Power Electronics Development Center
About connection problem with gpic 9606
First, make sure you have the NI RIO driver installed. You can download the latest version here.
http://www.ni.com/download/ni-device-drivers-2014.02/4634/en/
Then, make sure that the only Ethernet connection on your computer is the cabled connection to the sbRIO-9606. Turn off your wireless connection. Otherwise, NI MAX may be searching on the wireless link.
If you are using a direct Ethernet cable to the sbRIO-9606, make sure your computer's Ethernet port supports auto-crossover. Most computers purchased in the last few years support it. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a crossover Ethernet cable or connect through a network switch.
If you are using a direct cable connection, then there is no DHCP server to automatic assign an IP address to your computer. You will have to wait for your computer to time out and assign itself a local-link IP address. This typically takes about 90 seconds.
Next, put the sbRIO-9606 into Safe Mode by holding down the Reset button down for 5 seconds, then releasing it. The Status LED turns on, then starts blinking three times every few seconds. Now, delete any existing remote systems in NI MAX and then do a refresh by expanding Remote Systems and going to View>Refresh. If your sbRIO-9606 appears, assign it a fixed IP address that differs from your computer's IP address only in the last three digits. (To find your computer's IP address, go to the Start menu and type in CMD. Then type IPCONFIG on the command prompt.)
If this doesn't work, follow the instructions on page 48 of the sbRIO-9606 user manual.
For a definition of all the status LED indications, see page 47 of the user manual.
Also, try following the instructions on page 48 for troubleshooting network communications.
One person was unable to connect with their sbRIO GPIC system because their Windows Firewall setting was blocking Measurement & Automation Explorer or LabVIEW.
Here is a summary of troubleshooting steps, including how to adjust your firewall settings:
1. Make sure you have NI RIO 14.5.0 or higher installed. Here is a link. If RIO is not installed, the sbRIO GPIC will not appear under Remote Systems in NI MAX.
NI-RIO 14.5.0 - NI-RIO Device Drivers February 2015
2. Disable wireless so the only network for NI MAX to search is your physical copper LAN hardware connection. (You can re-enable wireless after you connect to the sbRIO-GPIC). Make sure your computer is not on a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Reboot the sbRIO.
3. Check that your Windows firewall is not blocking Measurement & Automation Explorer or LabVIEW. On Windows 7, this is set via Control Panel\System and Security\Windows Firewall\Allowed Programs. Reboot the sbRIO.
4. Try using a different Ethernet cable. Note that most computers today have network ports that perform automatic crossover, so using a crossover cable is not required. Reboot the sbRIO.
5. Check your IP address. You can do this by typing "cmd" in the Windows Start menu box. Then type "ipconfig" in the command prompt. When do a direct cable connection to the sbRIO GPIC there is no DHCP server to assign your computer an IP address, so it takes about a minute for Windows to time out and assign itself a default IP address. The default IP address typically begins with 169.254... You won't be able to find the sbRIO GPIC until your computer goes to the default address. Reboot the sbRIO.
6. Put the sbRIO GPIC into safe mode as described here.
7. Try connecting the sbRIO GPIC and your computer to your local switch or router using standard (non crossover) Ethernet cables. Reboot the sbRIO so it is assigned an IP address and joins the new network.
