lsst-ts/ts_tma_tma-documentation_maintenance-documents_ni-linux-rt-installation

NI Linux RT Installation

Generate NI Linux RT USB

Open the NI MAX
Select the image to flash to the USB.

For using LV 2020, that uses the recovery image 8.0, the maximum allowed intel generation, in DELL computers, is the 10th generation. This recovery version 8.0 is not compatible with newer intel versions, tested only in DELL machines. If a DELL computer with higher intel chip is used the LV image for 2023 Q1 must be used (23.0), this is compatible with LV 2020 as well.

BIOS Config

For installing the recovery image the BIOS must be set accordingly:

Boot mode set to UEFI
Disable secure BOOT
Disable RAID for better compatibility and ensure hard drive detection

After using the USB

Install real time packages from the NI MAX.

Install RT image
Select programming environment
Install required packages
Set SSH password

After installation to set as PXI

Define the system as a PXI.

Log into the machine and type the following commands

Set as PXI

grub-editenv - set TargetClass=PXI
grub-editenv - set DeviceCode=0x77E1
grub-editenv - set NITarget=true

Define desired device description

grub-editenv - set DeviceDesc=PXIe-8880_Dell

Define desired host name

grub-editenv - set hostname=ats_AXES-PXI

Reboot to apply the changes

Check the settled configuration command
```
fw_printenv
```

Example configuration

admin@NI-cRIO-903x-VM-e50e7166:~# grub-editenv - set TargetClass=PXI
admin@NI-cRIO-903x-VM-e50e7166:~# grub-editenv - set DeviceCode=0x77E1
admin@NI-cRIO-903x-VM-e50e7166:~# grub-editenv - set DeviceDesc=PXIe-8880_Dell
admin@NI-cRIO-903x-VM-e50e7166:~# grub-editenv - set hostname=ats_TMA-PXI
admin@NI-cRIO-903x-VM-e50e7166:~# grub-editenv - set NITarget=true
admin@NI-cRIO-903x-VM-e50e7166:~# fw_printenv
serial#=e50e7166
DeviceCode=0x77E1
DeviceDesc=PXIe-8880_Dell
TargetClass=PXI
BIOSBootMode=efi
NITarget=true
primaryethaddr=CC96E50E7166
hostname=ats_TMA-PXI
safemodeenabled=False
admin@NI-cRIO-903x-VM-e50e7166:~# reboot

after the reboot

admin@ats_TMA-PXI:~# fw_printenv
serial#=e50e7166
DeviceCode=0x77E1
DeviceDesc=PXIe-8880_Dell
TargetClass=PXI
BIOSBootMode=efi
NITarget=true
primaryethaddr=CC96E50E7166
hostname=ats_TMA-PXI
safemodeenabled=False

Discover the target from the LV project

After setting the target as a PXI, the new target appears as a PXI target in the project and the NI MAX.

After installation to set as cRIO

Define the system as a cRIO.

Log into the machine and type the following commands

Set as PXI

grub-editenv - set TargetClass=cRIO
grub-editenv - set DeviceCode=0x7735

Define desired device description

grub-editenv - set DeviceDesc=cRIO-903x-VM

Define desired host name
```
grub-editenv - set hostname=name
```
Reboot to apply the changes

Installation on a Virtual Box VM

Creating a Virtual Machine for NI Linux RT

Choose Linux as Type and Ubuntu (64-bit) as version
Choose 1024 or 2048 as your memory size (this can be changed later if needed)
Choose to create a virtual hard drive (at least 4 GB)
Choose VDI as your hard disk type
Choose Dynamically allocated as how the data is stored (both options will work, this takes less space on your host system)
Once the virtual machine has been created, copy the image from C:\\Program Files (x86)\\National Instruments\\RT Images\\Utilities\\Linux RT PXI Safemode\\8.0 called standard_x64_recovery.iso to your virtualbox workspace (this is strictly not necessary, however I prefer to do this in case the image get corrupted during the install process, we have a backup and don't have to reinstall the LabVIEW Real Time Module)

Configuring the Virtual Machine

Select your virtual machine (NILRT in my case) and click on the settings gear
Go to settings -> system -> Motherboard and check the box "Enable EFI (Special OSes only)
Go to Settings -> Storage and select the optical storage device
Click the options menu of the optical drive in the top right corner (little blue "wheel") and select the option "Choose a disk file"
Navigate to where you have stored your NILRT recovery iso file and select it
Go to network and in the adapter 1 tab, select the Enable Network Adapter checkbox (usually selected by default)
Choose Attached to: Bridged Adapter and select your main network card as the Name
Expand the advanced menu and select the Intel PRO/1000 MT Desktop as your Adapter type (usually the default one. NI ships most of their controllers with Intel based hardware)
Select the settings -> Serial Ports -> Port 1 tab
Check the box Enable Serial Port
- This is needed for one of the hardware authentication steps in the NILRT installer and will fail if not enabled
Select USB 3.0 as your USB controller (USB keyboards and other USB based peripherals will not work unless you do this)

Installing NILRT from the ISO

DoubleClick or hit the start arrow to run the machine
Select the ISO as your startup drive/disk
choose "y" (yes) when the installer prompts you if you want to continue

If you are using a USB based keyboard, the installer might refuse to take any keyboard inputs at this step. If this happens, right click the USB icon in the down right corner of your NILRT virtual machine window and select your keyboard. This is only needed during the installation and can be unchecked on the next reboot (once the system is installed)

When the process finishes, it will ask you to restart the machine:
After restarting you'll get the following screen:
That's it, the system should now be discoverable from MAX and you can install all drivers from there.

If the system is discoverable but you're not allowed to install, it might be because the network configuration in virtualbox is not correct.

From NI MAX -> Remote systems -> Your remote device -> Open the device submenu clicking on the arrow -> Right click on Software -> Click on Add/Remove Software
If the credentials screen opens, the default user is "admin" and leave password empty. Click enter to proceed to the following screen
Select the OS to install:
Wait for this to finish and restart
Selected software to install by default:
- CompactRIO Support.
- LabVIEW Real-Time.
- NI Web-Based Configuration and Monitoring
- NI Wireless Certificate Management Web Service
- NI-VISA
Done, a cRIO system is installed in a VM, to change the system to be a PXI, go to this section