RT general question about creating executables

[AndyN]

I am trying to run a VI opn a RT PC. I deployed it and set up as a startup app.... and nothing happens.

I have several questions:

Can I have take any simple Vi and just run it on RT? What are the restrictions?

What are the TCPIP restriction if any?

What are the symptoms on the RT screen that something runs.

Have any simple TCP IP base examples that I could use to make sure it works?

Suggestions? I need it ASAP so I appreciate any help.

Message Edited by AndyN on 10-08-2009 02:39 PM

Message Edited by AndyN on 10-08-2009 02:40 PM

[Caseyw]

Hi Andy,

I assume that you have the LabVIEW Real-Time Module installed, as you are able to deploy your VIs to a real-time target. To answer your first question, you can generally use most LabVIEW functions in your LabVIEW Real-Time applications. 

I would recommend first making sure that you can run your real-time VI on your real-time target by clicking on the run arrow. Your VI should download and run, and you should see any front panel controls and indicators update (this is useful for debugging).

When you are ready to run your application as a startup EXE, build the EXE and then deploy as startup. You will need to reboot the real-time target, and on reboot you should  see a terminal message indicating that the executable has been loaded. Finally, you should see a status screen that shows the CPU usage for each core. If you are using shared variables, please let me know as there are a few additional details you may need to think about.

If you would like to test an example application, I would  recommend looking under Help >> Find Examples in LabVIEW and then searching under Toolkits and Modules >> Real-Time Module. Please let me know if you have any additional questions, and I am glad to help. Have a great day!

Regards,

Casey Weltzin

Product Manager, LabVIEW Real-Time

National Instruments

[AndyN]

I have an application that reads data through TCPIP process and send data over. It has some controls/buttons on the front panel but those are not necessary for the application to function over Ethernet without user. Using labview I can read data from one place and send it to another computer without major problems. So I simply made a RT project using the same VI and deployed it to the RT target and yes I believe I have the system ready with all the necessary modules.

Can just like that take any vi, build and deploy?

I do not know what happens in such a case with fron panel - I do not take of it in any way and do not need to provide any input.

I do not see any terminal message on the RT about any file being run. Should I?

And of course my client cannot get anything from the RT target.

[RobCole]

What are you using for an RT target?

I have found on some systems that deploying the executable still may not get it to run. A simple way to fix this is to FTP to the target and edit the NI-RT.INI file. Ensure that it has the correct executable listed; the key should read something like:  RTTarget.ApplicationPath=c:\ni-rt\startup\startup.rtexe

In LabVIEW 8.2.1, the RT executable  ends in .rtexe but the application path may end in .rte  (missing the last 2 letters). 

Also ensure that this key is included in the [LVRT] section:  RTTarget.LaunchAppAtBoot=True

I've found on PXI targets that that last key  (RTTarget.LaunchAppAtBoot) is removed if you run targetted to the RT target in some versions of LabVIEW and may be set to False on some other versions of LabVIEW (more recent ones).

I hope that this helps some.

     Rob

[AndyN]

Quad core Dell PC all compatibilty tests passed.

[AndyN]

It does not like the option NO_NAGLE vi and does not alllow it to run. Where do I start if I need to start using "VISA." I do not know anything about it. Do I have to change all my TCP reads and writes to  VISA whatever version?