FlexRIO™ Support 15.1.1 Readme

November 2015


This file contains important information about FlexRIO Support 15.1.1, including installation instructions, new features, and legal information.


New Features

Supported Hardware

System Requirements

Supported Software

Application Development Environments (ADEs)

Product Security and Critical Updates

Driver Version Naming Changes

Installing FlexRIO 15.1.1

Uninstalling/Modifying FlexRIO 15.1.1

Finding Examples

Automating the Installation of NI Products

How to Use NI Software with Microsoft Windows 8.1/8.0

FlexRIO Drops Support for Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 in 2016

Documentation

Legal Information

For information about FlexRIO Adapter Module Support and FlexRIO adapter modules, refer to the FlexRIO Adapter Module Support Readme.



New Features

FlexRIO Support 15.1.1 includes the following new features.


  • 10 GbE example support for NI-793xR hardware devices

FlexRIO Support 15.1 includes the following new features.


  • LabVIEW 2015 support for the following hardware devices:
    • NI-7931R
    • NI-7932R
    • NI-7935R

FlexRIO Support 15.0 includes the following new features.


  • Support for LabVIEW 2015

FlexRIO Support 14.5 includes minor bug fixes.


Supported Hardware

FlexRIO 15.1.1 software supports the following FlexRIO modules:


  • NI-7931R
  • NI-7932R
  • NI-7935R
  • NI PXI-7951R
  • NI PXI-7952R
  • NI PXI-7953R
  • NI PXI-7954R
  • NI PXIe-7961R
  • NI PXIe-7962R
  • NI PXIe-7965R
  • NI PXIe-7966R
  • NI PXIe-7971R
  • NI PXIe-7972R
  • NI PXIe-7975R
  • NI PXIe-7976R

Device-specific information about these modules in included in the FlexRIO Help.


System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

FlexRIO 15.1.1 supports the following operating systems:



Operating System 64-bit 32-bit
Windows 8.1/8.0
Windows 7 Professional
Windows Vista Business
Windows XP Professional SP2 or higher
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2003 R21
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.x
Scientific Linux 6.x
CentOS 7

1 Support for Windows Server 2003 R2 may require disabling physical address extensions.


Note: FlexRIO 15.1.1 does not support Windows Server non-R2 editions.


NI recommends that you have the most recent service pack for your operating system installed.


Supported Real-Time Operating Environments

FlexRIO 15.1.1 supports the following real-time operating environments:


  • LabVIEW Real-Time Module

Minimum System Requirements

  • Processor—Pentium III/Celeron 600 MHz or equivalent
  • RAM—
    • Windows XP: 128 MB
    • Windows 8.1/8.0/7/Vista: 512 MB
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later
  • A screen resolution of 800 x 600 with 256 colors
  • Windows 8.1/8.0/7/Vista/XP, with all available critical updates and service packs

Recommended System

  • Processor—Pentium 4 or equivalent
  • RAM—
    • Windows XP: 256 MB
    • Windows 8.1/8.0/7/Vista: 1 GB
  • A screen resolution of 1,024 x 768
  • Windows 8.1/8.0/7/Vista/XP, with all available critical updates and service packs

Supported Software

  • LabVIEW 2015 (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • LabVIEW 2014 SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • LabVIEW 2013 SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • LabVIEW 2012 SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Application Development Environments (ADEs)

    Note: You should install ADEs before installing FlexRIO Support 15.1.1. To add support for ADEs installed after installing FlexRIO Support 15.1.1, modify your FlexRIO 15.1.1 installation or launch the FlexRIO 15.1.1 installer again.


    • LabVIEW 2012 SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit), 2013 SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit), 2014 SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit), and 2015 (32-bit and 64-bit)
    • LabVIEW Real-Time Module 2012 SP1, 2013 SP1, 2014 SP1, and 2015
    • LabVIEW FPGA Module 2012 SP1, 2013 SP1, 2014 SP1, and 2015

    Product Security and Critical Updates

    Visit ni.com/security to view and subscribe to receive security notifications about National Instruments products. Visit ni.com/critical-updates for information about critical updates from National Instruments.


    Driver Version Naming Changes

    FlexRIO Support versions are aligned with the versions of major NI application software products. This alignment gives you information about the year the driver was released and the most recent software version the driver was designed to work with. Driver versions start with a two-digit year indicator: <ProductName><Year-BasedVersion>. For example, FlexRIO 15.0 is the version released with LabVIEW 2015.


    Installing FlexRIO 15.1.1

    Complete the following steps to install FlexRIO 15.1.1 for use with LabVIEW:


    1. Install LabVIEW.
    2. (Optional) Install LabVIEW Real-Time.
    3. Install LabVIEW FPGA .
    4. Note: In the LabVIEW FPGA installation menu, you must also install the Compilation Tools for FPGA Devices other than Virtex-II to use these examples.


    5. Install FlexRIO 15.1.1.

    Note: Visit ni.com/info and enter rdsoftwareversion as the Info Code for more information about which minimum software versions you need for your device.


    Uninstalling/Modifying FlexRIO 15.1.1

    For Windows XP, complete the following steps:


    1. Launch the Control Panel by selecting Start»Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
    3. Select National Instruments Software.
    4. Click Change/Remove.
    5. Select FlexRIO 15.1.1 from the dialog box that appears.
    6. Click Remove to uninstall the product; click Modify to change the components that are installed.

    For Windows 7/Vista, complete the following steps:


    1. Launch the Control Panel by selecting Start»Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Programs and Features.
    3. Select National Instruments Software.
    4. Click the Uninstall/Change button.
    5. Select FlexRIO 15.1.1 from the dialog box that appears.
    6. Click Remove to uninstall the product; click Modify to change the components that are installed.

    For Windows 8.1/8.0, complete the following steps:


    1. Right-click on the Start screen.
    2. Select All apps and launch the Control Panel.
    3. Select Programs»Programs and Features.
    4. Select National Instruments Software
    5. Click the Uninstall button.
    6. Select FlexRIO 15.1.1 from the dialog box that appears.
    7. Click Remove to uninstall the product; click Modify to change the components that are installed.

    Automating the Installation of NI Products

    You can automate the installation of most NI products using command-line arguments to suppress some or all of the installer user interface and dialog boxes. However, starting with the August 2012 releases (products using NI Installers version 3.1 or later), you may need to perform additional steps before or during a silent installation of NI software.


    If the NI product you are installing uses Microsoft .NET 4.0, the .NET installer may run before any NI software installs and may require a reboot before the installation of NI software begins. To avoid a .NET reboot, install .NET 4.0 separately before you install NI software.


    For more information about automating the installation of NI products, refer to the following KnowledgeBase articles:


    Finding Examples

    To access FlexRIO examples using the NI Example Finder, open LabVIEW and select Help»Find Examples, then select Hardware Input and Output»FlexRIO.


    How to Use NI Software with Microsoft Windows 8.1/8.0

    When you install National Instruments software on Microsoft Windows 8.1/8.0, you will notice a few additional tiles in the Apps view, including shortcuts to NI application software products such as LabVIEW, Measurement & Automation Explorer (NI MAX), and NI Launcher.


    Using NI Launcher

    NI Launcher helps you find and launch installed NI products. It provides you with a method of finding NI products similar to the Start menu in previous versions of Microsoft Windows. To use NI Launcher, click the NI Launcher tile in the Apps view. NI Launcher launches the desktop and opens a menu containing a list of NI products. Click any NI product to launch it.


    Note  NI MAX does not appear as a desktop shortcut when installed on Microsoft Windows 8.x. You can launch NI MAX either from the Apps view or from within NI Launcher.

    Pinning Frequently Used Applications

    For convenience, you can pin your most-used NI applications, such as MAX, to either the Start screen or the Taskbar on the desktop, as necessary:


    Current ApplicationIcon LocationPin to Action
    Windows 8.1/8.0 DesktopDesktop TaskbarRight-click application and select Pin to Taskbar
    Windows 8.1/8.0 Desktop Start screenRight-click application and select Pin to Start
    Windows 8.1/8.0 Start screenDesktop TaskbarRight-click application and select Pin to taskbar from the menu bar on the bottom of the screen

    Finding All Programs

    If you want to find a particular application or related files, such as documentation files, from the Start screen, you can access all installed files from the Apps view. To get to the Apps view, right-click anywhere on the Start screen and select All apps (Windows 8.0) or click the down arrow on the bottom left of the screen (Windows 8.1).


    For more information about NI support for Windows 8.1/8.0, visit ni.com/windows8.


    FlexRIO Drops Support for Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 in 2016

    FlexRIO will drop support for Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 as of July 1, 2016. Versions of FlexRIO that ship after July 1, 2016 will not install or run on Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003. For detailed information about NI application software product life cycles, visit ni.com/info and enter one of the following Info Codes:


    Product Info Code
    NI LabVIEWlifecycle
    NI LabWindows™/CVI™cvi_lifecycle
    NI Measurement Studiomstudiolifecycle
    NI TestStandtslcp
    NI DIAdemddlcp
    NI SignalExpressselcp
    NI VeriStandnivslifecycle

    Documentation

    The product documentation is available at Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI FlexRIO. Visit ni.com/manuals for the latest versions of product documentation.

    To view these documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. You can install the viewer from www.adobe.com/acrobat.


    The documentation set is composed of the following documents:


    Document Description
    FlexRIO Help Contains information about FlexRIO device support. This book also provides instructions for using LabVIEW and the LabVIEW FPGA Module with FlexRIO devices.
    NI-7931R/7932R/7935R User Manual Contains information about how to develop applications for your NI-793xR module.
    FlexRIO Adapter Module Development Kit User Manual Contains information about how to develop custom adapter modules for use with your FlexRIO FPGA module.
    Getting started guide for your FlexRIO FPGA module Contains installation instructions and configuration information for your FlexRIO FPGA module.
    Specifications document for your FlexRIO FPGA module Contains specifications for your FlexRIO FPGA module.
    Getting started guide for your FlexRIO adapter module Contains installation instructions and configuration information for your FlexRIO adapter module.
    Specifications document for your FlexRIO adapter module Contains specifications for your FlexRIO adapter module.
    FlexRIO Support 15.1.1 Readme (this document) Contains information about supported hardware and operating systems, new features, fixed issues, and legal notices.

    Refer to ni.com/flexrio for additional FlexRIO product support and information.


    Legal Information

    Copyright


    ©2008–2015 National Instruments. All rights reserved.


    Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National Instruments Corporation.


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    End-User License Agreements and Third-Party Legal Notices


    You can find end-user license agreements (EULAs) and third-party legal notices in the following locations after installation:


    • Notices are located in the <National Instruments>\_Legal Information and <National Instruments> directories.
    • EULAs are located in the <National Instruments>\Shared\MDF\Legal\license directory.
    • Review <National Instruments>\_Legal Information.txt for information on including legal information in installers built with NI products.

    U.S. Government Restricted Rights


    If you are an agency, department, or other entity of the United States Government ("Government"), the use, duplication, reproduction, release, modification, disclosure or transfer of the technical data included in this manual is governed by the Restricted Rights provisions under Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.227-14 for civilian agencies and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Section 252.227-7014 and 252.227-7015 for military agencies.


    IVI Foundation Copyright Notice


    Content from the IVI specifications reproduced with permission from the IVI Foundation.


    The IVI Foundation and its member companies make no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The IVI Foundation and its member companies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.


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    Patents


    For patents covering the National Instruments products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your media, or the National Instruments Patent Notice at ni.com/patents.


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