Custom Device Benchmarking and Debugging

You can use tools provided by LabVIEW and VeriStand to benchmark and debug your custom device.

You should perform benchmarking on a system that is similar to the target. Other components of the VeriStand system, such as models, calculated channels, alarms, and procedures, affect the ultimate execution speed of the system.

The following table displays various tools you can use to benchmark and debug VeriStand custom devices.
Tool Purpose Granularity Location Details
LabVIEW Debugging Tools Debugging N/A LabVIEW

You can merge debugged VIs into the Custom Device Framework manually. Timing can differ between standalone VIs and VIs in the Custom Device Framework. This tool is not available after VeriStand integration.

For more information, refer to the Debugging Techniques topic in LabVIEW Help.

Custom Error Codes Debugging N/A LabVIEW and VeriStand

You can define custom error codes in LabVIEW and distribute the codes to VeriStand with a custom device. Copy the custom errors.txt file to VeriStand in the <Base>\National Instruments\Shared\Errors\English directory and add the file as a dependency in custom device and Custom Device XML file.

For RT targets, deploy the errors.txt file to the error directory on target to display error descriptions in Console Viewer.

For more information, refer to the Defining Custom Error Codes to Distribute throughout Your Application topic in the LabVIEW Help
Print Debug String VI Debugging NA LabVIEW

This VI prints messages to the RT console and the VeriStand data log. This tool works on Windows and RT targets.

NI Distributed System Manager Benchmarking (CPU and RAM) Medium Installs with LabVIEW.

The manager works with network variables and manages remote target settings and the status of the Shared Variable Engine. This tool takes periodic snapshots.

To use this tool, you must install System State Publisher on the RT target. CPU spikes and transients might not appear.

System Channels Benchmarking and debugging High VeriStand
Useful system channels include:
  • HP Count
  • HP Loop Duration
  • LP Count
  • Model Count
You can use these channels with alarms or procedures.