Update drivers on PXI-8186 controller

[ChrisFTC]

Hi,

Looking at the software config on my PXI-8186 controller running LabVIEW RT 7.1.1 in MAX, it shows that I have an "Intel 8254x Ethernet Driver v1.1.0.3.0" installed. Booting up the controller it says "Intel 8255x Ethernet found". I was wondering if I am using the right driver (Ethernet communication works so far) and if there is a newer version that I can update to. Moreover, HOW can I update the Ethernet driver of the 8186 controller?

The reason for me wanting to update is, that the ethernet communication breaks down as soon as I start logging data with my PXI-7831R card. No more ethernet communication is possible. I dont have an explanation for that and have been thinking it might have to do with the ethernet driver. Any thought on that?

Thanks,

Christoph

[TongY]

Hello Chris,

You can follow this tutorial when installing drivers for your RT controller:

http://www.ni.com/support/install/install_hardware_5.htm

About the ethernet driver, the 8186 uses the "Intel 82559 ethernet adapter (Intel PRO/100)", you should be able to find the download of this driver from Intel's website, after downloading this to the host computer, you can install it through MAX to the RT target. Maybe this will solve the communication issue with your 7831R.

http://search2.intel.com/corporate/default.aspx?culture=en-US&q=Intel+82559+ethernet+adapter+%28Inte...

[ChrisFTC]

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@TongY wrote:

About the ethernet driver, the 8186 uses the "Intel 82559 ethernet adapter (Intel PRO/100)", you should be able to find the download of this driver from Intel's website, after downloading this to the host computer, you can install it through MAX to the RT target. Maybe this will solve the communication issue with your 7831R.

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Thanks TongY.

There's only one problem: I downloaded the ethernet driver from Intels website, but where do I have to copy the driver for it to appear in the MAX software install dialog? MAX wont let me choose the software freely but just install what appears in the list box. Im just running a RT system on my controller and I am using my external Windows 2000 host computer to communicate with it.

Chris

[TongY]

Wait, I misunderstood the question. So you have a RAT Controller and when it boots up, you saw "Intel 8255x Ethernet found"?----This means the driver is installed already and works properly on the target.

If you see the other version of the driver "Intel 8254x" on the software list in MAX, that driver is for one who needs to install an extra ethernet board (not the build-in Ethernet) or use the PC as the controller. For your case, you don't have to worry about this driver on the list.

So basically now you are running the correct version of Ethernet driver, if the problem about dropping connections still exists, there could be something else going on. Maybe it has something to do with your application written for the 7831R.