NI VeriStand 2016

August 2016


This file contains important information about NI VeriStand 2016, including system requirements and installation instructions.


Overview

System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

Installation Instructions

NI Software Support for Microsoft Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003

Product Security and Critical Updates

Evaluating NI DIAdem

Upgrade and Compatibility Issues

Known Issues

Accessing the Help

Finding Examples

Automating the Installation of NI Products

Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 10

Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 8.1

Legal Information


Overview

NI VeriStand is configuration-based testing software, allowing you to develop, prototype, and test control systems using hardware I/O and your simulation models. The NI VeriStand software framework enables you to perform real-time or PC-based test configuration and execution that can be easily customized and extended with LabVIEW, NI TestStand, and other software tools.


NI VeriStand includes a run-time editable user interface as well as a test manager you can use to configure and implement triggered multi-file data logging, real-time test sequencing, stimulus generation and playback, and model calibration.


System Requirements

NI VeriStand has the following requirements:


Windows Systems Real-Time Targets
RAM/Processor
  • 2 GB of RAM
  • Multi-core processor
  • PXI controller/desktop PC—At least 256 MB of RAM1
  • CompactRIO/Single-Board RIO—At least 128 MB of RAM1
Required Software
  • (Required) NI-DAQmx software 16.0
  • (Required) NI-VISA software 16.0 or later
  • (Recommended) NI-RIO 16.0 or later driver software, used by NI FPGA targets
  • (Recommended) NI-XNET 16.0 or later driver software, used by NI-XNET vehicle bus interface cards
NI VeriStand software, which you can install from NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)
1 You can achieve higher Primary Control Loop rates by using targets with higher-performance specifications.

Note  The following sections describe system requirements that apply if you use models, LabVIEW functionality, and .NET APIs in your system.


Simulation Models

To configure and run a simulation using your existing compiled model, you need only NI VeriStand installed. You need additional software to perform other tasks with models, as the following list describes:


  • To develop a model using The MathWorks, Inc. Simulink® application software, you must be a licensed user of and have the following software installed on the host computer: The MathWorks, Inc. MATLAB® software (32-bit or 64-bit version) and The MathWorks, Inc. Simulink software.
  • To compile a model developed using The MathWorks, Inc. Simulink software for use on a Microsoft Windows or LabVIEW real-time target, you must be a licensed user of and have the following software installed on the host computer: The MathWorks, Inc. Real-Time Workshop® (Simulink Coder®). Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code ex8sn9 for a list of compilers that are tested and supported.
  • The NI VeriStand Model Framework supports only certain versions of The MathWorks, Inc. Simulink® software. If the NI VeriStand Model Framework is used with an unsupported version of The MathWorks, Inc. Simulink®, NI VeriStand cannot initialize it.

If you use other modeling environments, contact your model vendor for requirements for developing a model and converting it into a compiled model.


LabVIEW

To create custom devices, menu items, workspace controls and indicators, or timing and sync devices, you must have LabVIEW 2016 or later. The LabVIEW functionality in NI VeriStand always requires like-numbered versions.


.NET

The NI VeriStand .NET APIs require the following Microsoft software:


  • Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.1, which uses Microsoft .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) 4.6.1.
  • A .NET environment capable of interacting with .NET Framework 4.6.1-based assemblies, such as Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 or LabVIEW 2016.

Supported Operating Systems

NI VeriStand supports the following operating systems:


Windows Systems1 Real-Time Targets
  • Windows 10/8.12/7 SP13
  • Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP13
  • Windows Server 2012 R22
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP13
  • Phar Lap ETS
  • VxWorks
  • NI Linux Real-Time

1 NI VeriStand runs as a 32-bit application on all Windows operating systems. UI Manager requires a 64-bit operating system.


2 NI software installs VC2015 Runtime and .NET 4.6.1. Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 require Microsoft updates to support these items. Refer to Microsoft KB2919442 and KB2919355 for more information about how to install these updates.


3 NI software is signed with a SHA-256 certificate. Windows 7 SP1, Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1, and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 require Microsoft updates to support SHA-256. Refer to Microsoft KB3033929 for more information about how to install this security update.


Installation Instructions

Complete the following steps to install NI VeriStand.


Note  If you purchased this product with an NI Software Suite or NI Product Bundle, use the installation media that shipped with your purchase to install this product.


  1. Log on as an administrator or as a user with administrator privileges.
  2. Some virus detection programs interfere with the installer. Disable any automatic virus detection programs before you install. After installation, check your computer for viruses and enable any virus detection programs you disabled.
  3. (Optional) To use LabVIEW with NI VeriStand, install the like-numbered version of LabVIEW on the host computer.
  4. Insert the NI VeriStand installation media and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
  5. Install the NI-DAQmx driver software from the NI Device Drivers DVD or any NI-DAQmx driver DVD.

    Note  The NI-DAQmx driver software is required to deploy a system definition to any platform, including the localhost running Windows.
  6. (Optional) If you are using NI-XNET, insert the NI-XNET installation media and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
  7. (Optional) Activate NI VeriStand when prompted by the installer, or activate at a later time using the NI License Manager.

NI VeriStand 2016 Drops Support for Microsoft Windows 7 RTM, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003

With this release, NI VeriStand drops support for Microsoft Windows 7 RTM (with no service pack), Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. NI VeriStand 2016 and later will not install or run on an unsupported OS. You cannot deploy or distribute applications that use NI VeriStand 2016 to an unsupported OS. Additionally, after installing NI VeriStand 2016, you cannot use any installers built on this computer with any version of LabVIEW, LabWindows™/CVI™, NI TestStand™, or Measurement Studio on an unsupported OS.


For more information about the changes to our OS support for 2016, refer to KB 79UC78LS, Why Does my LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, Measurement Studio, or TestStand Built Installer Fail on Windows XP/Vista and Server 2003?.


Product Security and Critical Updates

Visit ni.com/security to view and subscribe to receive security notifications about NI products. Visit ni.com/critical-updates for information about critical updates from NI.


Evaluating NI DIAdem

The NI VeriStand 2016 media kit includes an evaluation version of NI DIAdem. NI DIAdem is a software tool you can use to locate, load, visualize, analyze, and report measurement data from real-time tests. You can use NI VeriStand with DIAdem to automate the post-processing of data collected in NI VeriStand, view trend data across multiple files and file types, and generate custom reports.


Upgrade and Compatibility Issues

The following sections describe issues to be aware of when you upgrade to NI VeriStand 2016.


Note  NI recommends that you also review the Upgrade and Compatibility Issues in the readme files for each NI VeriStand version between the version from which you are upgrading and NI VeriStand 2016. To access the documents, refer to the NI website at ni.com/info and enter the Info Code for the appropriate NI VeriStand version from the following list:


Uncompiled Models

NI VeriStand 2016 does not support communication with uncompiled models.


Models Created from LabVIEW VIs

Models compiled from LabVIEW VIs (.lvmodel files) using LabVIEW 2015 or earlier must be recompiled using LabVIEW 2016. The LabVIEW functionality in NI VeriStand always requires like-numbered versions.


Models Compiled for Previous Versions

The NI VeriStand Model Framework contains changes to the files you use to develop and compile models in C/C++ and third-party modeling environments. If your system contains models compiled with previous versions of the Model Framework, choose from the following options to continue to use the models in NI VeriStand 2016:


  • If you do not need to update your model, you can continue to use the model as-is.
  • If you need to update functionality of your model that does not require the changes in the latest version of the Model Framework, you can recompile the model against the deprecated Model Framework files. These files are installed at RootDrive:\VeriStand\version\ModelInterface\custom\src\obsolete.

Migrating Files from NI VeriStand 2009 and Earlier

The mutation tool is not available in NI VeriStand 2016. All rig files and in4 files must be migrated using NI VeriStand 2014 or earlier.


Select Built-In Custom Devices Not Included

In NI VeriStand 2015 and later, you cannot add new instances of the Lambda Genesys and Pickering custom devices. Systems that already contain these custom devices can continue to use them.


Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code exjpt3 to access a page that details how to access the source code for the Lambda Genesys and Pickering custom devices.


Known Issues

You can access the software and documentation known issues list online. Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code NIVeriStand2016KI for an up-to-date list of known issues in NI VeriStand 2016.


Known Conflict with .NET 4.5 and MSVC 2010

To run the NI VeriStand UI Manager, the .NET Framework 4.5 must be installed. However, installing the .NET Framework 4.5 can break the Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 compilers, which are used to compile models for Windows and PharLap NI VeriStand targets. Using broken compilers results in error LNK1123. To resolve this Microsoft compiler issue, apply all service packs and updates for your version of Microsoft Visual Studio or Windows SDK. Refer to Microsoft Support Article 2757355 for more information.


Accessing the Help

NI VeriStand includes the following documentation resources:


Resource Contents Access Instructions
NI VeriStand Help Conceptual, how-to, and reference information for using NI VeriStand. In software: Help»Search the NI VeriStand Help

OR

Windows Start menu: All Programs»National Instruments»NI VeriStand»VeriStand Help
NI VeriStand .NET API Help Reference information for the .NET APIs included with NI VeriStand. You can access these assemblies from any .NET-compatible programming language or environment, including NI LabVIEW™ and NI TestStand™. Windows Start menu: All Programs»National Instruments»NI VeriStand»VeriStand .NET API Help.
NI VeriStand Model Framework Introduction Information about how to use the NI VeriStand Model Framework to compile your existing C and C++ model code so you can load your models in NI VeriStand. You can access this guide from the RootDrive:\VeriStand\xxxx\ModelInterface\custom directory, where RootDrive is the drive where NI software installs and xxxx is the NI VeriStand version number.

Note  You must explicitly select NI VeriStand Model Framework when you run the NI VeriStand installer.

Note  If you install NI VeriStand with the compatible version of LabVIEW, you also can access a subset of the NI VeriStand Help, including information about the NI VeriStand VIs and extending NI VeriStand functionality with LabVIEW, from the LabVIEW Help. From LabVIEW, select Help»LabVIEW Help.


Finding Examples

NI VeriStand includes several types of examples:


  • NI VeriStand Project—An example NI VeriStand project, including related items such as a system definition, a Workspace screen file, compiled models, and NI-XNET files, are located in the <Public Documents>\National Instruments\NI VeriStand\Projects\Example directory.
  • Stimulus Profile Editor—NI VeriStand Stimulus Profile Editor examples are located in the <Public Documents>\National Instruments\NI VeriStand\Examples directory.

    Tip  On Windows 7, the default location of the <Public Documents> directory is C:\Users\Public\Public Documents.


  • LabVIEW API—LabVIEW examples that use the NI VeriStand API are located in the <Program Files>\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2016\examples\NI Veristand directory.

Automating the Installation of NI Products

You can automate the installation of most NI products using command-line arguments to suppress some or all of the installer user interface and dialog boxes. However, starting with the August 2012 releases (products using NI Installers version 3.1 or later), you may need to perform additional steps before or during a silent installation of NI software.


If the NI product you are installing uses Microsoft .NET 4.0, the .NET installer may run before any NI software installs and may require a reboot before the installation of NI software begins. To avoid a .NET reboot, install .NET 4.0 separately before you install NI software.


For more information about automating the installation of NI products, refer to the following KnowledgeBase articles:


Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 10

Microsoft Windows 10 is the latest version of the Windows operating system and features significant changes compared to previous versions. Windows 10 introduces several new capabilities and also combines features from both Windows 7 and Windows 8. For more information about NI support for Windows 10, visit ni.com/windows10.


Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 8.1

When you install NI software on Microsoft Windows 8.1, you will notice a few additional tiles in the Apps view, including shortcuts to NI application software products such as NI LabVIEW, Measurement & Automation Explorer (NI MAX), and NI Launcher. For more information about NI support for Windows 8.1, visit ni.com/windows8.



Legal Information

Copyright


© 2009–2016 National Instruments. All rights reserved.


Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National Instruments Corporation.


NI respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. NI software is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Where NI software may be used to reproduce software or other materials belonging to others, you may use NI software only to reproduce materials that you may reproduce in accordance with the terms of any applicable license or other legal restriction.


End-User License Agreements and Third-Party Legal Notices


You can find end-user license agreements (EULAs) and third-party legal notices in the following locations after installation:


  • Notices are located in the <National Instruments>\_Legal Information and <National Instruments> directories.
  • EULAs are located in the <National Instruments>\Shared\MDF\Legal\license directory.
  • Review <National Instruments>\_Legal Information.txt for information on including legal information in installers built with NI products.

U.S. Government Restricted Rights


If you are an agency, department, or other entity of the United States Government ("Government"), the use, duplication, reproduction, release, modification, disclosure or transfer of the technical data included in this manual is governed by the Restricted Rights provisions under Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.227-14 for civilian agencies and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Section 252.227-7014 and 252.227-7015 for military agencies.


IVI Foundation Copyright Notice


Content from the IVI specifications reproduced with permission from the IVI Foundation.


The IVI Foundation and its member companies make no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The IVI Foundation and its member companies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.


Trademarks


Refer to the NI Trademarks and Logo Guidelines at ni.com/trademarks for information on NI trademarks. Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.


Patents


For patents covering the NI products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your media, or the NI Patent Notice at ni.com/patents.


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