Can I use multiplexed & parallel mode SCXI cards in a PXI combo chassis at the same time?

[kmcdevitt]

Is it possible to mix multiplexed mode SCXI cards with parallel mode SCXI cards in a PXI/SCXI combo chassis?

I have a PXI-1010 chassis with a PXI-8187RT controller running LabView RealTime.

Here is my current setup:

PXI Slot 0: PXI-8187RT
PXI Slot 7: PXI-6254 M Series Multi Function DAQ
PXI Slot 8: PXI-6031 E Series Multi Function DAQ
SCXI-1100 Slot 1: 32-Channel Multiplexer Amplifier
SCXI-1102 Slot 2: 32-Channel Thermocouple Amplifier
SCXI-1520 Slot 4: 8-Channel Universal Strain/Bridge

I can get the system to work properly in multipled mode as follows:
SCXI Communication Mode: Using PXI Backplane
PXI-6031E in PXI Slot 8 controlling the SCXI Cards.
Module Digitizer = PXI-6031E:Pxi1Slot8 for all SCXI cards.

This also works properly in multipled mode as follows:
SCXI Communication Mode: Using Front Connector
PXI-6254 in PXI Slot 7 controlling the SCXI Cards through the front connector.
Module Digitizer = PXI-6254:Pxi1Slot7 for all SCXI cards.

In either configuration, I can only make the system work in parallel
mode for the SCXI-1520 if I remove the other two SCXI cards.

Can I use the PXI Slot 8 DAQ card to control some of the SCXI cards
through the PXI to SCXI Backplane and use separate PXI DAQ cards
connected directly to other parallel mode SCXI cards?

Kevin.

[Salvador_Santolucito]

Hi,

Yes, you should be able to use the PXIslot8 DAQ card to control some SCXI modules in multiplex mode and also use another DAQ card in slot7 to control a SCXI card in multiplex mode.

To do this you will need a DAQ cable and a SCXI-1349 connector. You will need to cable the slot7 DAQ card dirctly to the back of the module you wish to use for parallel mode. The slot8 DAQ card will control the other SCXI modules in multiplex mode.

Although I haven't tried this, it should work in theory.

-Sal

[kmcdevitt]

Sal,

I have tried this and it does not work.

I think that I have tried all possible combinations using my two DAQ cards, in different slots, using the front connector with the 1349 adapters, or using the PXI backplane.

As soon as I set up the SCXI-1520 to parallel mode, then nothing else in the other SCXI slots will work in multiplexed mode even if I use separate DAC cards for the other SCXI cards.

Has anybody tried to mix muliplexed and parallel mode SCXI cards in a PXI-1010 combo chassis with RealTime LabView?

Kevin.

[kmcdevitt]

I have been using my PXI system in the LabView RealTime mode. After each hardware configuration change I have been booting into LabView RealTime on the PXI-8187RT controller. I have then used my local computer with LabView and MAX to setup and configure my remote PXI target. Using this method I have been having nothing but trouble making the mix of multiplexed and parallel mode SCXI cards work together in the PXI-1010 combo chasis.

I have now tried to setup and configure the PXI System locally from the PXI System itself after booting into Windows XP. Now everything behaves together happily, both the multiplexed and parallel mode SCXI cards. I can use either PXI backplane or the PXI front panel connector for the multiplexed mode SCXI cards. Of course each parallel mode SCXI card needs its own DAQ card using the PXI front connector.

Once everything was configured with MAX locally in Windows, then they also worked after booting into LavView RealTime. I guess National Instruments will have to fix MAX for remote targets so that it actually works correctly for setting up and configuring the the RealTime remote targets.

Kevin.

[Salvador_Santolucito]

Glad to hear you got it working!

-Sal

[kmcdevitt]

I spoke too soon, but have since resolved additional problems.

Apparently I was able to use the MAX Test Panels to test the SCXI Cards, but later found out that I was unable to create DAQmx Tasks with channels from the SCXI cards. Tried many things, rebooting, removing and adding the SCXI stuff in MAX on the host. Tried exporting the MAX settings locally from Windows XP, rebooting to RT, then Importing the MAX settings from the host computer to the remote RT PXI system. Used the local host MAX to again add the SCXI remotely to the RT syetem. Rebooted here and there. And now the mixture of multiplexed and parallel mode SCXI cards work with my RealTime VIs.

McKevin.