Configuring Network Settings of NI Automotive Ethernet Modules

Updated Jul 13, 2023

Environment

Hardware

  • PXIe-8521
  • PXIe-8522
  • PXIe-8523
  • PXIe-8623

Driver

  • NI-XNET

Operating System

  • Windows
  • LabVIEW Real-Time (NI Linux Real-Time)
  • Linux

The NI Automotive Ethernet Interface Module allows you to develop applications that require Automotive Ethernet to test and validate automotive electronic control units (ECUs) with the NI‑XNET driver. This article will walkthrough through how to configure the NI Automotive Ethernet Module network settings in Windows, Linux Desktop, and NI Linux RT.

Operating Systems:

 

Windows

  1. Confirm that Intel I210 driver has been installed to detect your Automotive Ethernet device in Windows Device Manager. The driver should be automatically installed by Windows when you connected to internet. If it's not installed, you could download it from Downloads for Intel® Ethernet Controller I210 Series and install it manually. 
  2. Ensure that the supported NI-XNET driver is installed.
    • PXIe-8521: NI-XNET 19.0 or later
    • PXIe-8523/3: NI-XNET 20.1 or later
    • PXIe-8623: NI-XNET 21.0 or later
  3. Open NI Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX). Skip steps 4 to 9 if you don't want to assign static IP to the ethernet ports.
  4. Take note of the OS Network Adapter Name assigned to the Ethernet interface you want to configure. For example as shown below, OS Network Adaptor Name is Local Area Connection 4.
  1. Go to the adaptor setting by selecting Network & Internet settings » Change adapter options.
  1. You'll see the Ethernet interfaces detected by Windows. To set the IP address, right-click on that interface and select Properties.
  1. Select Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) » Properties
  1. Select Use the following IP address, then set the IP address and subnet mask.
  1. You can verify that the IPv4 Address has been changed in NI MAX.
  1. Set the PHY State as Master or Slave. According to Interface:Ethernet:PHY State, two PHYs that are physically connected must be configured to use opposing PHY States. In other words, one PHY must be configured to be the Master, and the other PHY must be configured to be the slave. If the Adapter Properties is set to Obtain an IP address automatically, the ports with opposing PHY States will be assigned IP addresses automatically
  2. Set the Port Mode between the Direct and Tap. For more details about the Port mode, please refer to Using Ethernet.

Linux Desktop (LinuxDT)

This method will use the GUI, the Terminal, and require nmcli [External] to be installed.

Using the GUI

  1. Open Network settings in the Linux Distribution.
Opening network settings from the GUI
  1. Select the required ENET port to make active, and click the ADD(+) button.
Picture2.png
  1. Open the Settings, highlighted in the image above.
  2. Edit the Connection Profile by selecting the MAC address of the ENET Port.
Picture3.png
  1. Go to IPv4 tab and select the Link-Local Only option and click on ADD
Picture4.png

Using the GUI

  1. Verify nmcli [External] can communicate with NetworkManager using the following command:
nmcli general
If active, it will show as the image below:
Picture5.png
  1. List all the network connection profiles in memory and on disk using the following command:
nmcli connection show
This will display something similar to the following:
Picture6.png
  1. Add a network connection using the command:
$ sudo nmcli connection add type <TYPE> ifname <DEVICE> Connection '<TYPE>-<DEVICE>'
Where <TYPE> and <DEVICE> are the TYPE and DEVICE from the previous step
 
  1. Change the IPv4 settings using the following command
$ nmcli connection modify <TYPE>-<DEVICE> ipv4.method link-local
 

NI Linux RT

  1. Ensure that the supported NI-XNET driver is installed on host PC and Real-Time target.
    • PXIe-8521: NI-XNET 19.0 or later
    • PXIe-8523/3: NI-XNET 20.1 or later
    • PXIe-8623: NI-XNET 21.0 or later
  2. Open NI Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX). Skip steps 3 and 4 if you don't want to assign static IP to the ethernet ports.
  3. Locate your modules under Remote Systems. Take note of the OS Network Adapter Name assigned to the Ethernet interface you want to configure. For example as shown below, OS Network Adaptor Name is enp12s0. 
852x_Linux1.png
  1. Select PXIe controller under Remote Systems. Switch to Network Settings tab. Scroll down to locate the interface you wish to change. Set Configure IPv4 Address to Static, then set the IP Address and Subnet Mask. Click Save to apply the change.
852x_Linux3.png
  1. Set the PHY State as Master or Slave. According to Interface:Ethernet:PHY State, two PHYs that are physically connected must be configured to use opposing PHY States. In other words, one PHY must be configured to be the Master, and the other PHY must be configured to be the slave. If all connected ports are masters or slaves, the actual IPv4 addresses will remain 0.0.0.0 and the Link Speed will remain Link Down. If the Configure IPv4 Address is set to DHCP or Link Local, the ports with opposing PHY States will be assigned IP addresses automatically
  2. Set the Port Mode between the Direct and Tap. For more details about the Port mode, please refer to Using Ethernet.

Phar Lap ETS

NI Automotive Ethernet Interface modules are not supported on PXI/PXIe controllers running Phar Lap ETS Real-Time OS. See Automotive Ethernet PXIe Module Is Not Showing Up in NI-MAX ​​​​​​​ .

Next Steps