NI Vision Builder 2013 SP1 on NI 1722 Smart Camera: Cannot connect to FTP

[allendale]

Brad, thanks for your advises. I run the program by clicking the button on the top. It turns that the image logging step fails, as attached (I also tried the inspection mode, same thing). The operation does not add more message on Filezilla. If I use the button on the bottom, there is no error on the FTP setup. 

I double checked the FTP setting, but I passed the test login without problem. (see below) After clicking "OK" on the successful connection notification window, more messages came out on Filezilla page. Please give me some suggestion on FTP setting. The IP is my computer's IP. I did not set up a password for the account. I did not change Filezilla values and use as defaults. Do I need to set up anything on Filezilla? 

Thanks a lot. 

[Brad]

So unfortunately when you press the Test Button, it tests the FTP connection from the PC running VBAI and not the target. Is the smart camera connected directly to your PC with the FTP server being on a different PC possibly that your host PC can see, but the smart camera can't directly see? Another possibility for why your PC can connect, but the Smart Camera cannot is if you have different FTP settings in your Vision Builder INI on your PC vs Smart Camera. Can you check the two INI files or attach them. The windows INI is located right next to the Vision Builder exe on Windows. The Smart Camera's Vision Builder.ini is located on the target at c:\vbai.

Hope this helps,

Brad

[allendale]

I am not sure if  the smart camera is connected directly to your PC with the FTP server being on a different PC possibly that your host PC can see, but the smart camera can't directly see. I set up this smart camera thorugh the online instruction from the National Instruments' engineer. I also installed FreshFTP before Filezilla. I was able to transfer the files between camera and local hard drive using FreshFTP. Thank you so much for your help. 

The windows INI is attached as below. I added this line "FTPRemotePort=2000" according to previous threads. 

[Vision Builder]
offscreenUpdates=True
postScriptLevel2=False
colorPrinting=False
returnKeyAction=False
scrollGraphCursors=False
execRecentPaths=C:\\
hideRootWindow=True
disableMenuEffects=True
appFont="Tahoma" 13
dialogFont="Tahoma" 13
server.tcp.port=62137
saveFloaterLocations=True
prefDlgTestData=1234
SnapGridDrawAsLines=1
postScriptLevel2=False
transparentBDLabels=True
FancyFPTerms=True
autoRouteWires=True
AutoWireMax=50
AutoWireMin=4
AdviceEnabled=False
showWireDots=True
maxUndoSteps=10
viTitleInPalettes=True
simpleDiagramHelp=False
copyDeleteFPDCOFromFPTerm=False
FunctionBrowser.ShowConfigButton=False
paletteStyle=textCategories
allowmultipleinstances=True
[Settings]
WriteImageFormat=PNG
WriteImagePath=C:\\smartcamera
WriteImageCompress=True
WriteImageQuality=750
WriteExpandBinary=False
LastXPos=658
LastYPos=0
LastWidth=1022
LastHeight=1010
LastRemoteInspection=15032401
ReadImagePath=""
Palette=0
MappingMethod=0
MappingMin=0
MappingMax=0
MappingShift=0
FTPRemotePort=2000
server.tcp.access=+*
SDKTestMode=False
LastInspection=C:\\Program Files (x86)\\National Instruments\\Vision Builder AI 2009 SP1\\Examples\\Tutorial 1 - Check Label Presence.vbai
SimulAcqPath=C:\\Program Files (x86)\\National Instruments\\Vision Builder AI 2009 SP1\\DemoImg\\Tutorial 1\\Image 01.jpg
LastMaximized=0
SDThumbnailZoom=1
WriteImageMergeOverlay=False
WriteJP2Lossless=True
WriteJP2Ratio=10
[Network]
PortNumber=3363
ConnectionTimeout=15000
PingDelay=15000
PingTimeout=15000
DiscoveryTimeout=8000
[Configuration]
ConfigDisplayMode=1
[Runtime]
RuntimeDisplayMode=0
RemoteRuntimeDisplayMode=0
AutoStart=False
AutoStartInspection=""
[Context Help]
ContextHelpVisible=False
LastWindowLeft=285
LastWindowTop=46
LastWindowRight=685
LastWindowBottom=516
[Simulation Settings]
ImagePath=C:\\Program Files (x86)\\National Instruments\\Vision Builder AI 2009 SP1\\DemoImg\\Tutorial 1\\Image 01.jpg
[Targets]
IPAddress=100.101.102.103
NetworkName=TGACAM
MAC=00802F11DD9C
ModelCode=73DE
[Logging Paths]
FTP=/

The Smart Camera's Vision Builder.ini

[Settings]
ServerPort=3363
NetworkSettings=4
EngineTimeout=60000
AbortMinFree=200
WarnMinFree=600
FTPLocalPort=0
FTPRemotePort=2000
FTPTimeout=30000
server.tcp.access=+*
PreloadPlugins=False
[Runtime]
AutoStart=False
AutoStartInspection=""
ProductSelection=False
[ImageDisplay]
Palette=0
MappingMethod=0
MappingMin=0
MappingMax=0
MappingShift=0
[Format]
DateFormat=%b %d %Y
TimeFormat=%H:%M:%S
[Shutdown]
ShutdownEnable=False
TTLStates=2222222222
IsolatedStates=0000
[Serial]
Ports=1
ResourceName00=ASRL1::INSTR
BaudRate00=9600
DataBits00=8
Parity00=None
ParityComment=Legal Values include: None, Odd, Even, Mark, Space
StopBits00=1.0
StopBitsComment=Legal Values include: 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0
FlowControl00=None
FlowControlComment=Legal Values include: None, XON/XOFF, RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR, XON/XOFF & RTS/CTS, XON/XOFF & DTR/DSR
TerminationChar00=10
TerminationCharComment=This is the ASCII value (decimal) of the termination character
EnableTerminationChar00=True
Timeout00=10000
TimeoutComment=Timeout value in milliseconds
[RT Controller Image Info]
Time=12/14/2009 11:51:24 AM
Title=Vision Builder AI 2009 SP1 for NI Smart Cameras with DSPs
Description=This image contains all the files necessary to use Vision Builder AI 2009 SP1 on NI 17xx smart cameras with DSPs.
Creator=National Instruments

[Brad]

So after you set the Windows and the Smart Camera FTPRemotePort to 2000 did it work? Let us know if you are still having trouble, I couldn't tell for sure from your last post if things work now or not.

Thanks,

Brad

[allendale]

Brad, thanks for your response.

Image loggin showed "FTP login error" when the FTPRemotePort=2000 was added to the INI files, in both VBAI and camera INI files.

I would like to clear my problem here. The "FTP login Error" showed up after clicking the "run once" button on the top, and the "image logging" showed "failed". When I used the "Run once" button on the bottom, there is no error reported. I double checked the FTP connection on the image logging setting page. The "Test Login" showed that "VBAI successfully connect to specifed FTP server". 

I posted the INI files for your review. FTPRemotePort=2000 was already in the INIs when I run all the tests described above. 

Do you think I need to change FTP settings somewhere? Or what could be a tests to know the camera and the FTP server have a good connection? 

Thanks a lot. All your advises are very helpful

[Brad]

I was surprised to see your Windows INI had port 2000 because the FileZilla log says connected on port 21. Try setting the Windows and Smart Camera remote port to 21 in the INI, and put the Smart camera INI file back on the target to update it and try again.

You can also try the attached VI in a Run LabVIEW step. This VI uses the low level FTP VIs so you can get the exact error that's cuasing the problem and it also returns the port number VBAI uses so you can verify it is what you expect.

Hope this helps,

Brad

[allendale]

Brad, I changed the port number back to 21 from 2000 in both windows and camera folder. Image logging still shows "FTP Login Error". I also tried to change Windows 7 firewall settings as attached. I enable "FTP server", "FTP server passive", and "FTP server secure". I also enable the two "File Transfer Program". But it does not solve the error I have. I am not sure how to use the file, go port.llb, you attached in a RUN LabVIEW step. I thought we are so close to getting the problem fixed but still something there. Thanks a lot for your help. 

[Brad]

I think having the low level VI to test will be helpful in debugging this further. Follow these instructions to run the test:

1. Copy the LLB to the Smart Camera's c:\User VIs folder

2. Start from a new inspection and just add a Run LabVIEW step in VBAI (last tab half way down) and browse to the Get Port.vi in the LLB for the path.

  * If it asks to recompile it, let VBAI try so hopefully it can load the VI without errors.

3. On the left side, select the "FTP IP Address" and specify a constant that is the IP Address of the machine running the FileZilla Server (10.70.50.114 I believe)

4. Also update the username and password if needed to use a constant string other than the default. You can also try changing the "remote port (21)" if you need to connect on a different port.

5. Press the Test button and see what "Port Used by VBAI" is and what the errors are and what status info you get from File Zilla.

Hope this helps,

Brad

[allendale]

Brad, I really appreciate your advises and help here.  I am able to copy the goport.llb to camera c:\user VIs and I also be able to find "get port.vi".  However your file seems to be a newer version than my software. My LabView is version 8.6 and the VBAI I am working on is 2009 SP1. I am not sure if you have the older llb file for me to have the test. Thanks a lot. Best.  

[martinwww]

Hi all,

I have the exact same problem.

However it sometimes works, and sometimes doesn't.

I can ftp images in a loop producing up to 3 stored images a second.

If I mix the loop with a "Read Text" Step everything works fine as well, as long as the read text does't fail. When it does fail, the logging ceases to work.

I have to switch inspections or reboot the camera to make it work again. I have tried to include a dummy "set inspection status" wtih constant true prior to logging.

It didn't cure the problem. One possibilie workarround that seemed to help me, (apart from the software obviously containing at least one bug) is:

Disconnect Vision-Builder inspection interface while runnning your test.

Martin