Secure access of logged data across a network.

[maxidivine]

Is there a way I can access logged data (in text format) on one (computer with labview installed) from other computers (without labview) securely? I have tried using web pages to access the software using web publishing without incident. However, this strategy may not be very secure.

This sounds like a networking question but is there a way the logged data can be accessed from other computers (without labview) using a labview framework?

[Cory_K]

Instead of making the transfer secure, you could make the data secure if you want.

You can use some of the permission functions to deny read/write access or to password lock files.

[MikeS81]

Hi maxidivine,

what do you mean with LabVIEW framework? You can use ssh for a secure connection.

Mike

[maxidivine]

Making either the data or network or both secure would be good. My concern with making only the data secure via passwords for example, is that the users may know the file location as well.

By 'LabVIEW framework' I meant if there was a way (apart from web publishing) that would enable a computer (without labview installed) access labview information from another computer (with labview). The data could be logged data using labview or waveform data from labview.

[MikeS81]

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maxidivine wrote:

...

By 'LabVIEW framework' I meant if there was a way (apart from web publishing) that would enable a computer (without labview installed) access labview information from another computer (with labview). The data could be logged data using labview or waveform data from labview.

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Sorry, but i don't understand what you mean with it. You can run a ftp server on one pc and connect to it using LabVIEW. What is "labview information"?? Your stored data is independent from LabVIEW. It's only a binary file.

For me it sounds a bit like you want to use the "labview information" as your security addon.

Can you explain a bit more about your data and the type of it. I think with more information it would be easier to find a solution for you.

Mike

[Ashish_Naik_NIUK]

Hi Maxidivine,

I saw this, and was wondering if this was suitable, with using Remote Front Panels... This essentially stops users viewing the front panel unless the password is correct.

http://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-5811

Is this what you were thinking maybe?

[maxidivine]

Sorry for the ambiguity on my part. The data to be accessed via secure network is labview generated '.txt' and '.xls' files. The files are generated on a system with labview and should be accessed over a network by another system without labview.

I was thinking that since what is important is access of the data over network, then there may be no need of to view the running VI from a remote computer. So looks like purely Windows Networking would suffice?

Thanks Ashish, but with that configuration, the remote computer would need to have LabVIEW installed as well right?

[Cory_K]

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maxidivine wrote:

Thanks Ashish, but with that configuration, the remote computer would need to have LabVIEW installed as well right?

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No, with a remote front panel, all the client computer needs is a web browser.

I'm sure you could manage to install one of those .

Basically, you just go to a website, and you can control the VI from there (provided you know the password).

Its actually pretty cool.

[maxidivine]

Thanks Cory K, but web browsers have been my concern. I can use web browsers to access a remote VI but I am concerned with security. How secure would this be? Would the remote labview system not be prone to security breaches from other computers on the network?

[NathanK]

To use remote front panels, the client computer must have the LabVIEW runtime engine installed. If the RTE isn't installed when the page is visited the browser will download the LVRTE and install it (with the user's permission of course).

What level of security do you need? Are you worried about the secrecy of the data or the integrity of the server?

Using the "Browser access" configuration or Ashish's password suggestion above you could control access to your remote panel. The remote panel protocol is a proprietary binary protocol that does nothing with encryption. If your network was insecure an attacker snooping on the network could intercept the remote panel traffic and possibly figure out your data. We are not aware of any exploit in the remote panel server that would allow an attacker to compromise the server.

In LV 2009 remote panels can be used in conjunction with SSL to make the data secure. Using SSL and password authentication you can do a good job of securing your data. However, as your data is stored in .xls or .txt files I would think that remote panels would be overkill. It sounds like you don't need to control the VI- just to display the data.

The easiest method may be to use LV's built in web server to serve your .txt files. If you can use LV 2009 you can use SSL. If you need the data to be secret and can't use LV2009 then you will have to use some other server with security, such as Apache, to host the data.

I am interested to hear how you choose to solve this problem.

Nathan