Version 2009 Features (RT Module)
Edition Date: June 2009
Part Number: 370622G-01
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Refer to the LabVIEW Real-Time Module Release and Upgrade Notes for a complete list of new features and changes, for information about upgrade and compatibility issues, and for installation instructions.
Refer to the readme_RT.html file in the labview\readme directory for last-minute updates about the Real-Time Module 2009. Refer to the National Instruments Web site for information about known issues with the Real-Time Module 2009.
NI Real-Time Hypervisor Support
The Real-Time Module 2009 supports NI Real-Time Hypervisor software, which you can use to run Windows host VIs and LabVIEW Real-Time VIs simultaneously on a single controller. You can purchase NI Real-Time Hypervisor software when you purchase a supported multi-core PXI controller or Industrial controller. NI Real-Time Hypervisor software supports most of the same devices and drivers as the LabVIEW Real-Time Module. Refer to the National Instruments Web site for information about hardware devices and drivers that the NI Real-Time Hypervisor does not support.
Backing Up, Restoring, and Replicating RT Targets
You can use RT target disk images to back up, restore, and replicate RT targets. An RT target disk image is a copy of the primary RT target hard drive. Use the following new VIs to create and apply RT target disk images.
You also can use an RT Desktop PC Utility USB drive to create and apply RT target disk images.
New Real-Time Utilities VIs
The RT Utilities palette includes the following new VIs.
Synchronizing Timed Structures on Multiple Targets
You can use the new 1 kHz <absolute time> and 1 MHz <absolute time> timing sources to synchronize the start of timed structures running on multiple networked RT targets.
LabVIEW Classes Support
You can deploy VIs and stand-alone applications that use LabVIEW classes to an RT target. You also can create new classes under RT targets in the Project Explorer window.
MathScript RT Module Support
If you purchase the MathScript RT Module, you can use the MathScript RT Module functions on RT targets. However, National Instruments does not guarantee and is not responsible for the jitter characteristics of the MathScript RT Module functions. Depending on the functions and data types you use, memory allocations might be required at run time, which can cause jitter in the real-time application. To ensure that the application meets timing requirements, National Instruments recommends that you benchmark (and you are solely responsible for testing) the jitter in your application before you deploy the application to the field.
Certain MathScript functions are not supported on RT targets. Certain MathScript functions are supported on RT targets only when you assign the output of the function to a MathScript variable.
Programmatically Finding, Reading, and Writing Variables
LabVIEW 2009 includes new functions, classes, properties, and methods you can use to find, read and write network-published shared variables and I/O variables programmatically.
I/O Variable Improvements
The Real-Time Module 2009 includes the following improvements for I/O variables.
Transferring Custom FPGA I/O Data
You can create user-defined I/O variables to transfer custom I/O data between FPGA VIs and RT VIs running on a single supported hardware device. An I/O variable is a type of shared variable that uses the NI Scan Engine for single-point access to I/O data.
Fixed-Point Support
I/O variables now support the fixed-point data type.
NI Scan Engine Fault Configuration
You can configure the level and triggering behavior of system faults either interactively or programmatically. Use the Fault Configuration section of the Scan Engine page to configure system faults interactively. Use the Fault Configuration VIs to configure system faults programmatically.
Improvements for Shared Variables with the RT FIFO Enabled
The Real-Time Module 2009 includes the following improvements for shared variables with the Real-Time FIFO enabled.
Cluster Support
Shared variables with the RT FIFO enabled now support flat clusters, which are clusters that do not contain arrays or strings.
Blocking Read Mode
You can enable the ms timeout input on the block diagram node of a single-process shared variable with the RT FIFO enabled. You can use this feature to wait for new data and avoid reading identical values repeatedly.
UDP Multicast Support
Use the UDP Multicast Open VI on an RT target to initiate a UDP multicast session.
Visual C++ 9 (VC9) Compiler Support
The RT Module 2009 includes a VC9 component that you can install on ETS RT targets using the LabVIEW Real-Time Software Wizard in NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX). If you install VC9 support on an ETS RT target, you can call DLLs compiled with the Microsoft VC9 compiler in VIs that run on the target.
Improved Daylight Saving Time Support
ETS RT targets now support the latest rules for Daylight Saving Time (DST). If you need to use DST rules other than those used in the US, you can specify different DST start and end times to match the rules of your region. Refer to the National Instruments Web site for information about updating the DST rules used by an ETS RT target.
FTP VIs
The RT Module 2009 includes the FTP VIs, which previously installed only with the Internet Toolkit.