Create a connections configuration file, such as connections.ini, to define the addresses of the gRPC servers for each modular system component instance used in your RPS system and the high-speed data connections between them.

  • Sample File—sample_connections.ini
  • Sample File Location—<Program Files>\National Instruments\NI RPS
    • Note NI recommends that you create a copy of sample_connections.ini, modify it for your system, and save it to %APPDATA%/RPS with a different name (such as connections.ini).
    Note Unless otherwise noted, section names, aliases, keys, and values are not case sensitive.

    [ICsc.<Alias>] Sections

    Use the [ICsc.<Alias>] sections to specify the address of the gRPC server for the given instrument controller instance. The section title must be formatted "ICsc.<Alias>", where <Alias> is the arbitrary name associated with the given instrument controller instance; this name is used in the [Connection.<Alias>] section of this configuration file.

    Create an [ICsc.<Alias>] section for each instrument controller in your system.

    Table 3. [ICsc.<Alias>] Key Value Pairs
    Key Value Default Value Required?
    ServerAddress The IP address and port of the ICsc gRPC server instance, separated by a colon. — Required

    Example: 

    [ICsc.my-icsc]
ServerAddress = "localhost:32002"

    [STsc.<Alias>] Sections

    Use the [STsc.<Alias>] sections to specify the address of the gRPC server for the given stream translator instance. The section title must be formatted "STsc.<Alias>", where <Alias> is the arbitrary name associated with the given stream translator instance; this name is used in the [Connection.<Alias>] section of this configuration file.

    Create an [STsc.<Alias>] section for each stream translator in your system.

    Table 4. [STsc.<Alias>] Key Value Pairs
    Key Value Default Value Required?
    ServerAddress The IP address and port of the STsc gRPC server instance, separated by a colon. — Required

    Example: 

    [STsc.my-stsc]
ServerAddress = "localhost:32001"

    [RPDSsc.<Alias>] Sections

    Use the [RPDSsc.<Alias>] sections to specify the address of the gRPC server for the given record and playback data storage server instance. The section title must be formatted "RPDSsc.<Alias>", where <Alias> is the arbitrary name associated with the given record and playback data storage server instance; this name is used in the [Connection.<Alias>] section of this configuration file.

    Create an [RPDSsc.<Alias>] section for each data storage server in your system.

    Table 5. [RPDSsc.<Alias>] Key Value Pairs
    Key Value Default Value Required?
    ServerAddress The IP address and port of the RPDSsc gRPC server instance, separated by a colon. — Required

    Example: 

    [RPDSsc.my-rpdssc]
ServerAddress = "localhost:32000"

    [Connection.<Alias>] Sections

    Use the [Connection.<Alias>] sections to describe the hardware connections between the modular system component instances in an RPS system in the format of "Connection.<Alias>" where <Alias> is the arbitrary name associated with the given connection. The values must be unique and are used to generate useful logs and error messages.

    Create an [Connection.<Alias>] section for each data stream in your system.

    Table 6. [Connection.<Alias>] Key Value Pairs
    Key Value Default Value Required?
    Direction The direction data moves between the VST instrument and the data storage server. Valid values are:
    • Acquisition (data moves from instrument to disk)
    • Generation (data moves from disk to instrument)
    • Bidirectional (data may move from instrument to disk or from disk to instrument)
    		 — Required
    ICscAlias The instrument controller alias for this connection, as defined in an [ICsc.<Alias>] section title. — Required
    InstrumentName The VST instrument device name, as configured in Hardware Configuration Utility. — Required
    STscAlias The Stream Translator alias for this connection, as defined in an [STsc.<Alias>] section title. — Required
    STscDataPath The name of the STsc datapath used by this connection, as defined in the STsc datapaths configuration file. Refer to STsc Datapaths Configuration File for more information. — Required
    RPDSscAlias The record and playback data storage server alias for this connection, as defined in an [RPDSsc.<Alias>] section title. — Required
    RPDSscEndpoint The name of the RPDSsc endpoint used by this connection, as defined in the RPDSsc endpoints configuration file. Refer to RPDSsc Endpoints Configuration File for more information. NI recommends that you name RPDSscEndpoint to match the InstrumentName. — Required

    Example: 

    [Connection.Record0]
Direction = Acquisition
ICscAlias = my-icsc
InstrumentName = 5842_00
STscAlias = my-stsc
STscDataPath = 8290_00
RPDSscAlias = my-rpdssc
RPDSscEndpoint = 5842_00