Running MSCL LabVIEW API on remote RT devices (compactRIO)

[cnicho35]

Hello,

From my experience so far, I have not found a way to connect a WSDA (USB or 2000) to a National Instruments' compactRIO. The MSCL API in VIPM (package manager) requires the use of dll files that are optimized to work on Windows machines. The compactRIO I am using runs a version of Linux and is incapable of using DLL's (maybe it's possible but it's not standard practice).

I am wondering if there is anyway I can communicate with a WSDA USB or 2000 through a standard communication such as TCP, UDP, serial, modbus, ethernet/IP, etc. In other words, can I write low level code to communicate with the WSDA with built in LabVIEW functions? This seems like it should be possible without the API but if it's going to be too difficult, I guess I can just use the Analog model.

More info on DLL's on cRIO's https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z000000P901SAC&l=en-US

Thanks in advance.

[cnicho35]

One thing to add is that I can compile a dll into a .so which can run on Linux RT. Any information on how to do this? https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z000000P901SAC&l=en-US Thanks

[msclissa]

I don't have any experience with your specific development environment, so am unable to offer much advice on workarounds, but if you install the relevant pre-built Linux package for your environment (MSCL Downloads) it will install an mscl .so and supporting files to the usr/share directory - more install info can be found here: How to use MSCL: Linux

From there it seems like it should be in the format needed, but you'll have to test it out to be sure. You can certainly communicate with the device on a protocol level, but hopefully that won't be necessary!

Hope this helps, let us know if you run into any issues!

[cnicho35]

Thanks for your reply, @mglord

I am still having issues installing the Linux package on the cRIO.

sudo opkg install python3-mscl_62.1.2_amd64.deb

Collected errors:
 * Solver encountered 1 problem(s):
 * Problem 1/1:
 *   - package python3-mscl-62.1.2.amd64 does not have a compatible architecture
 *
 * Solution 1:
 *   - do not ask to install python3-mscl-62.1.2.amd64

The OS of the cRIO is NI Linux Real-Time x64 4.14.146-rt67-cg-8.0.0f1-x64-139 which seems compatible with the debian install file for x64 architectures. Any ideas how to get around it?

Info on cRIO: 1.60 GHz Quad-Core CPU, 4 GB DRAM, 16 GB Storage, -20 to 55 °C, Kintex-7 325T FPGA, 8-Slot CompactRIO Controller—The cRIO-9049 is a rugged, high-performance, customizable embedded controller that offers Intel Atom quad-core processing, NI-DAQmx support, and an SD card slot for data-logging, embedded monitoring, and control. It includes a Kintex-7 325T FPGA with LabVIEW FPGA Module support for advanced control and coprocessing. The controller provides precise, synchronized timing and deterministic communications using Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), which is ideal for highly distributed measurements. This controller offers several connectivity ports, including Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.1, USB 2.0, RS232, and RS485 ports. You can use the USB 3.1 ports to add a local human machine interface and program, deploy, and debug software, which simplifies application development.

Also, is there a manual for low level serial communication with the WSDA I can look through?

Thanks

[cnicho35]

@mglord Are you able to offer any assistance on this issue I am seeing with the .deb file? Are there instructions for building the source for a .so?

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