fpga compilation problem (sbrio 9642)

[RLong123]

I'm using sbRIO-9642 and I installed labview 2010, realtime module, FPGA module and 2010Xilinx11.

I cannot compile FPGA and below is the compile status.

-----------------------------------------------------------

The compilation tools are not installed on this machine. Run your LabVIEW FPGA installer again and select the compilation tools, or try connecting to a compile server on another machine.

Details
Error -123011 occurred at niFpgaCompileFarm_OpenSession.vi

Possible reason(s):

NI-Farm:  Farm server is not responding.  Be sure the specified hostname is correct, the server is running and configured to accept remote requests.

Complete call chain:
     niFpgaCompileFarm_OpenSession.vi
     niFpgaCompileWorker_OpenSession.vi
     niFpgaCompile_Worker.vi:1

-----------------------------------------------

Any help would be appreciated.

[ErnieH]

See this from the knowledgebase.

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/CB230874D92F71128625777D0070CA58

[craige]

Ernie, you have supplied a link that appears to only be availble within the NI firewall. I'm experiencing the same problem (WinXP, LabVIEW 2010 SP1, FPGA SP1). Havn't found a solution but this link looks promising.

[Jacob_K]

This error can be caused if you do not have the FPGA Xilinx Tools installed.  If you downloaded the LabVIEW FPGA module from web, the Xilinx Tools are included separately, but are required in order to compile your FPGA VIs.  You can download the tools from the NI Services Resource Center. 

[craige]

Actually, its possible to have the tools downloaded and installed but not have the matching hardware.

For example I am running LV 2010SP1 and Xilinx V11 compile tools. This does not compile for the cRIO-9004 and results in the error seen above. This DOES work for the cRIO-9024. Unfortunately I havn'y been unable to find any NI documentation which specifies which tools go with which chipset. I'm sure its out there but I haven't been able to locate it. Neither the LabVIEW FPGA Help File or the cRIO-9024 Operating Instructions and Specifications make any mention to additional compile tools needed or even how to locate/install them. ...typical.

[Julianne_K]

Hi craige, 

It is always a good idea to have the newest version of the Xilinx Tools to ensure compatibility. The Xilinx Tools version 12.4 can be downloaded here.

Also, what version of the NI-RIO driver do you have? Please ensure that you have the same version of the RIO driver on your PC and your cRIO. Page 6 of the "Getting Started with CompactRIO and LabVIEW" manual explains how to load the software onto your cRIO. This manual can be found here.  Hope this helps! 

[craige]

I am running NI-RIO 3.5.1.My problem was fixed once I swapped out the hardware being used. No time to download 2GB of new Xilinx tools without a solid document confirming compatibility with my hardware(s).

Julianne, by including the Getting Started Guide, you made my point.  Look through the "Getting Started with CompactRIO and LabVIEW" and there is no mention of the Xilinx compile tools (page 3 - Required Software). Furthermore when you get to the part of the tutorial where you compile youre FPGA code the instructions are simply "...from the shortcut menu to compile the FPGA VI" Rhetorically speaking, how can I do this withouth Xilinx? Anyways, I realize the document is from 2009 but its the newest document NI has available on the website. Outdated documents like this make development difficult and frustrating.

[Julianne_K]

Hi craige, 

The document found here is intended to direct customers on which version of Xilinx tools to download. However, I will file a request to R&D to update the FPGA documentation with this information as well. Also, in your post you mention the controllers, which do not have FPGAs in them. The FPGA is located in the CompactRIO backplane. Do you have a backplane attached to your controllers? If so, what is the model number? With this information, I can make a recommendation on which versions of Xilinx Tools to use.

[Spex]

Hi Craige,

Sorry for the inconvenience and confusion you have faced.  Thanks for pointing to our attention areas for improvement of our product documentation.

When you installed the LabVIEW FPGA module, you should have been presented with an option for which versions of the Xilinx tools you prefer to install, along with an explanation for which National Instruments FPGA-based products each version supports.  That option is easy to miss, so we should make it more clear to users.

I also wanted to point out that the Xilinx tools have nothing to do with the difference between the cRIO-9004 and the cRIO-9024.  Those to products are Real-Time controllers, and don't include any FPGA.  Looking for a correlation between Xilinx tools and those models numbers would be non-existent, and that probably increased your frustration.  More than likely, your two CompactRIO systems actually have different FPGA Backplanes.  Likely, one of those backplanes is based on Xilinx VirtexII technology (like the cRIO-9104), and the other is based on Virtex5 (like the cRIO-9114).  

I also wanted to share links to the supplementarty documentation that have confirmed information on which versions of the Xilinx tools will support different FPGA-based hardware targets.

LabVIEW FPGA Module Release and Upgrade Notes  (pages 3-4)

Which Version of Xilinx Tools Do I Need to Install for LabVIEW FPGA 2011?

What Xilinx FPGA Chips Are Used by National Instruments RIO Devices?

Julianne,  can you file a product feedback suggestion to include reference to the Xilinx compile tool versions needed for specific CompactRIO backplanes in the "Getting Started" guide for CompactRIO?  In additional to the LabVIEW versions required, I think it makes sense to discuss the Xilinx version required as well.

Regards,

[craige]

Solid answers and links. Eventhough I'm up and running now the links you provided are a great resource for future work. Thank you for you diligence in following up with this. The web team may want to consider adding these to the FPGA product page.

Craig