vmware not fully recognizing USB-9213

[bjlv]

Hi All:

I am running VMware Fusion 2.0.7 hosting WinVista SP2.  I plug in a USB-9213, and I only get a partial recognition of the device.  I get the New Hardware Found for the 9216 carrier module, but never the same for the 9213 module connected in the carrier.  Of course this means DAQmx and MAX don't see the device to let me use it.  I can install successfully a virtual 9213 in MAX, but I can't get the real device fully installed.  VMWare is running in Mac OS 10.5.8, and the USB is configured so VMWare can see it and use it as the partial New Hardware Found path seems to show.  Any ideas how to get through the last hurdle?  I know the USB-9213 is good, since it installs and runs fine in WinXP machine I have access to.

bj

[Paul_C.]

Hello bj,

I would try following the instructions proposed in the article here (specifically option 2).  There are specific things you must do in order to allow your VMware image access to USB devices.  Although this article was written for another board, it should be similiar for the USB-9213.  Please make sure you are following the steps shown above and let me know if you are still having trouble. 

Regards,

Paul C.

[bjlv]

Hi Paul:

I had seen the page you linked me to, and I am still stuck.  Specifically, it refers to setting up "myDAQ".  I don't use that, I use DAQmx and MAX.  It also shows the VMWare Virtual Machine setup for USB having an option for selecting "Connect NI myDAQ".  I don't see any such option, which is probably my trouble.  What installation step might I have missed for MAX and/or DAQmx that would give me that option in the VMWare tools?  Alternatively, what is myDAQ and where does it fit with MAX and DAQmx?

[Paul_C.]

Hello Bj,

Sorry myDAQ is just another USB device that is used with the DAQmx driver.  The reason I linked it is because it should be setup simliar to the 9213.  Did you try following the steps in the pdf here which is linked at the bottom of the page?  To explain more, this option has nothing to do with our DAQmx driver.  It is simply how USB devices get connected from your Mac OS to the VMware image. 

Regards,

Paul C

[bjlv]

Hi Paul:

Just to clarify what I just wrote, I see a "New Hardware Found" message for the NI-9162 carrier module, but I don't see the next message I should see, which is "New Hardware Found" for the NI-9213.  I see the 3 entries for Apple devices I could connect, but I do not have a USB choice for any NI hardware in the VMWare Virtual Machine setup.  I seem to be close, but not quite there.  The green LED is blinking on the NI-9162, just like it does whan it works all the way through to the NI-9123 on a regular Windows machine.  I just don't get the final connection to the NI-9123 on the WinVISTA virtual machine under VMWare.

bj

[bjlv]

Hi Paul:

OK, when I have the NI-9123 plugged into the USB port, I do see a 4th connection option under the USB Virtual Machine, but it is to disconnect the NI-9162.  I see the NI-9162 under Device Manager inside WinVISTA, and I see the NI-9162 under the Mac System Profiler.  I don't see the NI-9123.  The carrier is shown as having no cartridge plugged in under "Data Acquisition Devices" of Device Manager.  It is plugged in when connected to a regular WinXP machine.  There is still something missing, but I don't know what it is.  On the WinVISTA virtual machine, MAX is shown as version 4.5 and DAQmx is version 8.8.  Are they too old maybe?

bj

[Paul_C.]

Hello Bj,

I'm afraid using National Instruments USB devices through VMware isn't officially supported because it our customers seem to have varying levels of success depending on the vmware version, daq device, and os your emulating.  Unfortunately, this isn't tested and I cannot tell you which setup works or doesn't work.  DAQmx 8.8 should should work for that USB board.  You could upgrade to the latest version to be sure a bug with that release isn't causing problems.  I would also look at contacting vmware to see if they have any open issues on this.

Regards,

Paul C.

[bjlv]

Hi Paul:

Thanks for the info, I knew I was on thin ice hoping that VMWare WinVISTA would access hardware.  I got very close so far, so I was hoping that there would be some known nudge to get the last bit working.  I will try upgrading the MAX and DAQmx to see if that helps.  I will let you know if I succeed.

bj

[Brad_K]

Hi bj,

DAQmx 8.8 was released before the USB-9213 hardware, and due to a last-minute change, DAQmx 8.9 or later is required to use the USB-9213. Therefore, the DAQmx 8.8 Readme says that it supports the USB-9213, but this is not correct. The correct version info is in C Series Support in NI-DAQmx. Sorry about the confusion.

Did the shipping box for your USB-9213 include a DAQmx 8.9 or later driver DVD?

Brad

[bjlv]

Hi Brad:

I just finished upgrading to MAX 4.6.2 and DAQmx 9.0.2.  (Should I look for even newer versions?)  This represents progress, as the NI-9213 is now seen in Device Manager (and System Profiler on the Mac side), but it is still not seen in MAX.  I could create a simulated NI-9213 in my older versions, and I still can, but the one I create now does not work while the old simulated one did work.  The new simulated NI-9213 always fails Self-Test.  (And deleting the simulated device hangs MAX.  It can be deleted only on the restart of MAX)  The fact that I could create a working simulated NI-9213 under the older DAQmx version 8.8 had led me to believe that I had a new enough version.  The basic issue is still there though, I can not see the real NI-9213 in MAX, so I can not use it in LabVIEW.  It does not matter if I have the simulated NI-9213 present or not in MAX, the real one is never seen there, but it is always seen by Device Manager now.  The simulated one has also gone invisible to LabVIEW while the older one could be used there.  By the way, sorry for being dyslexic yesterday when I kept typing 9123 instead of 9213.

bj