Can I Connect a USB Hub to a myRIO?

Updated Nov 30, 2023

Reported In

Hardware

  • Stratom X-HUB Adapter for myRIO
  • myRIO-1900
  • myRIO-1950

Software

  • LabVIEW myRIO Software Bundle

Issue Details

I want to leave an application running stand-alone on myRIO. I am acquiring and logging data so I'm worried about space available.
At the same time, I will need to connect a device to the USB, therefore, I won't have space for a USB flash memory device.

Is it possible to use a USB hub to increment the ports available?

Solution

It is possible to connect a USB hub to a myRIO. These devices run Linux RT as operating system so most of hubs that you could connect to a Linux machine, will work on myRIO.

NI recommends to use theĀ Stratom X-HUB due to the simplicity for connecting it.

Additional Information

You can use a third party USB hub as well.
Take into account the bandwidth of the myRIO's USB 2.0 port. Depending on how many ports you add using USB hubs respectively how many devices you connect to them, too many devices can compromise the transfer of data.

It is also important to mention that the USB protocol is not deterministic. If you want to run a deterministic application, make sure you have the interaction with USB devices in a non-deterministic loop.