Programmatically Route PXI Trigger Lines Across a Multi Segment PXI Chassis within Linux and without LabVIEW

[ReneB]

I have a PXIe-1075 and a PXIe-1082, and need to access (via SMBus) the PXI Trigger routing controller (or PXI trigger bridges) to bus all PXI_TRIG signals across the complete backplane, and so across all segments. I don't have access to Labview on the used System Slot computer, and have to use Linux.

I think the SMBus device can be accessed at address 0x5A (Clocking CPLD), but I'm not sure.

Can you provide a register description of the PXI Trigger rounting controller or PXI trigger bridge? Or could you describe which codes should be written to which registers to have all PXI_TRIG lines bussed across all segments?

[ReneB]

If this should be performed using the ni-pxiplatformservices, where can I find the right version for CentOS 8?

According to https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/compatibility/15/ni-pxi-platform-services-operating-syst... version 19.1 of the PXI Platform Services supports CentOS 8. The download link points to https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/drivers/download.pxi-platform-services.html#307301

But only version 17.0 and 17.5 can be selected, and they do not install.

Is the ni-pxiplatformservices accompanied by documentation how to access the PXI trigger bridge to enable routing of all PXI_TRIG signals across all segments?

[ReneB]

I made some progress...

NI Linux Device Drivers

https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/drivers/download.ni-linux-device-drivers.html#350003

Download and Install NI Driver Software on Linux Desktop

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/18/downloading-and-installing-ni-driver-software-on-linux-desktop.html 

# yum install ni-software-2020-20.1.0.49152-0+f0.el8.noarch.rpm

# yum install ni-daqmx

# dkms autoinstall

reboot the system

DAQmx for Desktop Linux Tools

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/18/daqmx-for-desktop-linux-tools.html

...and one of these tools is nipxiconfig:

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/17/configuring-pxi-trigger-lines-in-linux.html 

# nipxiconfig --list-system -v

returns

[verbose]: Increasing verbosity = 3
Chassis 1: National Instruments NI PXIe-1075
Controller: National Instruments NI PXIe-8360 - Cable Location MXI1Port1Dev1

But

# nipxiconfig --list-triggers 1

returns

Error initializing command: Invalid command specified (--list-triggers 1)

Why is this an invalid command?

[mruizglz]

I have the same issue. Did you manage to get a solution?

[ReneB]

No, I did not receive a solution from NI. They provided me with some info, so according to them the DAQmx implementation under Linux should be able to do the trick. But I have not been able to get this working, since it seems to be driver related, which should be compatible with DAQmx. So they state: "SMBus connection in a 3rd party controller is most often not implemented correctly to work with NI chassis."

and "DAQmx uses the PXI-6 spec-defined interfaces to access SMBus/I2C and as such, the controller should be able to route with any routing API NI provides (DAQmx, VISA) should work if the SMBus+discovery mechanisms were implemented on the controller.". So a PXI-6 compatible implementation of the SMBus was the problem.

To simply access the low level SMBus registers of the right device in the NI chassis is undocumented, and they state: "We haven't historically provided register maps for our chassis' for various reasons."

So currently no solution.

[mruizglz]

This is a big problem.

@ni support: Is there any option to get the low details to manage the configuration of the PXI trigger lines in the chassis?

[Changseung]

I do have exactly same problem.

Did you get the solution from NI?

I also opened NI service ticket. I will post the solution if I get it from NI.

[mruizglz]

I don't have any answer from NI and I am blocked with this.

[Changseung]

Yes, I also same problem.

I really need to route PXI_TRIG signal on Linux system.

https://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/attachments/3E87B6D2D7BACC71482571D900371606_Linux20PXI.pdf

According to the upper article, the routing function was exist but  some how it was removed from some version.

Anyhow, I will share any information as soon as I get it.

[SSPTest]

Hope this KB will be useful for you : https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000001EBxKCAW&l=en-US