Configuring the Network Watchdog

The network watchdog enables you to guard your system against failures in the network connection, cables, or host computer. If the network watchdog is enabled and the network module loses communication with all hosts or clients over the network, the network module sets output channels to predefined watchdog values.

By default, the network watchdog for a FieldPoint bank is disabled on power-up. To enable the network watchdog for a FieldPoint bank, complete the following steps:

1. Select the bank under Devices and Interfaces or Remote Systems.
2. In the Watchdog Configuration area of the Bank Configuration tab, select Enable.
3. Enter a timeout value for the watchdog. The timeout is the period of lost communication with hosts or clients over the network before the watchdog settings take effect. The maximum value is 65536 ms.

   Note  Make sure the factory configuration box is unchecked before you click Apply.

4. Click Apply.
5. Click Save.

The network watchdog is now enabled for this FieldPoint bank. If you want individual output channels to revert to predefined output values in case of communication failure, you also must complete the following steps:

1. Under Devices and Interfaces or Remote Systems, select the device that contains the output channels you want the watchdog to affect.
2. Click the Device Configuration tab.
3. In the Watchdog Configuration area, select Enable.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click the Channel Configuration tab.
6. Select the output channel you want the watchdog to affect.
7. Enter a Watchdog Value and click Enable.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for each channel you want the watchdog to affect.
9. Click Apply.

Caution  The network watchdog is not compatible with embedded applications on a LabVIEW RT controller such as the [c]FP-2xxx. National Instruments recommends that you use the hardware watchdog functionality available in LabVIEW RT. Refer to the user manual for the controller for more information about the hardware watchdog.