XNET Setup Guide in Scan Interface Mode

Updated Oct 30, 2023

Reported In

Driver

NI-XNET
NI CompactRIO

Issue Details

I am trying to setup a NI-XNET module in a cRIO chassis. However, I cannot connect to the module. I do not own the FPGA module and therefore need to operate in scan interface mode.

In NI MAX the NI-XNET module does not show up and there is no option to manually add it, The module has been recognised in a LabVIEW project. However I cannot use the device in a VI.
Do I require LabVIEW FPGA module for the NI-XNET module?

Solution

You do not require the FPGA module in order to use NI-XNET devices. However, you will be limited by the lower performance of scan interface mode.

In order to use a NI-XNET device in a CompactRIO you will require both the CompactRIO driver and the XNET driver to be installed onto the CompactRIO.

It is important to note that the NI-XNET drivers require a CompactRIO driver that is at least as recent. For example, NI-XNET 16.0 would require the CompactRIO 16.0 driver (or newer). NI-XNET 16.0 would not work with CompactRIO 15.0.

Once the necessary drivers are installed you can use the following steps to add the NI-XNET device to your LabVIEW project:

1 - Connect to cRIO from LabVIEW project