
NIUK and Ireland

[Scott.555]

Hi, I havn't checked the battery, but don't think that is the case as it occurs on 2 NI platforms, both of which are only a few months old.

what we have discovered is that the PX-1045 is a 18 slot PXI backplane divided up into three 6 slot segments which are connected by PCI-PCI bridges. Disabling the onboard graphics controller via Windows Device Manager and fitting more than one CP332 in the same 6 slot segment, Windows XP will not boot.

Fitting one CP332 per segment, Windows XP boots and the system works reliably. So we can run with a maximum of 3 CP332 cards.

However, the NI onboard graphics cannot be enabled as this will hang at XP boot as described before.

We are running 1.3 bios

Message Edited by Scott.555 on 03-22-2007 07:16 AM