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National Instruments measurement devices are packaged with NI-DAQ driver software, an extensive library of functions and VIs you can call from LabVIEW to program NI measurement devices. Measurement devices include DAQ devices such as the M Series multifunction I/O (MIO) devices, signal conditioning modules, and switch modules. Driver software has an application programming interface (API), which is a library of VIs, functions, classes, attributes, and properties for creating applications for a device.

NI-DAQ 8.x comes with the latest version of the software driver, which is called NI-DAQmx. NI-DAQmx replaces Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy). NI-DAQmx and Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy) have their own APIs, hardware configurations, and software configurations.

Note  LabVIEW supports NI-DAQmx on Windows and Linux and NI-DAQmx Base on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. Refer to the NI-DAQ Readme for more information about platforms supported by NI-DAQ software.

NI-DAQmx (Windows and Linux)

NI-DAQmx is the latest NI-DAQ driver with the following advantages over Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy):

• (Windows) DAQ Assistant, a graphical way to configure virtual channels and measurement tasks for a device and to generate NI-DAQmx code based on virtual channels and tasks.
• Increased performance, including faster single-point analog I/O and multithreading.
• NI-DAQmx simulated devices for testing and modifying applications without plugging in hardware.
• Simpler, more intuitive APIs for creating DAQ applications using fewer functions and VIs than earlier versions of NI-DAQ.
• Expanded functionality for LabVIEW, including Property Nodes and waveform data type support.
• Improved support and performance for the LabVIEW Real-Time Module.

Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy)

Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy) is an upgrade of the earlier version of NI-DAQ. Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy) has the same VIs and functions and works the same way as NI-DAQ 6.9.3, except you can use Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy) and NI-DAQmx on the same computer, and some hardware is no longer supported. (Windows Vista) You cannot use Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy) on Windows Vista.

Who Can Use NI-DAQmx

You should install and use NI-DAQmx if one of the following situations apply:

• You are a new NI-DAQ user.
• You are using devices supported by NI-DAQmx. Refer to the NI-DAQ Readme for a list of supported devices.
• You are using Windows Vista/XP/2000 or Linux.

Note  (Linux) Refer to the National Instruments Web site for information about which Linux distributions NI-DAQmx supports. (Mac OS) LabVIEW supports a Base version of NI-DAQmx for Mac OS. Refer to the National Instruments Web site to download the NI-DAQmx Base driver.

Who Must Use Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy)

You should use NI-DAQmx if you can. Install and use Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy) if one of the following situations apply:

• You have a device that is not supported by NI-DAQmx, such as the AT E Series multifunction DAQ devices.
• You are using a version of LabVIEW earlier than version 7.0.
• You are upgrading from NI-DAQ 6.9.x and have existing applications that you do not want to port to NI-DAQmx.

Note  The earliest version of NI application software supported by Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy) is version 6.0. LabVIEW versions 6.x and 7.x can use Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy) from the NI-DAQ 8.x distribution.

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