Converting a Desktop PC to a LabVIEW Real-Time Target
PrintTable of Contents
Overview
The option to convert a desktop PC to a LabVIEW Real-Time target provides developers
more flexibility when choosing their deployment platform for deterministic and reliable systems.
[+] Enlarge Image
Figure 1. Advantages of using a Desktop PC as a LabVIEW Real-Time Target
Introduction
Real-time processing is used in various applications ranging from control, to design, to test. While application space plays a role in determining the appropriateness of one target versus another, system requirements such as processing requirements, I/O availability, ruggedness of design, and scalability, play an even more critical role. The following targets are your choices for deploying a LabVIEW Real-Time application:
Figure 2. LabVIEW Real-Time TargetsFor more information on when to choose a particular Real-Time target vs. another, refer to the document on ni.com entitled Selecting Your LabVIEW Real-Time Deployment Platform.
Deploying a desktop PC as a LabVIEW Real-Time target is ideal for the following scenarios:
· Migrating a LabVIEW desktop Windows application to LabVIEW Real-Time. At the outset of application development, it may not be known if Real-Time is necessary or not. If a developer chooses to start out on a Windows machine running LabVIEW, the option exists to later migrate to LabVIEW Real-Time if more reliability or determinism is required. Additionally, if PCI boards such as multifunction DAQ, FPGA-based reconfigurable I/O, or high-accuracy modular instruments are used, these will be able to seamlessy migrate from a desktop PC running LabVIEW for Windows to a desktop PC running LabVIEW Real-Time.
· Considering a single-board computer. Single-board computers are a common platform deployed in an embedded system. The same process outlined in this document for desktop PC’s is also applicable for single-board computers.
· Needing I/O hardware with low to medium number of channels. Desktop PCs normally offer up to three PCI slots (or more) for use with I/O boards. While this number is sufficient for some applications; if more I/O is required, other real-time targets are available to meet those requirements.
· Developing Preliminary Systems. Desktop PCs are ideal for an early prototyping platform when proving out algorithms and system functionality. They offer the ability to scale to PXI-based real-time systems down the road.
· Requiring a real-time target with minimal investment. Because desktop PCs compatible with LabVIEW Real-Time use common PC technology components including processors from Intel and AMD, the chance of already owning a PC compatible with LabVIEW Real-Time is very high.
The steps below outline the process for converting a desktop PC to a LabVIEW Real-Time target.
Step 1 – Verify System Requirements
When purchasing a new PC for use as a LabVIEW Real-Time target, it is very important to first ensure that the PC meets all the required hardware specifications.
A. Hardware Requirements
The requirements for a desktop PC to be used as a LabVIEW Real-Time are detailed in the ni.com document KnowledgeBase 39NDI8PK: Requirements for a Desktop PC as a LabVIEW Real-Time Target.
These requirements include certain processor types, Ethernet chipsets, hard drive requirements, and more. Because PC technologies evolve very quickly, the requirements are frequently updated in the above KnowledgeBase to keep pace with new hardware additions.
Figure 3 below shows two example configurations.
 |
Example Configuration 1
|
Example Configuration 2
|
|
Processor
|
Intel Pentium 4
|
AMD Athlon 64
|
|
Ethernet chip set
|
Intel 82559
(onboard chip set) |
NI PCI-8232
(plug-in Ethernet board) |
|
Hard-drive
|
Parallel ATA (IDE)
|
Parallel ATA (IDE)
|
|
Boot-up Method
|
Boot into real-time OS with floppy disk loaded with boot image
|
Boot into real-time OS with USB thumb drive loaded with boot image
|
Figure 3. Example Real-Time Desktop Configurations
A LabVIEW Real-Time Deployment License for Standard PCs - ETS RTOS is also required for each desktop system used as a LabVIEW Real-Time target.
B. Real-Time Desktop Validator
The easiest method for checking compatibility with LabVIEW Real-Time on a desktop PC, is to run the Real-Time Desktop Validator start-up executable. This utility is a free download from ni.com and may be loaded on either a floppy disk or USB jump drive.
When a system boots up, the executable will run automatically and print something similar to the two images shown below. The Real-Time Desktop Validator will run a diagnostic to learn about the following components of the desktop PC: CPU, BIOS, memory, and Ethernet drivers. If the test passes, the desktop PC can be booted directly and run LabVIEW Real-Time applications. If the test fails, information will be provided as to which components were not compatible.
For example, Figure 4 demonstrates one test of a desktop PC for compatibility with LabVIEW Real-Time, in this case the test fails due to an incompatible Ethernet chipset.
[+] Enlarge Image
Figure 4. Real-Time Desktop Validator Failed Test
The easiest work-around for this scenario is to install a plug-in Ethernet board compatible with LabVIEW Real-Time. An Intel 8254x-based board was installed, and the Real-Time Desktop Validator was executed a second time. As shown in Figure 5, in this case the test passed and the desktop PC can now be used as a LabVIEW Real-Time target.
[+] Enlarge Image
Figure 5. Real-Time Desktop Validator Passed Test
C. Real-Time ETS Deployment Desktop Bundle
For convenient set-up, the Real-Time ETS Desktop Bundle may be purchased which combines the Real-Time deployment license with a plug-in Ethernet board that meets the hardware requirements to work with the Operating System used by LabVIEW Real-Time.
Step 2 – Configure a Desktop PC as a Real-Time Target
After hardware requirements have been met, the next step is to configure the desktop PC for application development. You will need to first boot the PC into Real-Time, and then install software, before proceeding to application development.
For step by step instructions, follow the guidance outlined in the document Using Desktop PCs as RT Targets with the LabVIEW Real-Time Module for ETS Targets.
An important consideration during the configuration step, is which I/O boards will be compatible with your system. All drivers that function on PXI real-time targets should be compatible with a desktop PC real-time target. Any exceptions are listed in the document KnowledgeBase 39NDI8PK: Requirements for a Desktop PC as a LabVIEW Real-Time Target.
Conclusion
There are many advantages in using a desktop PC as a Real-Time target, including the following:
· Wide breadth of I/O available (PCI Multifunction Data Acquisition, FPGA-Based Reconfigurable I/O, and High-Accuracy Modular Instruments)
· Price benefit from choosing from multiple desktop PC vendors
· Scalability to Allow Easy Migration to PXI
Figure 6. PCI Multifunction Data Acquisition, FPGA-Based Reconfigurable I/O, and High-Accuracy Modular Instruments
Reader Comments | Submit a comment »
Legal
This tutorial (this "tutorial") was developed by National Instruments ("NI"). Although technical support of this tutorial may be made available by National Instruments, the content in this tutorial may not be completely tested and verified, and NI does not guarantee its quality in any way or that NI will continue to support this content with each new revision of related products and drivers. THIS TUTORIAL IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE (http://ni.com/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).