Deterministic Ethernet Product Selection Guide
Overview
The Deterministic Ethernet Product Selection Guide is your free online resource for choosing the hardware and software components you need to build your complete deterministic distributed I/O system. This type of system is based on a master/slave architecture that requires a master controller, a slave chassis, NI C Series I/O modules, development software, and accessories.
Visit the CompactRIO Advisor to easily configure and build your NI CompactRIO expansion system. Also, view these CompactRIO bundles to get started with a complete real-time distributed I/O system.
Table of Contents
Four Steps to Deterministic Distributed I/O
| Step 1. Select Your Real-Time Master Controller | Step 2. Select Your Expansion Chassis | ||
| Step 3. Select Your C Series I/O Modules | Step 4. Select Your Development Software |
Step 1. Select Your Real-Time Master Controller
Use one of the following NI real-time controllers with two Ethernet ports as the master controller for your distributed system:
| NI Platform | Real-Time Controller | Description | Additional Hardware |
| CompactRIO | NI cRIO-9024 | 800 MHz real-time controller with 512 MB DRAM, 4 GB storage | - |
| NI cRIO-9022 | 533 MHz real-time controller with 256 MB DRAM, 2 GB storage | - | |
| NI cRIO-9074 | 400 MHz real-time integrated controller with 64 MB DRAM, 128 MB storage | - | |
| PXI | All real-time embedded PXI controllers1 | Gigahertz-range, dual-core processors with NI LabVIEW Real-Time and local I/O slots | NI PXI-8231 or PXI-8232 Ethernet interface |
| Industrial Controller | All real-time NI industrial controllers | Rugged, high-performance, fanless industrial controllers with LabVIEW Real-Time |
1Does not include the NI 8353 RT rack-mount controller.
Step 2. Select Your Expansion Chassis
The NI 9144 expansion chassis adds deterministic Ethernet I/O to your CompactRIO or real-time PXI system. With its two Ethernet ports, you can daisy chain multiple NI 9144 chassis from a single controller to expand their time-critical applications while maintaining hard determinism with minimal processor resources. With a temperature range of -40 to 70 °C and 50 g shock ratings, this rugged chassis is designed for industrial applications.
Figure 1. NI 9144 Expansion Chassis
Related Links
NI 9144 Expansion Chassis
Deterministic Ethernet I/O
Step 3. Select Your C Series I/O Modules
Because the NI 9144 chassis is an eight-slot modular expansion system, you have the flexibility to incorporate more measurement types and channels by plugging in additional I/O modules. Plus, attaching another expansion chassis adds even more module slots for your system. Not only are all I/O modules automatically synchronized in each chassis, but all the expansion chassis in the network are synchronized with each other as well.
The NI 9144 expansion chassis is compatible with all C Series modules that are programmable with the NI LabVIEW FPGA Module. Also, you can program more than 40 analog and digital C Series modules with the easy-to-use CompactRIO Scan Mode in the LabVIEW Real-Time Module. For a full list of modules, see the C Series Module Compatibility Chart.
Figure 2. C Series I/O Modules with Sensor-Specific Connectors, Built-In Signal Conditioning, and High-Performance A/D Converters
Related Links
C Series Module Compatibility Chart
Connector Blocks and Accessories for C Series Modules
Step 4. Select Your Development Software
The LabVIEW graphical development environment is designed for engineers and scientists who need to create flexible and scalable test, measurement, and control applications rapidly and at minimal cost. The intuitive graphical development environment provides all the software tools you need for easily adding deterministic distributed I/O to your system. The LabVIEW Real-Time Module offers easy access to the physical channels using the click-and-drag I/O variable, live test panels, and I/O forcing for troubleshooting. The LabVIEW FPGA Module helps you program the field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) on the NI 9144 and its modules for high-speed and customizable I/O timing, triggering, and control.
Figure 3. NI LabVIEW Graphical Development Environment
| Software | Version for Programming in LabVIEW Real-Time Only | Version for Programming in LabVIEW Real-Time and LabVIEW FPGA |
| LabVIEW | 8.6 or later | 2009 or later |
| LabVIEW Real-Time Module | 8.6 or later | 2009 or later |
| LabVIEW FPGA Module | – | 2009 or later |
| NI-RIO driver software | 3.0.1 or later | 3.2.1 or later |
| NI-Industrial Communications for EtherCAT driver software | 1.0 or later | 1.1 or later |
Table 1. Supported LabVIEW and Driver Versions
Related Links
What Is LabVIEW for Industrial Measurements and Control?
Try LabVIEW
LabVIEW Real-Time Software
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/).
