PAtools Installation and Configuration

Install PAtools on Windows or NI Linux Real-Time.

Installing PAtools for NI Linux Real-Time Using MAX

You can install PAtools for NI Linux Real-Time using Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX).

Discovering the PXI Controller

  1. Install NI Linux RT System Image using Package Manager.
    Select the version of the system image that matches the version of PAtools installed on the Windows PC.
  2. Launch MAX on a Windows PC.
  3. Expand Remote Systems in the configuration tree and locate your system.
  4. Select your target.
    Note MAX lists the system as NI-<target type>-<serial number> by default.
  5. Configure the network and user settings according to the standard practices of your facility and within the IP address setting restrictions.
    Note By default, the target controller initiates a DHCP connection the first time you connect using Ethernet.

Installing Software on the PXI Controller

Installing the full software stack to the target requires installing the base driver set and then installing custom application components.

  1. Launch MAX on the host computer.
  2. Expand Remote Systems in the MAX configuration tree and locate the controller.
  3. On the System Settings tab, update the Hostname field.
    Use a unique test system name that this PXI controller represents. For example, update the Hostname to follow a naming convention such as <lab name> Test Station <ID>. This name must be unique across your test field.
  4. Click Update Firmware.
    By default, the file dialog window opens to the firmware file location: <Program Files (x86)>\National Instruments\Shared\Firmware.
  5. Select the most recent firmware version and click Open.
  6. When the Update Firmware window appears, click Begin Update. Make sure the date and time are correct.
    Note You must log in to configure the controller. The default user name for the controller is admin. There is not a default password. To set a password, refer to the KnowledgeBase article Manage User Accounts on NI Linux Real-Time OS Devices.
  7. Expand the controller and right-click Software.
  8. Select Add/Remove Software to launch the Real-Time Software wizard and install the base system image on the controller.
  9. Select the base system image.
    Refer to PAtools System Requirements for more information about the Linux Real-time version that is compatible with the PAtools Realtime version that you are installing.
  10. Click OK to apply the system image.
  11. Select LabVIEW and the LabVIEW version for the programming environment.
    Refer to PAtools System Requirements for more information about the LabVIEW version that is compatible with the PAtools Realtime version that you are installing.
  12. Click Next and select the following items on the Add tab:
    • NI-DAQmx
    • NI-VISA
    • NI-XNET
    • NI PAtools Realtime
    Tip You can use the Real-Time Software wizard at any time to install additional software.
  13. Select Include recommended packages.
  14. Click Review changes and verify that the summary is correct.
  15. Click Continue to start the installation.
  16. Click Close after installation completes.
If you used a USB to type A cable to discover the controller, remove the USB cable.

Setting Up SystemLink on the PXI Controller

Before you begin, use MAX to install software on the PXI controller. For more information, refer to Installing Software on the PXI Controller.
  1. In MAX, on the System Settings tab under SystemLink Settings, select the controller.
  2. Set the Server value to the same value set when configuring SystemLink.
  3. Click Save. The status displays as Not Approved.
  4. Launch and log in to NI SystemLink Web Application.
  5. Click Systems Manager, then click Pending systems.
  6. Select the target and a Workspace to associate with the target in SystemLink, then click Approve.
    The target is now a client connected to your SystemLink server.
  7. Optional: Update the system name to be meaningful in SystemLink.
    For example, <Test Station Name><Test Station Number>. For more information, refer to Changing a System Name in the SystemLink Enterprise User Manual.
  8. In MAX, on the System Settings tab under SystemLink Settings, select the controller and verify that the status is Connected.
  9. Optional: If the PXI controller controls more than one test station, create a virtual system in SystemLink for each test station.
    Use a system name that is meaningful in SystemLink. For example, <Test Station Name><Test Station Number>.

Configuring the PXI Controller for PAtools

Use PAtools PCU Configuration to configure the PXI controller for PAtools.

  1. Launch PAtools PCU Configuration on the host computer.
  2. Enter the IP address or hostname in the upper rightmost text box and press Enter.
    Note You must log in to configure the PXI controller for PAtools. The default password for the PAtools configuration on the PXI controller is Supertool. You can change the default password. Refer to Changing the PCU Configuration Password for more information.
  3. In the Runtimesystems section, add the runtime systems as needed.
    1. Change runtime system Id to a unique number.
    2. Optional: To distribute the execution burden of the runtime system, adjust the Processor value.
      The execution burden distributes across the processors available on the PXI.
  4. Optional: If you are using SystemLink, in the Webclient section, select SystemLink.
  5. In the General section, set the language.
  6. Transfer the adapted configuration to the PXI controller by clicking the leftmost button in the toolbar.
    Note To troubleshoot errors during the transfer, refer to the Info box at the bottom of PAtools PCU Configuration.
  7. Restart the PXI controller using one of the following options.
    • In PAtools PCU Configuration, select Tools » Restart PCU.
    • Use MAX.
    • Press the restart button on the PXI controller.

Setting up the PXI as a Test Station in PAtools

Use PAconfigurator to add a test station for each PXI.

Refer to Creating a New Test Station for more information.

Upgrading the Firmware on cDAQ Chassis

To upgrade the firmware on your cDAQ chassis, complete the following steps:
  1. Turn your system off, and disconnect the Ethernet cable to the cDAQ chassis.
  2. Connect the Ethernet cable from the cDAQ chassis to either your computer or the facility’s network.
  3. Turn the system back on.
  4. Open NI MAX.
  5. In NI MAX, locate your cDAQ chassis by expanding My System » Devices and Interfaces » Network Devices.
  6. Click Upgrade Firmware.
  7. Login with an administrator account.
    The default username is admin. The default password is left blank.
  8. Select the latest firmware file, and click it to update the firmware on your cDAQ chassis.
    Wait for the firmware update to finish before proceeding.
  9. Turn off the system, and disconnect the Ethernet cable from the computer or network.
  10. Reconnect the Ethernet cable from the cDAQ chassis to the system.
  11. Turn on the system.

Discovering cDAQ-9189

  1. Launch MAX on the Lab PC.
  2. Expand Remote Systems » PXI Controller » Devices and Interfaces » Network Devices in the configuration tree.
  3. Select Find Network NI-DAQmx Devices from the Add Network Devices drop-down.
  4. When the Find Network NI-DAQmx Devices dialog box opens, complete one of the following options:
    • Check the box that corresponds to your network device in the Hostname column.
    • Enter your chassis IP address into the Add Device Manually field. Click the + button.
    • Enter the hostname of the network device. The default hostname for the cDAQ-9189 is cDAQ9189-<serial number>
    Note If your network device does not appear in Available Devices, click Refresh List. If the network device still does not appear, contact your system administrator to confirm that the network is working. The system administrator can also help confirm that a firewall is not interfering with discovery.
  5. Click Add Selected Devices.
    The cDAQ-9189 chassis is added under the controller in the configuration tree. If the cDAQ-9189 is not reserved automatically, select the device and click Reserve Network Device. After the chassis is reserved by the real-time controller, the modules in the chassis are visible in the MAX configuration tree.
  6. Self-test your network devices in MAX:
    1. Expand PXI Controller » Devices and Interfaces » Network Devices, and right-click the cDAQ-9189 chassis.
    2. Select Self-Test.
      Self-test performs a brief test to determine successful installation. When the self-test finishes, a message indicates successful installation or an error.
  7. Optional: Rename the C Series modules in the cDAQ-9189 chassis.
    1. Select the module.
    2. In the Name field, enter a new name.
    Note NI recommends renaming the C Series modules in the cDAQ-9189 by removing the serial number. Removing the serial number enables you to reuse your tests across systems. You can use the following naming scheme: <Module_Number>-<Slot>-<Purpose>. For example, NI_9213-Mod1-Temperature.
  8. Run a test panel in MAX.
    To test a module in the cDAQ-9189, perform the following actions:
    • Expand PXI Controller » Devices and Interfaces » Network Devices » NI cDAQ-9189
    • Right-click the C Series module and select Test Panels to open a test panel for the selected module.
    • Click Run to run the test panel.
  9. Click Close to exit the test panel.