How Can I Test My PC For Compatibility with LabVIEW Real-Time or LabWindows/CVI Real-Time for Desktop ETS?
Primary Software: LabVIEW Modules>>Real-Time Module
Primary Software Version: N/A
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Problem: I have purchased a desktop computer or single-board computer (SBC) for use as a LabVIEW Real-Time or LabWindows/CVI Real-Time target. I have read the requirements for chipsets and processors, but I understand there might be other details such as BIOS settings that I may need to learn about. How can I tell if my target will work as configured?
Solution: National Instruments provides a utility that can be run on a Desktop PC to verify whether Real-Time will function on the system. This utility will detect whether appropriate components required for a Real-Time Desktop PC are present (such as network adapter and processor as documented in
KnowledgeBase 39NDI8PK: Requirements for a Desktop PC as a Real-Time Target).
There are two ways to run this utility:
- USB key (Desktop PC Utility Disk Drive)
- Floppy Disk containing Desktop PC Evaluation attachment
- USB Key (Desktop PC Utility Disk Drive)
If you have a USB keychain-style drive or thumb drive, Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) 4.1 and LabVIEW Real-Time Module 8.20 / LabWindows/CVI Real-Time Module 8.1 or greater installed, you can then create the PC evaluation utility in MAX. To do so, open MAX, and choose Tools»RT Disk Utilities»Create Desktop PC Utility Disk Drive. In addition to the evaluation utility, this drive includes the Safe Mode and other utility disks needed by Real-Time desktop users.
Besides creating the USB PC Utility Disk Drive correctly, you also have to specify the boot sequence in your PC's BIOS to start with a USB Storage Device. Then you can safely place your USB key in any of the USB ports of your PC and reboot. You should see the menu in Figure 1 showing up on your screen. Select option 7. Evaluate system to check if your PC can be converted to a Real-Time system. If you pass the test successfully, then you should see a similar result as in Figure 2. If the PC cannot be converted to a Real-Time system, you will see an incompatibility result as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 1: LabVIEW Real-Time Utilities Menu
Figure 2: Real-Time Desktop PC Validator Passed Test
Figure 3: Real-Time Desktop PC Validator Failed Test (incompatible chipset)
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Floppy Disk Containing Desktop PC Evaluation Attachment
If you have a floppy drive on the development PC and the intended target PC, then use the utility attached to this document. You must have a floppy drive in order for the utility to run. Extract the two files to the same folder on your local hard drive. Next, run the attachment, which will extract the utility to a floppy disk. This will format and overwrite any existing data on the floppy disk. Next, set your intended target to boot to floppy drives, and boot the computer with the disk inserted.
Possible Errors:
If the PC evaluator fails without reporting an error, then try changing BIOS settings according to the manuals available for your hardware. Otherwise, the evaluator will report on common errors such as non-FAT32 file systems. This evaluator will evaluate PC's for use with LabVIEW Real-Time / LabWindows/CVI Real-Time for Desktop ETS 7.1.1 and above. For a list of the requirements, please see KnowledgeBase 39NDI8PK: Requirements for a Desktop PC as a Real-Time Target.
If you see the message LOADING PHARBOOTSYS and after a few minutes it turns into LOADING PHARBOOTSYS error, refer to KnowledgeBase 4QCAQT09: PHARBOOTSYS Errors when Booting Real-Time PC from USB Key.
Related Links: Developer Zone: Converting a Desktop PC to a LabVIEW Real-Time TargetKnowledgeBase 39NDI8PK: Requirements for a Desktop PC as a Real-Time TargetKnowledgeBase 4QCAQT09:PHARBOOTSYS Errors when Booting Real-Time PC from USB Key
Attachments: 
851_pceval.exe
Report Date: 05/15/2008
Last Updated: 10/17/2008
Document ID: 4LEHIQ4N
