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How do I Completely Copy my cFP Application to a New Controller

Hardware: Compact FieldPoint>>Controllers>>cFP-2110, Compact FieldPoint>>Controllers>>cFP-2120, Compact FieldPoint>>Controllers>>cFP-2210, Compact FieldPoint>>Controllers>>cFP-2220, Compact FieldPoint>>Controllers>>cFP-2100

Problem:
I have a real-time (RT) application running on a Compact FieldPoint (cFP) controller.  I want a method to quickly deploy the entire application to a new controller for any of the following reasons.
  • To deploy a duplicate system at a different location.
  • For redundancy or contingency planning.
What is the quickest way to get a new controller up and running in place of an old controller?

Solution:
There are various ways to replicate cFP systems.  See the related links section of this KnowledgeBase (KB) for information about other methods than the one presented here.  Throughout this KB, the existing controller is referred to as the "old" controller.  The replacement is referred to as the "new" controller.
The procedure in this KB assumes the following conditions are satisfied.
  • The old system is using default channel configuration for every channel on all banks1.
  • The old system was developed using LabVIEW Real-Time 8.6 or later2.
  • The old system is using FieldPoint 6.0.3 or later2.
  • The old controller is being replaced by an identical model.
  • The backplane and modules types are identical in the old and new systems.
  • The modules are in the same slots in the old and new backplane.
  • The new controller is configured with a DHCP IP address accessible from the same subnet as the old controller3.

Following the steps in this KB will produce the following results.

  • The new cFP system will be configured identically to the old.
  • The same software will be running on the new system as the old.
  1. FTP to the c:\ drive of the old controller.  See KnowledgeBase 2KM92E5F for instructions.
  2. Copy all files from the c:\ drive of the old controller to an empty folder on the host computer.
     
  3. Remove the old controller from the backplane.
  4. Install the new controller into the backplane.
  5. Place the new controller into Safe Mode and reboot the new controller.  See page 35 of the cFP-21xx User Manual for more information.
  6. FTP to the c:\ drive of the new controller. 
  7. Delete all files from the c:\ drive of the new controller.
  8. Copy the contents of the folder from the host computer to the c:\ drive of the new controller.
  9. Remove the new controller from Safe Mode.
  10. Disable the Startup VI and reboot the new controller.  See page 35 of the cFP-21xx User Manual for more information.
  11. Open the LabVIEW Project Explorer for the application
  12. Right-click the old FieldPoint Controller item and select Properties.
  13. From the General category, enter the DHCP IP address of the new controller.
  14. From the Project Explorer, right-click any variable libraries that were hosted on the old controller and select Deploy.
  15. Enable the Startup VI and reboot the new controller.
  16. The old system has been transferred to the new system.

 

Notes:
1 You may configure channels to non-default values after following the instructions in this KB by referring to KnowledgeBase 2OT9MLOH: Retaining FieldPoint Configuration Settings After Power Cycling.
2 This KB was tested with these specifications.  The process is likely to work with LabVIEW 8.0 and later.
3 If not using DHCP, omit steps 12 - 13.  The static IP address of the controller is contained in the ni-rt.ini file.  The IP address of the old controller is transferred to the new controller in step 9.



Related Links:
KnowledgeBase 2OT9MLOH: Retaining FieldPoint Configuration Settings After Power Cycling
KnowledgeBase 42P7H1UI Real-Time Target System Replication Tool
KnowledgeBase 2KM92E5F: How Do I FTP to the External CompactFlash or USB drive on a Real-Time Controller?

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Report Date: 10/31/2008
Last Updated: 11/08/2008
Document ID: 4QUB6AYP

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