Provisioning a PXIe Controller to the NI Linux Real-Time Operating System

The migration from NI Phar Lap ETS or Windows to NI Linux Real-Time means migrating your application from one operating system to another which takes several steps. This article is part of a series on migration to NI Linux RT:

1. Determine compatibility

2. Provision your PXI controller

3. Install software

4. Migrate Phar Lap application to NI Linux RT

This document provides instructions on how to convert a PXIe controller to the NI Linux Real-Time Operating System. It covers installing the necessary software to the controller and host computer, and how to partition and install the operating system. This process is specific to PXIe controllers that are supported in NI Linux Real-Time and works regardless of the controller’s current software or current operating system.

For LabVIEW Communication System Design Suite provisioning instructions, refer to Provisioning a Real-Time Controller or USRP Stand-Alone Device for LabVIEW Communications.

Note: NI will remove support for Phar Lap for cRIO in the NI 2020 Software Release and for PXI in the NI 2022 Software Release. For more information, please see the Phar Lap RT OS EOL Road Map.

Additional Hardware

• Monitor
• Keyboard
• Empty USB storage device

Upgrade BIOS

1. Determine if your PXIe controller is supported in NI Linux Real-Time and if you need to update the controller BIOS. See the example picture below.
   1. Select your PXIe controller from the drop down menu on the above link.
   2. Note the Minimum BIOS version for NI Linux Real-Time support stated.
   3. Compare this to the Firmware Version shown in NI Measurement and Automation Explorer for your PXIe controller.
   4. When clicking on Download BIOS version xxxxxx, be sure to select the Linux firmware from the controller download page this links to.
   5. Follow the BIOS Firmware Installation Instructions section in the Readme of the BIOS download page to install the BIOS update. This may vary by controller. For this step, a FAT32 USB drive is required. 

Install Software on Host Computer

You will need to install software on a host computer to create the USB partitioning utility.  

1. Install LabVIEW and LabVIEW Real-Time Module 2019 or later. Make sure you are using the compatible software version for both LabVIEW and LabVIEW Real-Time Module.
2. Plug your USB storage device into the host computer.  
3. Launch NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX).
4. Select Tools >> Create NI Linux RT Recovery USB Drive.
   
    
5. Select your USB storage device under Drive. You can use the default disk image version or select any version under Disk Image.
6. Select Format.
7. Once complete, eject the USB from the computer.

Partition the Controller for NI Linux Real-Time

1. Plug your formatted USB and a keyboard into the PXIe controller.
2. Restart the controller, and press Delete on the keyboard to enter the BIOS.

Note: For newer PXIe controllers like PXIe-8861 and PXIe-8881, skip steps 3 and 4. They do not support Pharlap OS thus do not have LabVIEW RT configuration option.

3. In the Boot Configuration tab, select LabVIEW RT Configuration. Then, select [NI Linux Real-Time] as the LabVIEW RT Operating System.
   

 

4. In the Save & Exit tab, select Save Changes.

 

5. In the same tab, select the UEFI: <USB drive name> under Boot Override. 
   Note: This will reboot the controller and boot into the USB. If this USB does not work, attempt to use another USB.

 

6. After the USB boots, you will be prompted with the option to partition the disk. Type y and press Enter.
   

 

7. Once formatting is complete, remove the USB and reboot the controller by power cycling or by typing reboot and Enter.
   
   The controller should reboot into NI Linux Real-Time Safemode.

 

8. If the controller does not boot into safemode, enter the BIOS and select LabVIEW RT as Boot Option #1 in the Boot Configuration tab.
   

 

9. When finished with the provisioning, use Rufus to recover the USB drive, as it will not be discoverable by Windows.

Next Steps

Now that NI Linux Real-Time is installed on the controller, you will need to format to the NI Linux RT Base Image and then install the necessary software components for your application.