National Instruments NI PXIe-8840 User manual

PXIe-8840
Quad Core
2022-07-20

Contents
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Getting Started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Unpacking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Electrical. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Preparing the Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Installing the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core into a PXI Express Chassis. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
LabVIEW RT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Drivers and Soware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Data Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core Front Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Removing the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core from a PXI Express Chassis. . . . . . . . . . 15
Cleaning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Common Configuration Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
General Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Boot Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Cables and Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Soware Driver Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Upgrade Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
PXI Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
What if the Controller Does Not Boot?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
What If I Can’t See The Video?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
My chassis or controller does not appear in MAX. How do I use MAX to identify
and configure my PXI system?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
My CMOS is corrupted. How do I set it back to default?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Worldwide Support and Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ni.com
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PXIe-8840 Quad Core

This document includes instructions for installing and configuring your
NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core PXI Express controller module.
For complete configuration information (including BIOS configuration, ExpressCard
installation, hard drive recovery, memory upgrade, and OS installation), full
specifications, and I/O information, refer to the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core User
Manual.
Getting Started
This section includes instructions for unpacking and installing your
NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core controller, including setting up your controller to run
LabVIEW Real-Time. It also describes the controller's front panel connectors.
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.
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PXIe-8840 Quad Core

Caution To ensure the specified EMC performance, all I/O cables except
connected Ethernet, serial, USB 2.0, and GPIB cables must be no longer
than 3 m (10 .). Serial, USB 2.0, and GPIB cables must be no longer than
30 m (100 .). Ethernet cables can be longer than 30 m (100 .).
Unpacking
The NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core 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 or ExpressCard.
Voltage (V) Current (Amps) Typical Current (Amps) Maximum
+3.3 V 1.68 A 2.82 A
+5 V 1.99 A 3.63 A
+12 V 5.19 A 8.79 A
-12 V 0 A 0 A
+5 VAux 0.20 A 0.35 A
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Preparing the Environment
Ensure the environment you are using the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core 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
range[1], [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.
Note Refer to the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core User Manual for full
NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core specifications.
1 For chassis that are not available in the online catalog at ni.com, contact National
Instruments for supported operating temperatures.
2 Processor should not throttle CPU frequency under reasonable, worst case
processor work loads in high operating temperatures.
Installing the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core into a PXI Express Chassis
To install the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core into a PXI Express chassis, complete the
following steps.
© National Instruments 5
PXIe-8840 Quad Core

1. Plug in your chassis before installing the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core. The power
cord grounds the chassis and protects it from electrical damage while you
install the module.
Caution In some National Instruments chassis, you must ensure
that the power LED is o. 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 o until you finish installing the
NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core.
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)
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PXIe-8840 Quad Core

5. Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position. Align the
NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core 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
NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core. 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
NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core 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 NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core to the chassis.
9. Check the installation.
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 oers 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. Refer to the NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core User Manual for
details.
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 an NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core controller installed in
the system controller slot of an NI PXIe-1082 chassis.
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PXIe-8840 Quad Core

Figure 2. NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core 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 soware installation and switch configuration for LabVIEW RT
on your PXI Express controller.
LabVIEW RT Soware 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 soware.
Complete the following steps to install the LabVIEW RT soware.
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 soware 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.
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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-8840 Quad-Core).
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 Con󽘀guration»Con󽘀guring 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 eect.
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.
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PXIe-8840 Quad Core

Aer 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 Soware Wizard.
8. Install the LabVIEW Real-Time soware 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 soware.
Aer soware 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 aer a system reset.
The NI PXIe-8840 Quad-Core 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 soware
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. Aer changing the settings or soware, 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.
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