Accessing cRIO from executable on another PC

Question

Hello,
This is my setup:
MyVI (FPGA) is built and deployed to the FPGA, where it runs automatically. I have made a MyVI (Host) which is able to access the FPGA while it is running, and read and write to the FPGA. These two vi are working fine, and I am using the "FPGA Open VI Reference" block to make this happen.
Now, I want to create an executable that I can run on another PC (with no LabView). The executable would just read and write to the FPGA like MyVI (Host).  How do I do that? It seems that using shared variable is not an option. I am using the "LabView FPGA Interface" instead of the "Scan Interface".

Answer 1

Hi Blandart,
Your FPGA is unable to communicate over ethernet directly.  You have to use the cRIO host to act as a go between.  That is why shared variables are not avaialble on the FPGA block diagram pallet.
The easiest method to use front panel communication between My VI (FPGA) and My VI (Host).  Then change, or add, the front panel on My VI (Host) to use shared variables.  Then write a new PC VI that reads the shared variables running on the cRIO Host.  You can compile the PC version as a runtime program and run this on a remote PC.  You will need to compile and deploy the cRIO software to run as startup.
This is commonly known as running the cRIO headless.
On the cRIO you will have
FPGA VI > Front Panel> cRIO Host VI
Then to communicate to the PC
cRIO Host VI> Shared Variable> PC VI
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Stephen