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Order of Installation for Multiple National Instruments Hardware and Software Products

Primary Software: LabVIEW Development Systems>>Full Development System
Primary Software Version: 7.1
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: Other NI Software, Driver Software, Instrument Drivers/IVI, Calibration Executive, Motion Assistant, Vision Assistant, DIAdem, Switch Executive, LabVIEW Run-Time Engine, LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine, Utility Software, LabWindows/CVI Add-ons, LabVIEW Toolkits, Measurement Studio, LabVIEW Modules, Measurement Studio Add-ons, LabWindows/CVI Development Systems, LabVIEW Development Systems, LabVIEW Toolkits>>IMAQ Optical Character Recognition Software, LabWindows/CVI Add-ons>>IMAQ Optical Character Recognition Software, IMAQ Optical Character Recognition Software, IMAQ Vision Builder, Vision Builder for Automated Inspection, TestStand, Lookout, MATRIXx

Problem:
I have just purchased multiple National Instruments hardware and software products. Is there a preference for the order of installation of National Instruments software and hardware?

Solution:
This KnowledgeBase assumes that you are working with a fresh machine where no National Instruments products have been previously installed. If you have older National Instruments drivers and want to upgrade, please uninstall these drivers first by going to Start » Settings » Control Panel » Add/Remove Programs. If you have LabVIEW 6i, you may need to uninstall drivers from within it's installation. In this case, click on the NI LabVIEW 6.0 entry in Add/Remove Programs and choose Add/Remove. A list of drivers installed with LabVIEW will be presented. If an X is next to the driver, then the driver was not installed.
Note: it is not necessary to uninstall your previous versions of LabVIEW, only the drivers.


Installation Order
In general, the installation process begins with the application software, followed by the drivers and finishes with the installation of your hardware. The following is the suggested order of installation:
  1. Install your application software first in the following order (if applicable):

    • LabVIEW 7.1
    • LabVIEW add-on modules (e.g. LabVIEW 7.1 Real-Time Module, DSC, Report Generation, etc.)
    • Other application software (i.e. Measurement Studio, TestStand, Lookout, VI Logger, DIAdem).

    Under a 'Typical' installation, the LabVIEW 7.1 installer will prompt you to install the LabVIEW Drivers CD. This CD will give you the option of installing the following drivers:

    • Traditional NI-DAQ
    • NI-DAQmx
    • NI-488.2
    • NI-VISA
    • IVI Compliance Package
    • NI Instrument I/O Assistant
    • NI-VXI Support for LabVIEW
    • NI-Switch (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-DMM (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-SCOPE (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-FGEN (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-HSDIO (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-HWS (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-Motion
    • NI-IMAQ
    • FieldPoint
    • NI-Serial
    • NI-Watchdog
    • PXI Services
    • NI-RIO
    • Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX)
    • NI-CAN

    These new drivers use a meta installer which has the ability to check for a previously installed version of the driver. If an older driver is found, it will uninstall it before installing the latest version. If it detects that the latest driver is already installed, it will do nothing.
    Note: If you require older versions of the drivers, do not install the drivers that ship with LabVIEW 7.1.

  2. Now install any additional, required drivers that were not included in the installation of your application software (from step 1) in the corresponding order. This may include any or all of the following:

    • NI-FGEN (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-RFSA (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA, and the IVI Compliance Package). This will also install NI-Tuner and NI-Scope, both required by the RF device. It will also install the Spectral Measurements Toolset (SMT) for LabVIEW and/or CVI.
    • NI-RFSG (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA, and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-Scope (requires NI-DAQ, NI-VISA and the IVI Compliance Package)
    • NI-435x (will install [unless the same or newer versions are already installed] Virtual Bench Logger; NI-DAQ and DAQ Examples; NI-435x Instrument Drivers for LabVIEW, Lab Windows/CVI, Visual C++ and Visual Basic)
    • NI-VXI
    • NI-82xx
    • NI-CAN (NI-CAN may not be installed on a system that has NI-DNET)
    • NI-DNET (NI-DNET may not be installed on a system that has NI-CAN)

    These drivers can be located on your hardware's driver CD and/or on the Download Software page (linked below).

  3. At this point, if you are using National Instruments Image Acquisition and Motion products you should have already installed NI-IMAQ and NI-Motion. Install any of the following that you have in the corresponding order: IMAQ Vision for LabVIEW and/or IMAQ Vision for Measurement Studio, IMAQ Vision Builder, Motion Assistant. Be sure to install any IMAQ vision updates from the Download Software page (linked below).

  4. If you are communicating over a MXI-3, install the MXI-3 Optimization Software. This software can be downloaded from the Download Software page (linked below).

    Installation Instructions:
    1. Install the hardware and software as explained in the Installation Guide for MXI-3. Be sure to boot the PXI chassis furthest away from the system controller BEFORE booting the system controller. Run the MXI-3 Optimization Software (should run on Windows start-up). If the software does not run automatically on start-up, you can run it from Start » Programs » National Instruments MXI-3 » MXI-3 Optimization.

    2. In MAX, expand Devices and Interfaces and expand PXI System. Right click on your PXI system and select "Identify As" and select the appropriate controller.

    3. For each PXI chassis, right click on the chassis, select "Identify As" and select the appropriate PXI chassis.


    4. Shut down all PXI Chassis and/or desktop computer, and assuming the proper drivers are installed, place any desired PXI device in the PXI chassis. Power on the system remembering to follow the proper boot order by powering on the PXI chassis that is located furthest from the primary system first.

    5. Configure PXI devices the same way you would PCI devices. The PXI chassis and all MXI-3 devices will not show up in the Device Manager or in MAX in the same manner as any PXI device would.


    Things to remember every time you boot:
    • Boot the PXI chassis furthest away from the system controller BEFORE booting the system controller.
    • Run the MXI-3 Optimization Software; if no errors are found, MXI-3 is working properly.
    • Verify that the MXI-3 connection is working properly by confirming that the LINK light is green on the PXI-MXI-3 device.


  5. If you are communicating over a MXI-4, the MXI-4 driver is included with NI-VISA for Microsoft Windows operating systems.

    Installation Instructions:
    1. Install the hardware and software as explained in the MXI-4 Series User Manual. Be sure to boot the PXI chassis furthest away from the system controller BEFORE booting the system controller.

    2. Shut down all PXI Chassis and/or desktop computer, and assuming the proper drivers are installed, place any desired PXI device in the PXI chassis. Power on the system remembering to follow the proper boot order by powering on the PXI chassis that is located furthest from the primary system first.

    3. In MAX, expand Devices and Interfaces and expand PXI System. Right click on your PXI system and select "Identify As" and select the appropriate controller.

    4. For each PXI chassis, right click on the chassis, select "Identify As" and select the appropriate PXI chassis.

    5. Configure PXI devices the same way you would PCI devices. The PXI chassis and all MXI-3 devices will not show up in the Device Manager or in MAX in the same manner as any PXI device would.


    Things to remember every time you boot:
    • Boot the PXI chassis furthest away from the system controller BEFORE booting the system controller.
    • Verify that the MXI-4 connection is working properly by confirming that the LINK light is green on the PXI-MXI-4 device.


  6. Lastly, install any National Instruments hardware that has not yet been installed.



Related Links:
Support: Drivers and Updates
Drivers and Updates: MXI-3 Software Version 1.15 for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME
Product Reference: Set Up Your PXI-MXI-3 System
Product Reference: MXI-4 Series User Manual

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Report Date: 04/11/2003
Last Updated: 05/02/2008
Document ID: 2WAFMJOK

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