Managing NI LinuxRT Systems Directly Connected to Host Computer with SystemLink

[allen_h]

This document is part of the SystemLink Portal.

Managing NI LinuxRT Systems Directly Connected to Host Computer with SystemLink

Scenario

Some customers using NI Real-Time targets (e.g. cRIO, standalone cDAQ, PXI running NI LinuxRT OS) have a setup similar to the following:

• The SystemLink Server and all host computers are connected to the same "main" network, so the SystemLink Server can see and manage the host computers (after the host computers have the SystemLink Client software installed and connect to the Server).
• The host computers use a second Ethernet port to directly connect to one or more NI LinuxRT targets on a separate private network, unseen by the main network.

Note: SystemLink only supports NI Real-Time targets running the NI LinuxRT OS.

Solution

1. Leave the network setup the same (as described in the Scenario section).
2. On your host computer, “share” the Ethernet network port connected to the main network… with the Ethernet network port connected to the private network.
   1. (Windows 10) Navigate to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
   2. Right-click on the Ethernet network port that is connected to the main network and select Share.
      
      IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure you take extra care to right-click the port connected to the main network. If you accidentally choose the port connected to the private network instead, your host computer will lose connection to the main network.
      
      Note: In networking terms, this acts as a NAT (not a Bridge).
3. Now your RT target(s) on the private network can see and reach out to the SystemLink Server, so the SystemLink Server can see and manage them as a SystemLink Client system.
   With this setup, computers on the main network still cannot see the RT target(s) on the various private networks, which is typically the desired functionality in this scenario.

Alternate Solution

Alternatively, you can change your network setup in a way that the SystemLink Server, host computers, and NI LinuxRT systems all have one of their Ethernet network ports directly connected to the same network.  The SystemLink Server will then be able to see and manage both the host computers and NI LinuxRT systems.