National Instruments PXIe-8821 User manual

GETTING STARTED GUIDE
PXIe-8821
This document includes instructions for installing and configuring your PXIe-8821
PXI Express controller module.
Contents
Getting Started.......................................................................................................................... 1
Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines.......................................................................2
Unpacking......................................................................................................................... 2
Electrical........................................................................................................................... 2
Preparing the Environment............................................................................................... 3
Installing the PXIe-8821 into a PXI Express Chassis.......................................................3
LabVIEW RT.................................................................................................................... 5
Data Storage......................................................................................................................8
PXIe-8821 Front Panel......................................................................................................8
Removing the PXIe-8821 from a PXI Express Chassis..................................................10
Cleaning.......................................................................................................................... 10
Common Configuration Questions......................................................................................... 10
General Questions........................................................................................................... 10
Boot Options................................................................................................................... 11
Cables and Connections.................................................................................................. 12
Software Driver Installation............................................................................................12
Upgrade Information.......................................................................................................13
Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................... 14
What if the Controller Does Not Boot?.......................................................................... 14
What If I Can’t See The Video?......................................................................................15
My system boots fine as long as a particular module is not in my chassis. How do
I boot the chassis with the module installed?........................................................... 15
My chassis or controller does not appear in MAX. How do I use MAX to identify
and configure my PXI system?.................................................................................15
My CMOS is corrupted. How do I set it back to default?.............................................. 16
Worldwide Support and Services............................................................................................ 17
Getting Started
This section includes instructions for unpacking and installing your PXIe-8821 controller,
including setting up your controller to run LabVIEW Real-Time. It also describes the
controller's front panel connectors.
Caution Using the PXIe-8821 controller in a manner not described in this guide
can impair the protection the controller provides.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines
This product was tested and complies with the regulatory requirements and limits for
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) stated in the product specifications. These requirements
and limits provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the product is
operated in the intended operational electromagnetic environment.
This product is intended for use in industrial locations. However, harmful interference may
occur in some installations, when the product is connected to a peripheral device or test object,
or if the product is used in residential or commercial areas. To minimize interference with
radio and television reception and prevent unacceptable performance degradation, install and
use this product in strict accordance with the instructions in the product documentation.
Furthermore, any changes or modifications to the product not expressly approved by National
Instruments could void your authority to operate it under your local regulatory rules.
Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance, operate this product only with
shielded cables and accessories.
Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance, all I/O cables except
connected Ethernet, serial, and USB 2.0 cables must be no longer than 3 m (10 ft.).
Serial and USB 2.0 cables must be no longer than 30 m (100 ft.). Ethernet cables can
be longer than 30 m (100 ft.).
Unpacking
The PXIe-8821 ships in an antistatic package to prevent electrostatic discharge from damaging
device components. To prevent such damage when handling the device, ground yourself using
a grounding strap or by holding a grounded object, such as your computer chassis, and
complete the following steps:
1. Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the chassis before removing the device
from the package.
Caution Never touch the exposed pins of connectors.
2. Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose components or any
other sign of damage.
3. Notify National Instruments if the device appears damaged in any way. Do not install a
damaged device into your chassis.
Electrical
Note Does not include any attached USB devices.
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Voltage (V) Current (Amps) Typical Current (Amps) Maximum
+3.3 V 1.09 A 1.77 A
+5 V 0.93 A 2.15 A
+12 V 2.86 A 4.82 A
-12 V 0 A 0 A
+5 VAux 0.19 A 0.46 A
Preparing the Environment
Ensure the environment you are using the PXIe-8821 in meets the following specifications.
Caution The operating temperature must not be exceeded, even when used in a
chassis with a higher temperature range.
Ambient temperature range1, 2 5 °C to 50 °C (Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2. Meets
MIL-PRF-28800F Class 3 high temperature
limit.)
Extended temperature option 0 °C to 55 °C (Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2. Meets
MIL-PRF-28800F low temperature limit and
MIL-PRF-28800F Class 2 high temperature
limit.)
Relative humidity range 10 to 90%, noncondensing (Tested in
accordance with IEC-60068-2-56.)
Maximum altitude 2,000 m (800 mbar) (at 25 °C ambient
temperature)
Pollution Degree 2
Indoor use only.
Installing the PXIe-8821 into a PXI Express Chassis
To install the PXIe-8821 into a PXI Express chassis, complete the following steps.
1. Plug in your chassis before installing the PXIe-8821. The power cord grounds the chassis
and protects it from electrical damage while you install the module.
1For chassis that are not available in the online catalog at ni.com, contact National Instruments for
supported operating temperatures.
2Processor should not throttle CPU frequency under reasonable, worst case processor work loads in
high operating temperatures.
PXIe-8821 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 3

Caution In some National Instruments chassis, you must ensure that the
power LED is off. For more information about chassis power behavior, refer to
the user manual for the specific chassis.
Caution To protect both yourself and the chassis from electrical hazards,
leave the chassis off until you finish installing the PXIe-8821.
2. Remove any panels blocking access to the system controller slot (Slot 1) in the chassis.
3. Touch the metal part of the chassis case to discharge any static electricity that might be on
your clothes or body.
4. Remove the protective plastic covers from the four bracket-retaining screws as shown in
the following figure.
Figure 1. Removing Protective Plastic Covers
1
1. Protective Screw Cap (4x)
5. Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position. Align the PXIe-8821
with the card guides on the top and bottom of the system controller slot.
Caution Do not raise the injector/ejector handle as you insert the PXIe-8821.
The module will not insert properly unless the handle is in its downward
position so that it does not interfere with the injector rail on the chassis.
6. Hold the handle as you slowly slide the module into the chassis until the handle catches
on the injector/ejector rail.
7. Raise the injector/ejector handle until the module firmly seats into the backplane
receptacle connectors. The front panel of the PXIe-8821 should be even with the front
panel of the chassis.
8. Tighten the four bracket-retaining screws on the top and bottom of the front panel to
secure the PXIe-8821 to the chassis.
9. Check the installation.
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10. Connect the keyboard and mouse to the appropriate connectors. If you are using a PS/2
keyboard and a PS/2 mouse, a Y-splitter adapter is available to connect both to a single
USB connector. National Instruments offers a Y-splitter adapter cable, part number
778713-02, available through the online catalog at ni.com/products.
11. Connect the DisplayPort monitor video cable to the DisplayPort connector, or use the
DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter included with your controller to connect a VGA monitor to
the DisplayPort connector.
12. Connect devices to ports as required by your system configuration.
13. Power on the display.
14. Power on the chassis.
15. Verify that the controller boots. If it does not boot, refer to the Troubleshooting section.
The following figure shows a PXIe-8821 controller installed in the system controller slot
of an NI PXIe-1082 chassis.
Figure 2. PXIe-8821 Installed in a PXI Express Chassis
1
3
2
1. PXI Express Chassis
2. PXI Express Controller
3. Injector/Ejector Rail
LabVIEW RT
This section explains software installation and switch configuration for LabVIEW RT on your
PXI Express controller.
LabVIEW RT Software Installation
The following section describes the necessary steps to get your PXI Express embedded
controller set up to run LabVIEW Real-Time. In this section you will configure the controller
boot mode, verify or change IP settings, and install LabVIEW Real-Time software.
PXIe-8821 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 5

Complete the following steps to install the LabVIEW RT software.
1. Boot the NI PXI Express embedded controller into the real-time operating system. Refer
to the LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches section or the LabVIEW RT Setup Menu
section in this document to configure the controller for booting into LabVIEW RT. The
PXI Express controller automatically boots into LabVIEW RT Safe Mode when no
software is installed. LabVIEW RT Safe Mode loads with the basic real-time operating
system and automatically attempts to connect to the network using DHCP. If DHCP is not
available, it then connects to the network with a link-local IP address.
Tip You can connect a monitor to the desktop PC to display startup messages
such as the IP address.
2. Open Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) on another computer in the same
subnet and expand the Remote Systems branch. MAX lists the PXI Express controller as
the controller model name followed by the MAC address (for example, NI-PXIe-8821).
Note The other computer must have LabVIEW, LabVIEW RT, and any
desired drivers installed.
Tip Record the PXI Express controller MAC address, located on the side of
the controller, for use in identifying the controller. You also can remove the
label and place it on the front of the controller for easier access.
3. Click the appropriate PXI Express controller entry to access the Network Settings tab in
the right pane view.
4. (Optional) Enter a name for the RT target in the Name text box.
5. (Optional) Set the network configuration options of the RT target in the IP Settings
section and click the Apply button. For information about configuring network settings,
refer to the Configuring Network Settings book, accessible by browsing to MAX Remote
Systems Help»LabVIEW Real-Time Target Configuration»Configuring Network
Settings from the Contents tab of MAX Help.
Note When any IP or identification settings are changed, you are prompted to
reboot the controller for the changes to take effect. Click Yes to reboot the RT
target automatically. You may also reboot the controller by right-clicking the
target name under Remote Systems and selecting Reboot.
After rebooting the PXI Express controller, it appears in the Remote Systems category
with the assigned name.
6. Expand the PXI Express controller view in the Remote Systems branch and select
Software.
7. Click the Add/Remove Software button in the toolbar to launch the LabVIEW Real-
Time Software Wizard.
8. Install the LabVIEW Real-Time software and device drivers that you require on the RT
target. Refer to the NI Web site at ni.com/info and enter the Info Code etspc for the
latest information about supported software.
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After software installation, the controller automatically reboots, and you now can program it
using LabVIEW Real-Time.
Note Refer to the RT Getting Started Guide on your host computer for more
information about setting up your RT target.
LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches
Use the LabVIEW RT configuration switches to configure LabVIEW RT if it is installed on
the controller. If you are not using LabVIEW RT, these switches should remain in the OFF
position. The controller reads these switches only after a system reset.
The PXIe-8821 controller includes the following LabVIEW RT configuration switches:
• Switch 1—Boot LabVIEW RT: Set this switch to ON to boot LabVIEW RT.
• Switch 2—Boot Safe Mode: Set this switch to ON to boot LabVIEW RT into safe mode
to reconfigure TCP/IP settings and to download or update software from a host computer.
This switch overrides the behavior of Switch 1. Booting the controller into safe mode
does not start the embedded LabVIEW RT engine. After changing the settings or
software, reboot the controller with this switch OFF to resume normal operation.
• Switch 3—Disable Startup VI: Set this switch to ON to prevent VIs from automatically
running at startup if the controller becomes inaccessible because of a startup VI.
• Switch 4—Reset IP Address: Set this switch to ON to reset the IP address and other
TCP/IP settings to their factory defaults. Use this switch if moving the controller to a
different subnet or if the current TCP/IP settings are invalid.
Note By default, the target automatically attempts to connect to the network using
DHCP. If the target cannot initiate a DHCP connection, the target connects to the
network with a link-local IP address or 169.254.x.x.
The following figure shows the location of the LabVIEW RT configuration switches. The
switches are shown in the OFF position.
PXIe-8821 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 7

Figure 3. LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches
3
2
1
4
1. Switch 1—Boot LabVIEW RT
2. Switch 2—Boot Safe Mode
3. Switch 3—Disable Startup VI
4. Switch 4—Reset IP Address
Data Storage
The PXIe-8821 has the following data storage features:
• 2.5 in. SATA notebook internal drive
• USB storage support—USB CD/DVD-ROM, mass storage device, or floppy drive
PXIe-8821 Front Panel
The following figure shows the PXIe-8821 front panel layout.
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Figure 4. PXIe-8821 Front Panel Layout
NI PXIe-8821
Embedded Controller
1
4
5
3
2
8
7
6
1. LEDs
2. Trigger
3. COM1
4. DisplayPort
5. Ethernet
6. Reset Button
7. USB 3.0
8. USB 2.0
Front Panel Connectors
The following table lists various peripherals and their corresponding PXIe-8821 external
connectors, bus interfaces, and functions.
Peripheral External Connector Description
Video DisplayPort Intel® HD Graphics controller
Serial COM1 (9-pin DSUB) 16550 RS-232 serial port
Ethernet LAN (RJ45) 10/100/1000 Ethernet connection
USB USB 4-pin Series A stacked
receptacle (2 ports)
Hi-Speed USB
USB 9-pin Series A stacked
receptacle (2 ports)
SuperSpeed USB, backwards compatible
with USB 2.0
PXI trigger Trigger (SMB) Routing PXI triggers to or from the
backplane trigger bus
PXIe-8821 Getting Started Guide | © National Instruments | 9

Front Panel Features
The PXIe-8821 has two front panel LEDs that show PC status:
•DRIVE LED— Indicates when an access to the internal drive is occurring.
•PWR OK/FAULT LED—Indicates the controller status. The LED indicates one of the
following states:
–Green ON steady—PXI and onboard power is on and within regulation limits.
–Green BLINKING—One of the onboard power supplies is operating outside the
normal limits or the system power supply is out of regulation.
–OFF—The controller is powered off.
–Red BLINKING—The controller detected a power rail fault when trying to boot.
–Red SOLID—The controller detected a thermal fault and has shut down to protect
the system.
•USER LEDs — Two bi-color green/yellow LEDs (USER1 and USER2) that you can
define to meet the needs of your LabVIEW application.
Removing the PXIe-8821 from a PXI Express Chassis
To remove the PXIe-8821 from a PXI Express chassis, complete the following steps.
1. Power off the chassis.
2. Remove any cables that may be attached to the controller front panel.
3. Unscrew the four bracket-retaining screws in the front panel.
4. Press the injector/ejector handle down.
5. Slide the unit out of the chassis.
Cleaning
Use a dry, low-velocity stream of air to clean the PXIe-8821 controller. If needed, use a soft,
nonmetallic brush for cleaning around components.
Make sure that the device is completely dry and free from contaminants before returning it to
service.
Common Configuration Questions
This section answers common configuration questions you may have when using a PXIe-8821
embedded controller.
General Questions
What do the LEDs on the front panel mean?
Refer to the LED status descriptions in the Front Panel Features section.
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