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How Do I Change the IP Address of a RT Series Controller (FieldPoint, cRIO, etc) that is not on the Local Subnet?

Primary Software: Driver Software>>NI-FieldPoint
Primary Software Version: N/A
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Hardware: Compact FieldPoint>>Controllers, FieldPoint>>Controllers/Network Modules>>FP-1600, FieldPoint>>Controllers/Network Modules>>FP-1601, FieldPoint>>Controllers/Network Modules>>FP-2000, FieldPoint>>Controllers/Network Modules>>FP-2010, FieldPoint>>Controllers/Network Modules>>FP-2015, CompactRIO>>Controllers

Problem:
My FieldPoint, Compact FieldPoint, or Compact RIO Controller is not on the same subnet as my host computer. How do I change the IP address of the controller?

Solution:
Only controllers that are on the same subnet will initially show up in the Remote Systems branch in MAX. However, there are two ways to change the IP address of a controller remotely even if the controller does not show up in Remote Systems. Both of these methods require knowledge of the existing IP address.

Remote Systems branch method

  1. Open MAX. (Start»Programs»National Instruments»Measurement and Automation)
  2. On the left-hand tree, expand the Remote Systems branch.
  3. If the module does not show up in the subtree, then add the module manually:
    1. Right click Remote Systems
    2. Select Create New...
    3. Select FieldPoint Ethernet.
    4. Click Next.
    5. Enter the IP Address of the module in the IP Address box.
    6. Click Finish.
    7. The module will appear in the main Remote Systems list if it is present on the network.

  4. Select the module in the Remote Systems list by left clicking on it.
  5. Change the settings under the Network Settings bottom tab as needed.

FTP Method

  1. (Windows) Open Internet Explorer.
  2. FTP to the controller by typing ftp://IPADDRESS in the Address bar, where IPADDRESS is the IP Address of the module..
  3. Open the NI-RT.INI file in an editor like Notepad by double clicking it. Click Open if a dialog box appears.
  4. At the bottom of the file there is a section named TCP_Stack_Config.
  5. To change the IP address change the value of the key IP_Address.
    For example, to change the IP address from 64.124.190.3 to 64.124.190.4, change the line:
    IP_Address=64.124.190.3
    ...to...
    IP_Address=64.124.190.4
  6. Save the file as NI-RT.INI locally (such as the Desktop). Make sure it is named NI-RT.INI .
  7. FTP the file back to the controller by dragging it to the open Internet Explorer window and overwriting the existing file.

If any of the above fails, try to ping the controller. If the ping fails, the computer may not have the necessary permissions or there may be a network problem. A last resort is to move the module to the same subnet as the host PC temporarily, reset the IP, and configure the new address using the regular procedure outlined in the manuals. See the links below or contact your network administrator for more information.

Related Links:
Developer Zone Tutorial: Troubleshooting Communication Problems with the FieldPoint Ethernet Network Modules
KnowledgeBase 2FF6N4KN: Choosing an IP Address for Your Real-Time Engine
KnowledgeBase 1XGF6R4U: I Cannot Connect to My LabVIEW Real-Time Target on the Network
Product Manual: CompactRIO cRIO-9002/9004 Operating Instructions
Product Manual: cFP-20xx and cFP-BP-x User Manual
Product Manual: cFP-21xx and cFP-BP-x User Manual
Product Manual: FP-2000/2010/2015 User Manual

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Report Date: 11/18/2002
Last Updated: 05/15/2008
Document ID: 2RHCS8M5

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