How safe is it to mix controller firmware and LabVIEW versions?

[Mads]

If we have multiple versions of LabVIEW installed, we typically also have multiple versions of the firmware for the controllers we use (cRIO/sbRIO)...With LabVIEW 2018 came version 6.5.0 of the firmware for our sbRIO for example, then came version 7.0.0 with LabVIEW 2019. 

Putting the 2018 RTE and applications made in LV 2018 on the 7.0.0 firmware seems to work, but can we safely assume that the firmware is backwards compatible as long as no warnings or errors pop up during development/deployment, or should we always stick to the firmware that came out together with the associated LabVIEW version? So far we have done the latter just to be sure, but perhaps using 7.0.0 for example would be better, if we only knew...

[Andreas_OP]

Hi Mads. 

Firmware is rarely version-specific and can be mixed usually without issues.  

However, as they do include fixes, and minor performance boosts, NI recommends to upgrade firmware when you update the driver of the RIO. 

Also discussed to a greater extent here: https://forums.ni.com/t5/Real-Time-Measurement-and/How-to-select-the-cRIO-firmware-version/td-p/3917...

Best regards 

Andreas