Setting up a Dedicated PAtools Test Generator Machine

To set up a battery lab to execute tests from SystemLink, you must set up a computer as a dedicated PAtools test generator machine. Use the PAtools Test Generator Software to create test code from SystemLink Enterprise Test Plans to run on a NI Linux RT target with PAtools Realtime.

Note If you are not creating and executing tests from SystemLink, you do not have to set up a dedicated test generator machine.
  1. On the dedicated machine, use NI Package Manager to locate the PAtools and Drivers package.
    Note This machine must follow the PAtools Battery Software Suite system requirements.
  2. Select and install the following items:
    • PAtools Test Generator Software
    • SystemLink Client
    • NI SystemLink Python SDK
  3. Install a service that uses the PAtools Test Generator Software by following the instructions in the README.md file at the following location: C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\PAtools <current version>\PAtoolsTestGenerator.
    Note NI recommends using the PAtools user name that you used when setting up the database. Refer to Setting up a Database in the PAtools User Manual for more information. If you use a different user name for the generator service, you must add that user name as a Performance Monitor user.
  4. Configure the SystemLink Client to establish a connection between a SystemLink server and the test generator machine.
    For more information, refer to Setting up a SystemLink Client in the SystemLink Enterprise User Manual.
  5. Optional: Update the system name to be meaningful in SystemLink.
    For example, update the name to <Test Generator Name> <Test Generator Number>. For more information, refer to Changing a System Name in the SystemLink Enterprise User Manual.
  6. Navigate to the BLS SystemLink Integration GitHub repository and download patools.py.
    If you do not have access to the GitHub repository, work with your account representative for access credentials. Attempting to access the repository without proper credentials results in a 404 error.
  7. Place the patools.py file in the following location: C:\ProgramData\National Instruments\salt\var\extmods\modules.