NI-SWITCH for Linux/x86 64-bit Architecture, Version 21.3 Readme

October 2021


This file contains late breaking news about NI-SWITCH 21.3 for Linux and supersedes any information found in other documentation included in the distribution.

Refer to ni.com/linux for the most recent information about Linux support at National Instruments.

Refer to the NI-SWITCH release notes for known issues, bugs fixed since the last release, and other release details.


System Requirements

NI-SWITCH 21.3 for Linux has the following requirements:

  • 1 GHz 64-bit processor
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 1,024 x 768 screen resolution

NI-SWITCH 21.3 for Linux has been tested on the following distributions:

  • openSUSE Leap 15.2
  • openSUSE Leap 15.1
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • CentOS 8
  • CentOS 7
  • Ubuntu 20.04
  • Ubuntu 18.04

NI-SWITCH 21.3 for Linux requires a 64-bit distribution and does not support 32-bit applications.

Supported Hardware

NI-SWITCH 21.3 for Linux supports the following hardware models:
  • Matrix Modules for SwitchBlock
  • SWB-2810
  • SWB-2811
  • SWB-2812
  • SWB-2813
  • SWB-2814
  • SWB-2815
  • SWB-2816
  • SWB-2817
  • SWB-2833
  • SWB-2834
  • SWB-2865A
  • PXI Carrier Modules for SwitchBlock
    • PXI-2800
  • PXI Matrix Switch Modules
    • PXI/PXIe-2529
    • PXI-2530
    • PXI-2530B
    • PXI/PXIe-2531
    • PXI/PXIe-2532
    • PXI/PXIe-2532B
    • PXI-2533
    • PXI-2534
    • PXI-2535
    • PXI-2536
    • PXIe-2737
    • PXIe-2738
    • PXIe-2739
  • PXI Multiplexer Switch Modules
    • PXI-2501
    • PXI-2503
    • PXIe-2524
    • PXIe-2525
    • PXIe-2526
    • PXI/PXIe-2527
    • PXI/PXIe-2575
    • PXI-2576
    • PXI-2584
    • PXI-2585
    • PXIe-2746
    • PXIe-2747
    • PXIe-2748
  • PXI Programmable Resistor Modules
    • PXI-2720
    • PXI-2722
    • PXIe-2725
    • PXIe-2727
  • PXI Relay Driver Modules
    • PXI-2567
  • PXI Relay Modules
    • PXI-2520
    • PXI-2521
    • PXI-2522
    • PXI-2523
    • PXI-2564
    • PXI-2565
    • PXI-2566
    • PXI-2568
    • PXI/PXIe-2569
    • PXI-2570
    • PXI-2571
    • PXI-2586
  • PXI RF Matrix Switch Modules
    • PXI/PXIe-2540
    • PXI/PXIe-2541
  • PXI RF Multiplexer Switch Modules
    • PXI/PXIe-2543
    • PXI/PXIe-2544
    • PXI-2545
    • PXI-2546
    • PXI-2547
    • PXI-2554
    • PXI-2555
    • PXI-2556
    • PXI-2557
    • PXI-2590
    • PXI-2591
    • PXI/PXIe-2593
    • PXI-2594
    • PXI-2595
    • PXI-2596
    • PXI-2597
    • PXI-2796
    • PXI-2797
  • PXI RF Relay Modules
    • PXI/PXIe-2542
    • PXI-2548
    • PXI-2549
    • PXI-2558
    • PXI-2559
    • PXI-2599
    • PXI-2799
  • PXI Signal Insertion Switch Modules
    • PXI-2510
    • PXI/PXIe-2512
    • PXI/PXIe-2514
    • PXI/PXIe-2515
  • PXI Transfer Switch Modules
    • PXI-2598
    • PXI-2798
    • PXIe-2790
  • Installation

    NI provides a repository add-on for all supported drivers that you can install using your Linux distribution's native package manager.

    1. Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code LinuxRepository.
    2. Download the installer for the repository add-on for your Linux distribution.
    3. Install the repository add-on using the rpm command.
    4. Select and install the following NI-SWITCH driver packages through your Linux distribution's package manager:
      • ni-switch
      • ni-switch-daqmx (CA1, CA2, and CA3 switch support)
      • ni-switch-daqmx-config (the switch block configuration utility)
      • ni-switch-labview-20xy-support (LabVIEW development support)
      • ni-switch-labview-20xy-examples (LabVIEW examples)

    After the driver package(s) are installed, you must rebuild the new packages for the system kernel. NI recommends that you run the command 'dkms autoinstall' after installation, and before rebooting the system, to install the latest revision of all modules that have been installed for other kernel revisions. After doing so, the installed device drivers will function immediately on the next system start.

    Examples

    This release includes examples showing the use of NI-SWITCH in C and LabVIEW.

    C examples are located in /usr/share/niswitch-devel/examples. Make files are provided that link to the necessary libraries.

    The LabVIEW examples are located in the LabVIEW examples directory.

    Linux Limitations

    Some features discussed in the NI-SWITCH 21.3 documentation are unavailable on Linux.

    • NI-SWITCH 21.3 supports two application development environments:
      • LabVIEW 2019, 2020, 2021
      • C and C++ (gcc)
    • NI-SWITCH 21.3 does not support other ADEs, such as the LabVIEW Real-Time Module, LabWindows/CVI, Microsoft Visual C/C++, or Microsoft Visual Basic.
    • While NI-SWITCH 21.3 includes LabVIEW VIs, it does not provide other graphical utilities that are available for other operating systems:
      • LabVIEW Express VIs
      • The Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) graphical configuration utility. Refer to DEVICE CONFIGURATION in the Installation section for information about configuring your device in Linux.
      • Soft front panels.

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    End-User License Agreements and Third-Party Legal Notices

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