LabVIEW Real-Time (RT) Configuration
LabVIEW Real-Time (RT) combines easy-to-use LabVIEW programming with the power of real-time systems. When you use a National Instruments PXI Controller you can install a PXI-CAN card and use the NI-CAN API to develop real-time applications. For example, you can simulate the behavior of a control algorithm within a CAN device, using data from received CAN messages to generate outgoing CAN messages with deterministic response times. This and other real-time applications can also be developed if you are using CompactRIO as your LabVIEW RT system. You can install a CompactRIO CAN module and use the NI-CAN software and the LabVIEW FPGA I/O to develop your applications.
When you install the NI-CAN software, the installer checks for the presence of the LabVIEW RT module. If LabVIEW RT exists, the NI-CAN installer copies components for LabVIEW RT to the Windows system. As with any other NI product for LabVIEW RT, you then download the NI-CAN software to the LabVIEW RT system using the Remote Systems branch in MAX. For more information, refer to the LabVIEW RT documentation.
USB-847x hardware is not supported under LabVIEW RT.
PXI System
After you have installed the PXI CAN cards and downloaded the NI-CAN software to the LabVIEW RT system, you need to verify the installation. Within the Tools menu in MAX, select NI-CAN»RT Hardware Configuration. The RT Hardware Configuration tool provides features similar to Devices & Interfaces on the local system. Use the RT Hardware Configuration tool to self-test the CAN cards and assign an interface name to each physical CAN port.
To use the Channel API on the LabVIEW RT system, you must also download channel configuration information. Right-click the CAN Channels heading, then select Send to RT System. This downloads all information under CAN Channels to the LabVIEW RT system, so you can execute the same LabVIEW VIs on the LabVIEW RT system as on the Windows system.
CompactRIO System
After you have installed the CompactRIO CAN modules and downloaded NI-RIO and NI-CAN software, you need to enable the CompactRIO Reconfigurable Embedded Chassis for use in LabVIEW. For instructions on how to enable the CompactRIO Reconfigurable Embedded Chassis for use in LabVIEW, refer to the MAX help.
To use the Channel API on the LabVIEW RT system, you must download the channel configuration information. Right-click the CAN Channels heading, then select Send to RT System. This downloads all the information under CAN Channels to the LabVIEW RT system. To utilize the CAN channels on the CompactRIO system, you need to use Frame to Channel Conversion. For more information, refer to the Frame to Channel Conversion topic.