Configure PAcluster to distribute the execution of test components across multiple PXI controllers.

PAcluster defines a cluster of PXI controllers. If you define a PAcluster on a primary PXI controller, the main test can load test components on other PXI controllers in the cluster.

Configuring PAcluster allows a system that is configured to test multiple DUTs to distribute the processing demand. Processing demand is distributed across multiple PXI controllers. Configuring PAcluster is useful in the following cases:

  • There are more components than PXI controller cores.
  • The components are independent enough that you can run a test with a high cycle time (for example, 10 Hz).

The following requirements must be met when using PAcluster:

  • You must use a private network for PAcluster real-time communication. The private network must include only PXI controllers that belong to a PAcluster.
  • The associated PXI controllers may be connected directly through a network switch.
  • All PAcluster members require a connection to the domain network. A connection to the domain network allows the PXI controllers to be accessed from PAtools on a Windows computer. A connection to the domain network also allows measurement files to be uploaded during test execution.

All PXI controllers must have the same version of PAtools Realtime installed. You must configure each PXI controller according to its hardware, interfaces, and web client.

Configuring a PAcluster Master

Complete the following steps to configure a PAcluster master:

  1. Open PCU configuration settings » Network » Interfaces.
  2. Locate the port for PAcluster communication.
    1. Optional: Change the DeviceName.
    2. Enter the Ip address for the PAcluster network.
    3. Enter the Netmask for the PAcluster network.
    4. Enable the Activated status.
  3. Open PCU configuration settings » Runtimesystems » <runtime system> » PAClusterMember.
  4. For Alias type, select Master.
  5. For Interface, enter the name of the network interface.
    The name of the interface must match the DeviceName exactly.
  6. Optional: Update the CycleTime.
    The CycleTime is in seconds. If you have a large number of PAcluster slaves, you can update the cycle time to reduce the load on the PAcluster master. For more than 12 PAcluster slaves, NI recommends 0.01 seconds.

Configuring a PAcluster Slave

Complete the following steps to configure a PAcluster slave:

  1. Open PCU configuration settings » Network » Interfaces.
  2. Locate the port for PAcluster communication.
    1. Optional: Change the DeviceName.
    2. Enter the Ip address for the PAcluster network.
    3. Enter the Netmask for the PAcluster network.
    4. Enable the Activated status.
  3. Open PCU configuration settings » Runtimesystems » <runtime system> » PAClusterMember.
  4. For Alias type, select Slave.
  5. For SlaveAlias, enter a name unique within the cluster.
  6. For Interface, enter the name of the network interface.
    The name of the interface must match the DeviceName exactly.
After you configure a PAcluster slave in PAtools PCU Configuration, use the slave alias to configure the componentslot-configuration group. Configure the componentslot-configuration group in PAconfigurator.