Error -88716 or Red 'X' on Real-Time (RT) Controller or DAQ Card in NI MAX

Issue Details

• I have a Real-Time (RT) Controller in a PXI chassis that contains DAQ cards. When I open up NI MAX and click on any of my NI-DAQmx Global Virtual Channels, I receive Error -88716. I started receiving this error after I installed patches. 
• I have a CompactRIO (cRIO) controller that contains DAQ cards. When I open NI-MAX and click on the test panels, I receive Error -88716
• I have a Real-Time PXI system, and I see a red X on my DAQ cards.
• I see a red X on my cRIO chassis:

Error -88716 occurred at Device Communication

Possible Reason(s):

The requested operation failed because the versions of a driver installed on the local and the remote system are different. Update the driver so the versions on the two systems are the same.

How can I fix this error?

Solution

This error is caused due to a mismatch in the NI-DAQmx driver versions between the host computer and the RT target. 

• In the image below we can see the NI-DAQmx versions are not the same
  • Host PC: 2024Q3 (24.5.0)
  • RT Target: 2025Q1 (25.0.0)

To resolve this error, you must have installed the same specific version of the NI-DAQmx driver in both sides, the host PC and the RT Target. Changing the NI-DAQmx version in the RT target results easier than the host PC. Follow the steps below to change the NI-DAQmx version:

To upgrade/downgrade the NI-DAQmx driver in the host PC

1. Open the NI Package Manager (NIPM) in your PC
2. Go to Installed tab
3. Search for NI-DAQmx
4. Select the NI-DAQmx driver
5. Click in Remove option, reboot your PC if requested by NIPM

6. Once the current NI-DAQmx version was uninstalled, search for DAQmx driver installer in the NI website
   1. Some NI-DAQmx versions have a patch version like 2025Q4 Patch 1 (25.8.1) which is different than 2025Q4 (25.8.0), this patch version creates a mismatch between both sides. To ensure you are downloading the correct driver specific version, download the offline installer instead.

7. Mount the ISO file in your PC and install the software.

8. Reboot your PC if requested by NIPM

To upgrade/downgrade the NI-DAQmx driver in the RT Target

1. Open up NI MAX and find your RT target under Remote Systems
2. Click on the "v" symbol next to the name of your RT target to show all folders that belong to your RT target
3. Right-click the Software folder and select Add/Remove Software
   1. The NI-DAQmx version is related to the Linux RT Base Image installed on the system. If the driver must be modified, this must be done by updating the Linux RT Base Image. Each base image comes with a specific driver version (usually the same as the base image).

4. Click the configuration button next to the Base System Image text. This will display the list of Base System Images available on your host PC. These images can be installed in the host PC using NIPM or from the public website. Following the example from the image above, the NI-DAQmx driver version in the RT target must be downgraded to 2024 Q3 (24.5) so it matches the driver version installed on the host PC.
   1. If your RT is offline, you must follow the offline instructions.
   2. Note: Installing a new Linux RT Base Image will format your target. Make sure to back up any data needed.

5. This process will go through 4 stages (Format disk, Copy system files, Apply base system image, and Restart System). Then, you will be prompted to select the programming environment. Finally, you will be able to install the desired NI-DAQmx driver version.

Additional Information

• You will get the same message for any device (for example, a serial device) whose driver versions are different on the host PC and the RT target.  This is true for all NI-DAQmx components on the host machine, so confirm that all are the same year as the RT target.
• A driver can be found by quarter (Qx) or by version. Consider the following equivalences:
  • Q1: xy.0 -> NI-DAQmx 2025 Q1 = NI-DAQmx 25.0.0
  • Q2: xy.3 -> NI-DAQmx 2025 Q2 = NI-DAQmx 25.3.0
  • Q3: xy.5 -> NI-DAQmx 2025 Q3 = NI-DAQmx 25.5.0
  • Q4: xy.8 -> NI-DAQmx 2025 Q4 = NI-DAQmx 25.8.0
• You can identify the NI-DAQmx version is a patch if:
  • Second number is other than the quarter specified above -> 2024Q3.1 = 24.6.0
  • Third number is not 0 - > 2025Q4 Patch 1 = 25.8.1