Network IP Configuration for CompactRIO 9073 and 9074

How do I configure the IP address and other network settings of a new CompactRIO 9073 or 9074 controller?

Beginning in April 2009 for cRIO-9074 controllers and January 2010 for cRIO-9073 controllers, new controllers will feature automatic network connection. The cRIO-9074 will attempt to establish a DHCP network connection when connected to a network and powered up under the following conditions:

• First power up
• After the hard drive is formatted
• After the IP address is reset

If the controller cannot initiate a DHCP connection, it will connect to the network with a link-local IP address.

Previous revisions of the controller reset the IP address to 0.0.0.0 under the conditions listed above. You can identify the revision by the part number on the bottom of the controller. Older revisions have part numbers beginning with the following six digits: 192172. Revisions with automatic network connection have part numbers beginning with the following six digits: 198944.  You can find this part number on the bottom label of the cRIO-9074 or cRIO-9073 Controller.

When you power on a new controller for the first time, it boots into safe mode because there is no software installed on it. The following describes how to configure the IP settings and install software on the controller.

1. Launch MAX (Measurement & Automation Explorer) 4.5.1 or later on the host computer and expand Remote Systems in the MAX configuration tree. MAX lists the cRIO controller as the model name of the controller followed by the MAC address, for example, NI-cRIO-907400802f10856.  The controller automatically attempts to connect to the network using DHCP. If DHCP is not available, the controller connects to the network with a link-local IP address with the form 169.254.x.x.
2. Select the controller under Remote Systems to see the Network Settings tab in the middle pane of MAX.
3. Enter a name for the RT target in the Name field.
4. Select settings for the RT target in the IP Settings section, then click Apply. For information about configuring network settings, refer to the Configuring Network Settings book of the MAX Remote Systems Help. In MAX, click Help»Help Topics»Remote Systems. On the Contents tab, browse to LabVIEW Real-Time Target Configuration»Configuring Network Settings.
5. When you click Apply, you are prompted to reboot the controller for the changes to take effect. Click Yes. You can also reboot the controller by right-clicking the name under Remote Systems and selecting Reboot.
6. After rebooting, the controller appears under Remote Systems with the assigned name. Expand the controller and select Software.
7. Click Add/Remove Software in the toolbar to launch the LabVIEW Real-Time Software Wizard.
8. Install LabVIEW Real-Time software and device drivers on the controller.

After software installation, the controller automatically reboots. You can now program it using LabVIEW Real-Time.

Additional Information

Using IP RESET and SAFE MODE with Software Installed

The version of LabVIEW Real-Time installed on the controller determines how the controller behaves when powered up with the IP RESET switch on. With LabVIEW Real-Time 8.6.1 or later installed, the controller will behave as described above. With an older version of LabVIEW Real-Time installed, the IP address will be reset to 0.0.0.0. This behavior does not depend on the revision of your controller. Please keep in mind that when using LabVIEW Real-Time 8.6.1 and later, you must also use NI-RIO version 3.1 or later.

However, if you power up the controller with both IP RESET and SAFE MODE switches on, the controller will behave as if no software is installed, and the behavior is determined by the revision of the controller.

The following table shows the different IP RESET behaviors:
 

Controller Revision	LabVIEW Real-Time Version Installed	IP RESET Behavior	IP RESET + SAFEMODE Behavior
New cRIO-9074/3 (PN: 198944…)	8.6.1 or newer and NI-RIO 3.1 or newer	* DHCP or Link-Local	DHCP or Link-Local
New cRIO-9074/3 (PN: 198944…)	8.6.0 or older	0.0.0.0	DHCP or Link-Local
Old cRIO-9074/3 (PN: 192172…)	8.6.1 or newer and NI-RIO 3.1 or newer	DHCP or Link-Local	0.0.0.0
Old cRIO-9074/3 (PN: 192172…)	8.6.0 or older	0.0.0.0	0.0.0.0

         *Startup applications will still run unless the NO APP switch is on.