No "data acquisition" subpallete appears in functions pallete. I am using Labview version 6.1 with Redhat Linux. Am I missing drivers or some installation software? I'm new to Linux/Labview--your help would be much appreciated.

[jonny e]

There are 2 blank squares on the function palette. I suspect one of them is the place reserved for the "Data Acquisition" palette. Does anyone know why it wouldn't appear? Am I missing/haven't properly installed software?

[Ben]

It sounds like you have not installed NI-DAQ for LV.

Ben

[jonny e]

thanks ben. do you know anything about the "comedi" drivers/software? i downloaded and installed them (under redhat linux 8.something). i thought these files would give me the necessary DAQ stuff, but it doesn't appear to be the case. the only software that came with the cards were for windows, no linux stuff. any ideas on where to go? i'm so new to all this stuff and really appreciate your help. thanks!

[Randy_H]

jonny_e,

National Instruments, at this time, does not have a hardware driver for our DAQ cards on Linux. However, many of our boards are supported by the third-party, open source drive by Comedi (http://www.comedi.org/). Their divers are for Linux. If you download their latest zip file and run it, it will compile itself into a kernel module.

A new option that has been releasd recently in the Measurement Hardware Driver Development Kit. This kit will allow you to do regiter level programming of our DAQ boards in Linux. Comedi is still a better option because it will be much easier programming, but this is an option if you would like to try it. However, there is only Discussion Forum support
for the DDK at this time.

For all things Linux and NI, see http://www.ni.com/linux.

Randy Hoskin
Applications Engineer
National Instruments
http://www.ni.com/ask

[Anonymous]

In article <50650000000800000035710000-1042324653000@exchange.ni.com>,
"jonny e" wrote:

> No "data acquisition" subpallete appears in functions pallete. I am
> using Labview version 6.1 with Redhat Linux. Am I missing drivers or
> some installation software? I'm new to Linux/Labview--your help would
> be much appreciated.
>
> There are 2 blank squares on the function palette. I suspect one of
> them is the place reserved for the "Data Acquisition" palette. Does
> anyone know why it wouldn't appear? Am I missing/haven't properly
> installed software?

Hi jonny e,

Just so you know, most Comedi developers couldn't care less about LV. They
are only concerned with maintaining driver support for DAQ hardware under
Linux. This is a good thing because it keeps them focussed on high quality
drivers and not LV issues. So only contact them with Comedi specific
questions or your're likely to get flamed. On that note, you will never
find a prefab collection of Comedi VIs in your tool pallette after a compile.

Unfortunately, it's not very simple. Someday I'm sure it will be easier
but for now when using Comedi you have to deal with either CINs or Call
Library Functions to the libcomedi.so shared libray. I prefer the latter.
If you want to use CINs go to:

http://www.uni-saarland.de/fak8/wwm/Members/Kempf/comedi_vi/comedi_vi_e.html

I haven't used the CINs they provide but I've heard they work fine. Your
NI6601/6602 boards (got from other post) are not supported by Comedi yet.
Contact their email list for more info. I'm sure they will be supported
soon since the supporters of Comedi are such an aggressive and
knowledgable bunch . The 6071E board is supported so start with that one.

Sounds like you know how to compile the kernel modules and the shared
library. For the 6071E boad, you need to load the ni_pcimio module into
memory with insmod or modprobe. At that point you can make calls to the
comedilib.so library. I've used it with Computerboards Das08 and
Das802/16. One of my function prototype for getting an ADC reading looks
like:

long comedi_data_read(long device, long sub-device, long channel, long
range, long aref, long *lsampl_t);

I believe I got that info from the .c and .h files for the specific boards
and the shared library source. Sorry, it's been a few months since I
worked with Comedi...

You also have to do a Comedi Open and Comedi Close before you can send any
commands to the boards. If you don't want to go the CIN route, I can send
you a sample of what I have so far. I tend to only post binaries at
request so let me know.

Well, you've inspired me. I'll begin working on a Comedi library of VIs
in my spare time. Guess I should contact OpenG.org...?

- Kevin

[djs2571]

you need to reinstall the daq software, make sure to select that you want support for the version of lab view you are using. http://digital.ni.com/softlib.nsf/webcategories/85256410006C055586256BBB002C1293?opendocument&node=132070_US is where to get the latest software.