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For further support information, refer to the Technical Support and Professional Services appendix. To comment
on National Instruments documentation, refer to the National Instruments Web site at
the info code
The NI 3100/3110 embedded controller is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of
shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to
be defective during the warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.
The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects in
materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments
will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instruc tions if National Instruments receives notice of such defects
during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be uninterrupted or error free.
A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before any
equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are covered by
warranty.
National Instruments believes that the information in this document is accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical accuracy. In
the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National Instruments reserves the right to make changes to subsequent editions of this document
without prior notice to holders of this edition. The reader should consult National Instruments if errors are suspected. In no event shall National
Instruments be liable for any damages arising out of or related to this document or the information contained in it.
XCEPTASSPECIFIEDHEREIN, NATIONAL INSTRUMENTSMAKESNOWARRANTIES, EXPRESSORIMPLIED, ANDSPECIFICALLYDISCLAIMSANYWARRANTYOF
E
MERCHANTABILITYORFITNESSFORAPARTICULARPURPOSE. CUSTOMER’SRIGHTTORECOVERDAMAGESCAUSEDBYFAULTORNEGLIGENCEONTHEPARTOF NATIONAL
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FROMLOSSOFDATA, PROFITS, USEOFPRODUCTS, ORINCIDENTALORCONSEQUENTIALDAMAGES, EVENIFADVISEDOFTHEPOSSIBILITYTHEREOF. This limitation of
the liability of National Instruments will apply regardless of the form of action, whether in contract or tort, including negligence. Any action against
National Instruments must be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues. National Instruments shall not be liable for any delay in
performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control. The warranty provided herein does not cover damages, defects, malfunctions, or service
failures caused by owner’s failure to follow the National Instruments installation, operation, or maintenance instructions; owner’s modification of the
product; owner’s abuse, misuse, or negligent acts; and power failure or surges, fire, flood, accident, actions of third parties, or other events outside
reasonable control.
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Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National
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National Instruments respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. NI software is protected by copyright and other
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For patents covering National Instruments products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software,
patents.txt file on your media, or the National Instruments Patent Notice at ni.com/patents.
the
WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS
(1) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS AND TESTING FOR A LEVEL OF
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INJURY TO A HUMAN.
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AND DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE USED TO DEVELOP AN APPLICATION, INSTALLATION ERRORS, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE
COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS, MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC MONITORING OR CONTROL DEVICES,
TRANSIENT FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS (HARDWARE AND/OR SOFTWARE), UNANTICIPATED USES OR MISUSES, OR
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COLLECTIVELY TERMED “SYSTEM FAILURES”). ANY APPLICATION WHERE A SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD CREATE A RISK OF
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UPON ONE FORM OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM DUE TO THE RISK OF SYSTEM FAILURE. TO AVOID DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH,
THE USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER MUST TAKE REASONABLY PRUDENT STEPS TO PROTECT AGAINST SYSTEM FAILURES,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BACK-UP OR SHUT DOWN MECHANISMS. BECAUSE EACH END-USER SYSTEM IS
CUSTOMIZED AND DIFFERS FROM NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS' TESTING PLATFORMS AND BECAUSE A USER OR APPLICATION
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LIMITATION, THE APPROPRIATE DESIGN, PROCESS AND SAFETY LEVEL OF SUCH SYSTEM OR APPLICATION.
Page 5
Compliance
Electromagnetic Compatibility Information
This hardware has been tested and found to comply with the applicable regulatory requirements and limits for electromagnetic
compatibility (EMC) as indicated in the hardware’s Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the hardware is operated in the intended
electromagnetic environment. In special cases, for example when either highly sensitive or noisy hardware is being used in close
proximity, additional mitigation measures may have to be employed to minimize the potential for electromagnetic interference.
While this hardware is compliant with the applicable regulatory EMC requirements, there is no guarantee that interference will
not occur in a particular installation. To minimize the potential for the hardware to cause interference to radio and television
reception or to experience unacceptable performance degradation, install and use this hardware in strict accordance with the
instructions in the hardware documentation and the DoC
If this hardware does cause interference with licensed radio communications services or other nearby electronics, which can be
determined by turning the hardware off and on, you are encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
•Reorient the antenna of the receiver (the device suffering interference).
•Relocate the transmitter (the device generating interference) with respect to the receiver.
•Plug the transmitter into a different outlet so that the transmitter and the receiver are on different branch circuits.
Some hardware may require the use of a metal, shielded enclosure (windowless version) to meet the EMC requirements for
special EMC environments such as, for marine use or in heavy industrial areas. Refer to the hardware’s user documentation and
1
for product installation requirements.
the DoC
When the hardware is connected to a test object or to test leads, the system may become more sensitive to disturbances or may
cause interference in the local electromagnetic environment.
Operation of this hardware in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference. Users are required to correct the
interference at their own expense or cease operation of the hardware.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by National Instruments could void the user’s right to operate the hardware
under the local regulatory rules.
1
.
1
. These requirements and limits are
1
The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) contains important EMC compliance information and instructions for the user or
installer. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit
and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.
ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line,
Page 6
Contents
About This Manual
How to Use the Documentation Set...............................................................................vii
Upgrade Information ..................................................................................................... 4-3
Chapter 5
Troubleshooting
Appendix A
Specifications
Appendix B
Technical Support and Professional Services
Glossary
Index
NI 3100/3110 User Manualvini.com
Page 8
About This Manual
This manual contains detailed instructions for installing and configuring
your National Instruments NI 3100/3110 industrial controller kit.
How to Use the Documentation Set
Begin by reading the NI 3100/3110 Installation Guide, a brief quick-start
guide that describes how to install and get started with your controller.
This manual, the NI 3100/3110 User Manual, contains more details about
changing the installation or configuration from the defaults and using the
hardware.
Conventions
The following conventions appear in this manual:
»The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options
to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
from the last dialog box.
This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.
This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.
boldBold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such
as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter
names.
italicItalic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction
to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.
monospaceText in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames, and extensions.
•PCI Express Base Specification, Revision 1.1, PCI Special Interest
Group
•CompactFlash Specification, Revision 4.1, CompactFlash Association
NI 3100/3110 User Manualviiini.com
Page 10
Introduction
This chapter contains an overview of the NI 3100/3110 and related
National Instruments software.
NI 3100/3110
Description
The NI 3100/3110 is a high-performance, small, fanless embedded
computer designed for rugged industrial applications. The NI 3100 has an
Intel Celeron-M423 (1.06 GHz single-core processor), standard PC I/O,
and a 80 GB or larger hard drive. The NI-3110 has an Intel Core Duo
processor L2400 (1.66 GHz Core Duo processor), standard PC I/O, and
a 80 GB or larger hard drive. Both have a CompactFlash expansion slot.
Variants of the NI 3100/3110 for use with LabVIEW RT include a 1 GB
solid state hard drive (SSHD) instead of a regular hard drive.
Functional Overview
This section contains functional descriptions of each major logic block on
the NI 3100/3110 industrial controller.
1
NI 3100/3110 Functional Description
The NI 3100/3110 is a complete modular PC in a small, rugged enclosure.
Figure 1-1 is a functional block diagram of the NI 3100/3110. Following
the diagram is a description of each logic block shown.
The NI 3100/3110 consists of the following logic blocks on the CPU and
I/O module:
•Intel CPU Socket-479 is the socket definition for the Intel Core Duo
processor L2400 or Intel single-core Celeron-M423.
•The SO-DIMM block consists of a single 64-bit DDR-2 667 SDRAM
socket that can hold up to 1 GB of memory.
•The 945GMCH (Graphics and Memory Controller Hub) connects the
CPU, DDR2 SDRAM, and DVI-I video.
•The ICH7M connects the PCI, PCI Express, USB, IDE, SATA, and
LPC buses.
•The high-speed USB 2.0 ports are connected to the ICH7M.
•The Super I/O block represents other peripherals supplied by the
NI 3100/3110, including the serial port, RT switches, and LEDs.
•The dual Gigabit Ethernet provides either 10, 100, or 1000 Mbit
Ethernet interfaces.
•The SATA block connects a Serial ATA hard drive to the ICH7M.
•The ATA-100 IDE block connects an internal ATA-compatible 2.5 in.
hard drive (optional). The IDE feature is built into the chipset. The
slave port on the IDE block is connected to the internal CompactFlash
slot to support the removable CompactFlash memory card.
•The high-definition audio block consists of a stereo line-level input
and a stereo line-level output using an AC-97-compliant CODEC.
•The MXI x1 external connector is a x1 cabled MXI Express connector
for external peripherals.
•The Internal PCIe x1 socket and Internal PCI socket support either one
half-length PCI expansion card or one half-length PCI Express
expansion card via a dedicated riser card (supplied).
•The Video section uses the Intel GMA-950 integrated graphics driver
to support dual monitors via a DVI-I connector.
National Instruments has developed several software tools you can use with
the NI 3100/3110.
National Instruments hardware and software work together to help you
make the most of your system. The LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, and
LabWindows
with leading hardware drivers such as NI-DAQmx to provide exceptional
control of NI hardware. Instrument drivers are available at
devzone/idnet
variety of buses.
LabVIEW is a powerful and easy-to-use graphical programming
environment you can use to acquire data from thousands of different
instruments including USB, IEEE 488.2, VXI, serial, PLCs, and plug-in
boards. LabVIEW helps you convert acquired data into meaningful results
using powerful data analysis routines. Add-on tools provide additional
specialized functionality. For more information, visit
ni.com/toolkits.
and
If you prefer to use Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Visual Studio
.NET for the core of your application, Measurement Studio adds tools for
measurement and automation to each language. For more information, visit
ni.com/mstudio.
™
/CVI™ application development environments combine
to simplify communication with instruments over a
ni.com/
ni.com/labview
LabWindows/CVI is an interactive ANSI C programming environment
designed for building virtual instrument applications. LabWindows/CVI
delivers a drag-and-drop editor for building user interfaces, a complete
ANSI C environment for building your test program logic, and a collection
of automated code generation tools, as well as utilities for building
automated test systems, monitoring applications, or laboratory
experiments. For more information, visit
ni.com/lwcvi.
NI-DAQmx provides an extensive library of functions, such as NI Signal
Express, that you can call from your application development environment
or interactive environment. These functions provide an intuitive API for
National Instruments multifunction DAQ products. Features available
include analog input (A/D conversion), buffered data acquisition
(high-speed A/D conversion), analog output (D/A conversion), waveform
generation, digital I/O, counter/timer operations, SCXI signal conditioning,
RTSI or PXI synchronization, self-calibration, messaging, and acquiring
data to extended memory. For more information, visit
NI 3100/3110 User Manual1-4ni.com
ni.com/daq.
Page 14
Chapter 1Introduction
National Instruments Modular Instruments use specialized drivers suited to
each product’s specialization. Express VIs provide customized, interactive
programming of instruments in a single interface, and soft front panels
provide an interface for testing the functionality of each instrument with
no programming required. NI Switches, DMMs, High-Speed DIO,
High-Speed Digitizers, and Sources each have customized drivers for
high-end modular instrumentation systems. RF applications leverage
two drivers, NI-RFSG and NI-RFSA, and Dynamic Signal Acquisition is
available through NI-DAQmx. For more information, visit
modularinstruments
.
ni.com/
NI-VISA is the National Instruments implementation of the VISA
specification. VISA is a uniform API for communicating and controlling
USB, Serial, GPIB, PXI, VXI, and various other types of instruments. This
API aids in the creation of portable applications and instrument drivers. For
information about writing your own PXI instrument driver with NI-VISA,
refer to the NI-VISA Getting Started Manual and the
the NI-VISA directory. For more information, visit
This chapter contains information about installing and configuring your
NI 3100/3110 controller.
Mounting the NI 3100/3110
This section contains mounting and installation requirements.
Before mounting the controller, record the serial number and Ethernet Mac
address from the bottom plate, as you cannot read these after you mount the
controller.
You can mount the controller in any orientation to any material. Do not
mount the controller upside down (cooling fins facing down), as this
may affect the thermal performance. Measure the ambient temperature
50.8 mm (2 in.) from the front of the controller.
Caution Your installation must meet the following requirements for space and cabling
clearance:
2
•Allow 152.4 mm (6 in.) on the sides and top of the controller for air circulation.
•Allow 101.6 mm (4 in.) in front of the controller for cable clearance for common
connectors, such as DVI and serial. Verify the cable clearance requirements for any
PCI or PCI Express card installed.
Installing the NI 3100/3110
This section contains general installation instructions for the NI 3100/3110.
Cautions Be sure the NI 3100/3110 is powered down and the AC input to the external
power supply is disconnected before connecting or disconnecting any connectors. The
computer boots and runs as soon as power is applied; there is no on/off switch.
Also, ground the unit to minimize the possibility of static electricity damage and ground
yourself with antistatic straps or work in an antistatic approved area when inserting or
removing an internal PCI or PCI Express peripheral card.
1.Connect a USB keyboard and USB mouse to any spare USB port, or
use a USB to PS/2 adapter (not supplied) to connect a PS/2 keyboard
and mouse to a single USB port.
2.Connect a DVI monitor to the DVI connector, or use the DVI splitter
cable (supplied) to connect dual monitors. In dual monitor mode, one
monitor must support a DVI-D interface and the other must support
a VGA analog interface for dual independent displays. You must
connect the monitor(s) before powering on the system.
3.Connect devices to other ports as your system configuration requires.
4.If you will use the internal expansion slot, refer to the Installing an
Internal PCI or PCI Express Peripheral Module section later in this
chapter.
5.Connect a 10–30 V, 60 W minimum external DC power supply. Note
the connector polarity. There is a separate input for chassis ground,
which you can connect to a suitable earth, depending on your
application. The input is reverse polarity protected, so if the unit
does not power up, be sure you have the correct polarity for the
external DC supply.
6.Power on the display(s).
7.Apply AC power to the external DC power supply. There is no power
switch.
8.Verify that the controller boots. If the controller does not boot, refer to
the What if the NI 3100/3110 does not boot? section of Chapter 5,
Troubleshooting.
BIOS Setup
You can change the NI 3100/3110 configuration settings in the BIOS setup.
The BIOS is the low-level interface between the hardware and PC software
that configures and tests your hardware when you boot the system. The
BIOS setup program includes menus for configuring settings and enabling
NI 3100/3110 controller features.
Most users do not need to use the BIOS setup program, as the NI 3100/3110
controller ships with default settings that work well for most
configurations.
Caution Changing settings in this menu may result in an unstable or unbootable system.
If this happens, follow the instructions for restoring default settings in the Clearing System
CMOS section. In general, do not change a setting unless you are absolutely certain what
it does and National Instruments directs you to do so.
NI 3100/3110 User Manual2-2ni.com
Page 17
Entering BIOS Setup
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
To start the BIOS setup utility, complete the following steps:
1.Power on or reboot your NI 3100/3110.
2.When the message
<Delete>. The message
the BIOS setup program is entered.
3.When you first enter the BIOS program, it displays the Main menu.
Use the following keys to navigate through the BIOS setup:
•Left, right, up, and down arrows—Use these keys to move between
different setup menus. Press <Esc> to exit a submenu. Be sure number
lock is off to use the numeric keypad arrows.
•<Enter>—Use this key either to complete a submenu or display all
available settings for a highlighted configuration option.
•<Esc>—Use this key to return to a parent menu of a submenu or cancel
an outstanding selection. At the main menu, use this key to exit the
BIOS setup.
•<+> and <–>—Use these keys to cycle between all available settings.
•<Tab>—Use this key to select time and date fields. When entering
time and date information, you can also use the number keys to enter
the time and date directly.
Press <DEL> to enter SETUP appears, press
Entering Setup appears briefly, and then
Clearing System CMOS
The NI 3100/3110 contains a battery-backed memory for storing BIOS
configuration information.
Follow these steps to clear the CMOS contents:
1.Shut down and remove power from the NI 3100/3110.
2.Turn the NI 3100/3110 upside down (with the heatsink facing
downward).
3.Remove the bottom plate from the chassis by removing the
eight retaining screws.
4.Disconnect the 2.5 in. HDD or SSHD cable, noting the pin 1
orientation.
5.Locate the jumper for clearing the CMOS contents, as shown in
Figure 2-1. (For clarity, the heat spreader is not shown in the figure.)
The NI 3100/3110 memory is not field upgradeable. Contact your
NI representative for upgrade options.
Installing an Internal PCI or PCI Express Peripheral
Module
The NI 3100/3110 can accept a PCI Express or PCI half-length expansion
card. (Go to
and PCI Express cards for use with the NI 3100/3110.) The riser plugs into
the I/O board. The kit includes two risers supplied in the kit, one for PCI
and one for PCI Express.
To install an expansion card, you need the following items:
❑ NI 3100/3110 industrial controller
❑ 2.5 mm hex key
❑ #1 Phillips screwdriver
ni.com/info and enter exfnrw for a list of approved PCI
❑ 5 mm flat blade screwdriver
Follow these steps to install a PCI Express or PCI expansion card:
1.Shut down and remove power from the NI 3100/3110.
2.Turn the NI 3100/3110 upside down (with the heatsink facing
downward).
NI 3100/3110 User Manual2-6ni.com
Page 21
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
3.Remove the bottom plate from the housing by removing the
eight retaining screws, as shown in the following figure. Use care when
removing the plate to avoid damaging the hard drive or cables.
4.Disconnect the 2.5 in. HDD or SSHD cable, noting the cable
orientation, as shown in the following figure.
1Hard Drive2 HDD/SSHD Cable
NI 3100/3110 User Manual2-8ni.com
Page 23
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
1
2
3
4
5
5.Remove the riser card assembly (with dummy expansion card) from
the I/O board by removing the two riser card retaining screws and
three bracket retaining screws. Loosen the two expansion card support
bracket screws, as shown in the following figure. Keep these screws in
a secure location.
4Bracket retaining screw (×3)
5Expansion card support bracket
screw (×2)
Page 24
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
1
2
3
6.Remove the dummy expansion card from the riser card assembly by
removing the riser card and the expansion card bracket, as shown in the
following figure.
1PCI Express or PCI riser card
2Expansion card bracket retainer
3 Expansion card
7.Mount the expansion card bracket to the retainer, as shown in the
preceding figure. Be sure the card bracket is secured to the retainer by
tightening the screw to 0.31 N · m (2.7 lb · in.) of torque.
8.Mount the correct PCI Express or PCI riser card onto the expansion
card, as shown in the preceding figure.
NI 3100/3110 User Manual2-10ni.com
Page 25
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
1
2
3
4
5
9.Slide the assembly into the NI 3100/3110, ensuring the riser mates
correctly to the main I/O board, as shown in the following figure.
4Bracket retaining screw (×3)
5Expansion card support bracket
screw (×2)
10. Replace the two screws that hold the riser card onto the I/O board, as
shown in the preceding figure. Tighten the two screws to 0.41 N · m
(3.6 lb · in.) of torque.
11. Replace the three screws holding the expansion card retainer to the
housing. Tighten the three screws to 0.55 N · m (4.9 lb · in.) of torque.
12. Adjust the expansion card support bracket until the expansion card fits
snugly. Retighten the two screws securing the bracket to 0.55 N · m
(4.9 lb · in.) of torque.
13. Reconnect the 2.5 in. HDD or SSHD cable, noting the cable
orientation.
14. Reattach the bottom plate to the chassis by with the eight retaining
screws. Tighten the eight screws to 0.55 N · m (4.9 lb · in.) of torque.
15. Place the NI 3100/3110 right side up.
Installing an Operating System
NI 3100/3110 controllers include a preinstalled operating system. In some
cases, you may want to install a different operating system. When doing so,
consider the following guidelines.
Installing from a CD-ROM
The NI 3100/3110 supports installing Windows Vista/XP from a
USB CD-ROM. However, many other operating systems do not
support installation from a USB CD-ROM. For example, Windows 2000
aborts during the install process, because it does not include drivers for a
USB CD-ROM device.
CompactFlash
This section describes how to install and remove CompactFlash modules.
Installing a CompactFlash Card
Follow these steps to install a CompactFlash card:
1.Remove the locking screw and raise the CompactFlash slot cover door.
2.Hold the card so the top side is facing up.
3.Insert the card until it is completely seated in its connector. (The
ejector button protrudes from the unit when the CompactFlash card
is correctly seated.)
Note If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card
orientation and try again.
4.Lower the cover door and replace the locking screw. This cover
prevents inadvertent CompactFlash card ejection.
When running windows, the NI 3100/3110 automatically recognizes
IDE-based CompactFlash memory cards and allocates them a drive letter.
The CompactFlash card may need to be formatted FAT32 before the
drive can be accessed. The unit may need powering off and on for the
CompactFlash Card to be visible to the operating system.
NI 3100/3110 User Manual2-12ni.com
Page 27
Caution Do not insert or remove the CompactFlash card while the system is powered on.
Doing so may cause data loss, and in some cases the drive may need reformatting.
Third-party cards may require additional drivers. Contact your
CompactFlash vendor for more information.
Caution The CompactFlash interface is ESD sensitive. An electrostatic shock to the
CompactFlash module while it is inserted may cause the controller to lock up or reboot,
or data loss on a CompactFlash memory card.
Removing a CompactFlash Card
Follow these steps to remove a CompactFlash card:
1.Power down the NI 3100/3110.
2.Remove the locking screw and raise the CompactFlash slot door cover.
3.Push the protruding ejector button. The card should slide forward.
Note If you encounter too much resistance when pushing the ejector button, do not force
the card. Check the card slot for obstructions and try again.
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
4.Remove the card from the slot.
5.Lower the cover door and replace the locking screw.
Note When using LabVIEW Real Time, you must use the LAN1 port (the port on the left)
for discovery and configuration.
Figure 3-4 shows the location and pinouts for the Ethernet connector on the
NI 3100/3110. Table 3-4 lists and describes the Ethernet connector signals.
Figure 3-4. Ethernet Connector Location and Pinout
Table 3-4. Ethernet Connector Signals
PinFast EthernetGigabit Ethernet
1TX+TX_A+
2TX–TX_A–
3RX+RX_B+
4NCTX_C+
5NCTX_C–
6RX–RX_B–
Note The Ethernet controller can perform automatic crossover, thus eliminating the need
7NCRX_D+
8NCRX_D–
for crossover cables.
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Page 34
Chapter 3I/O Information
USB
4
1
CF MS/SL
SAFE
MODE
IP RESET
NO APP
USER 1
RESET
MXIex1
COMPACT FLASH
INPUT
10-20V
90W MAX
HDD
USER 1
USER 2
POWER
Table 3-5. 10/100/1000 LAN Connector LED States
LEDColorLED StateCondition
OffLAN link is not established.
LeftGreen
On (steady state)LAN link is established.
On (brighter and pulsing)The controller is communicating with
UnlitOff10 Mbit/s data rate is selected.
Right
OrangeOn100 Mbit/s data rate is selected.
GreenOn1000 Mbit/s data rate is selected.
Universal Serial Bus
Figure 3-5 shows the location and pinouts for the Universal Serial Bus
(USB) connectors on the NI 3100/3110. Table 3-6 lists and describes the
USB connector signals.
The NI 3100/3110 controller is equipped with a CompactFlash slot on
the front panel, which provides I/O expansion and options for removable
storage.
Figure 3-6 shows the location and pinouts for the CompactFlash slot
on the NI 3100/3110. Table 3-7 lists and describes the CompactFlash
connector signals.
Figure 3-7 shows the location and pinouts for the MXI Express x1
connector on the NI 3100/3110. Table 3-8 lists and describes the
MXI Express x1 connector signals.
Figure 3-7. MXI Express x1 Connector Location and Pinout
Figure 3-8 shows the location and pinouts for the audio connectors on the
NI 3100/3110. Table 3-9 lists and describes the audio connector signals.
Figure 3-8. Audio Connector Location and Pinout
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Page 40
Power
Chapter 3I/O Information
Table 3-9. Audio Connector Signals
PinSignal NameSignal Description
TipLeftLeft Audio Channel
MiddleRightRight Audio Channel
OuterGNDGround
Figure 3-9 shows the location and pinouts for the power connector on the
NI 3100/3110. (The figure shows the front of the connector attached to the
power cable, not the receptor on the NI 3100/3110.) Table 3-10 lists and
describes the power connector signals.
The NI 3100/3110 controller has the following front panel features:
•LEDs
–Power LED—Green when powered on
–HDD—Green when HDD read/write is in progress
–User 1—RT programmable LED
–User 2—RT programmable LED
•Switches
–Safe Mode—Runs LabVIEW Real Time in Safe Mode
–IP Reset—Resets the LabVIEW Real Time IP address to default
–No App—Prevents LabVIEW Real Time from running the user
application on startup
–User 1—LabVIEW Real Time-accessible user switch
–CF Master/Slave—Allows the CF slot to be either Master (with
no internal IDE drive) or slave (with internal IDE drive)
–Reset—Recessed reset switch; accessible with a ballpoint pen
Data Storage
The NI 3100/3110 has the following data storage features:
•Internal hard drive
–2.5 in. notebook
–Serial ATA (SATA) or parallel ATA (PATA) hard drive or solid
state hard drive
•USB storage support—USB CD-ROM, mass storage device, or floppy
drive
•Compact Flash slot—Compact Flash storage slot
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Page 42
Common Configuration
Questions
This chapter answers common configuration questions you may have when
using the NI 3100/3110 industrial controller.
General Questions
What do the LEDs on the NI 3100/3110 front panel mean?
Refer to the LED status descriptions in the Front Panel Features section
of Chapter 3, I/O Information.
How do I check the configuration of the memory, hard drive,
time/date, and so on?
You can view these parameters in the BIOS setup. To enter the BIOS setup,
reboot the NI 3100/3110 and press <Delete> during the memory tests.
Refer to the Entering BIOS Setup section of Chapter 2, Installation and
Configuration, for more information.
4
Can I use the internal hard drive and a CompactFlash drive at the
same time?
Yes. However, you must set the CF master/slave switch to slave, and the
CF card must be inserted.
Boot Options
What devices can I boot from?
The NI 3100/3110 can boot from the following devices:
•An external USB mass storage device such as a USB hard drive,
USB memory stick, or CD-ROM
•An external USB floppy drive
•Most PCI-based boards that provide an Option ROM
Note There are some limitations when booting from a USB device. Windows XP
can be installed from a USB CD-ROM, but earlier versions of Windows cannot.
The NI 3100/3110 BIOS configures the USB devices so that they will work in a DOS
environment.
Cables and Connections
How do I plug both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard into the
controller?
The NI 3100/3110 has no PS/2 connector, and you need to use a USB
Y-splitter cable as shown in Figure 4-1, or a similar device, to connect
both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard. National Instruments
part number 778713-01 is such a cable and is available through the online
catalog at
ni.com/products.
Figure 4-1. Y-Splitter Cable
What if I don’t have a Y-splitter cable? Can I still use a mouse and
keyboard?
If you do not have a Y-splitter cable, plug a USB keyboard into any
USB connector. You can also plug a USB mouse into any USB connector.
How do I connect a VGA monitor to the NI 3100/3110?
A VGA-to-DVI-I adapter (replacement part number 762559-01) is
included with your kit. You can use this adapter to connect a VGA monitor
to the DVI-I port.
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Page 44
Software Driver Installation
How do I install software from a CD?
The compact size of the NI 3100/3110 does not allow for an integrated
CD-ROM drive. You have the following options:
•USB CD-ROM—You can install from a USB CD-ROM using a
bootable installation CD.
•Mapped network drive—You can use Ethernet to connect to another
computer. If you share the CD-ROM drive on the other computer,
you can map the shared CD-ROM drive to a drive letter on the
NI 3100/3110.
Upgrade Information
Where do I get the latest software drivers?
Chapter 4Common Configuration Questions
The latest National Instruments software is available from
downloads
My NI 3100/3110 does not have an internal floppy drive. Is there a way
to use an external drive?
Yes. The NI 3100/3110 controller supports and can boot from USB floppy
drives. A USB floppy drive will not work with Windows NT4, but will
work with Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Refer to the Boot Options
section for more information.
A USB floppy drive is available from National Instruments,
part number 778492-02.
This chapter answers common troubleshooting questions you may have
when using the NI 3100/3110 compact computer.
What if the NI 3100/3110 does not boot?
Several problems can cause a controller not to boot. Here are some things
to look for and possible solutions.
Things to Notice:
•Which LEDs come on? The Power OK LED should stay lit.
The Drive LED should blink during boot as the disk is accessed.
•Was the display installed prior to power-on? What appears on the
display? Does it hang at some particular point (BIOS, Operating
System, and so on)? If nothing appears on the screen, try a different
monitor. Does your monitor work with a different PC? If it hangs, note
the last screen output that you saw for reference when consulting
National Instruments technical support.
•What has changed about the system? Did you recently move the
system? Was there electrical storm activity? Did you recently add
a new module, memory chip, or piece of software?
5
Things to Try:
•Make sure the chassis is plugged in to a working power source.
•Check the fuse in the NI 3100/3110 or other power supply.
•Remove any I/O modules from the NI 3100/3110.
•Remove any nonessential cables or devices.
•Clear the CMOS. (Refer to the Clearing System CMOS section of
Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration.)
My controller boots fine until I get to Windows, at which point I cannot
read the screen. This may include garbled output, white screen, black
screen, or an out of synch message from the monitor.
This problem usually results from having the video card output set past the
limits of the monitor. You will need to boot Windows in Safe Mode. To do
this, reboot the controller. As Windows begins to boot, hold down <F8>.
You should now be able to reset the video driver to lower settings. Try
setting the resolution to 640 × 480 and the refresh rate to 60 Hz. Once you
reboot, you can raise these values again, using the test option in Windows.
These settings are accessible through the Advanced tab of the Display item
in the Control Panel. Alternately, you can try a different monitor,
preferably a newer and larger one.
If the system has been booted to Windows without a monitor attached, the
driver may have defaulted to the video output connector being disabled.
Press <Ctrl-Alt-F1> to re-enable the video display in Windows. Press
<Ctrl-Alt-F4> to re-enable a DVI display. For more information, refer
to KnowledgeBase 3OHCFRD8 at
ni.com/support.
My CMOS is corrupted. How do I set it back to default?
1.Shut down and remove power from the NI 3100/3110.
2.Turn the NI 3100/3110 upside down (with the heatsink facing
downward).
3.Remove the bottom plate from the chassis by removing the
eight retaining screws.
4.Disconnect the 2.5 in. HDD or SSHD cable, noting the pin 1
orientation.
5.Locate the jumper for clearing the CMOS contents, as shown in
Figure 5-1. (For clarity, the heat spreader is not shown in the figure.)
6.Move the jumper from pins 1–2 to pins 2–3 as shown in Figure 5-1.
7.Wait 30 seconds and move the jumper back to pins 1–2.
Caution Do not leave the jumper on pins 2–3 for any significant length of time. Doing so
decreases battery life. In addition, leaving the jumper on pins 2–3 prevents the system from
booting.
8.Reconnect the 2.5 in. HDD or SSHD cable, noting the pin 1
orientation.
9.Reattach the bottom plate to the chassis by with the eight retaining
screws.
10. Turn the NI 3100/3110 right side up.
11. Reapply power.
12. Enter the BIOS to set time, date, and other parameters.
ni.com/info and enter exfnrw for a list of approved PCI and
Go to
PCI Express cards for use with the NI 3100/3110.
Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2.
Relative humidity range..........................10% to 90%, noncondensing
Caution Clean the NI 3100/3110 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device
is completely dry and free from contaminants before powering-on the controller again.
PCI or PCI Express Card
Installed (< 10 W)?
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56.)
Storage Environment
Ambient temperature range ....................–40 to 70 °C
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2.)
Relative humidity range..........................5% to 95% noncondensing
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56.)
NI 3100/3110 User ManualA-2ni.com
Page 50
Shock and Vibration
Appendix ASpecifications
Operational shock .................................. 30 g peak, half-sine, 11 ms pulse
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-27. Test profile
developed in accordance with
MIL-PRF-28800F.)
Random vibration
Operating ........................................ 5 to 500 Hz, 0.3 g
(with solid-state hard drive)
Nonoperating .................................. 5 to 500 Hz, 2.4 g
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-64. Nonoperating
test profile exceeds the
requirements of
MIL-PRF-28800F, Class 3.)
To meet these shock and vibration specifications, you must panel mount
or wall mount the NI 3100/3110, affix ferrules to the ends of all terminal
wires, and install tie wraps on the Ethernet and power cables.
rms
rms
Safety
This product meets the requirements of the following standards of safety
for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use:
•IEC 60950-1, EN 60950-1
•UL 60950-1, CSA 60950-1
Note For UL and other safety certifications, refer to the product label or the Online
Product Certification section.
Electromagnetic Compatibility
This product meets the requirements of the following EMC standards
for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use:
Refer to the product Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for additional
regulatory compliance information. To obtain product certifications and
the DoC for this product, visit
number or product line, and click the appropriate link in the Certification
column.
Environmental Management
NI is committed to designing and manufacturing products in an
environmentally responsible manner. NI recognizes that eliminating
certain hazardous substances from our products is beneficial to the
environment and to NI customers.
ni.com/certification, search by model
For additional environmental information, refer to the NI and the
Environment Web page at
ni.com/environment. This page contains the
environmental regulations and directives with which NI complies, as well
as other environmental information not included in this document.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
EU Customers At the end of the life cycle, all products must be sent to a WEEE recycling
center. For more information about WEEE recycling centers and National Instruments
WEEE initiatives, visit
NI 3100/3110 User ManualA-4ni.com
ni.com/environment/weee.
Page 52
Technical Support and
Professional Services
Visit the following sections of the award-winning National Instruments
Web site at
•Support—Technical support at
•Training and Certification—Visit
•System Integration—If you have time constraints, limited in-house
ni.com for technical support and professional services:
following resources:
–Self-Help Technical Resources—For answers and solutions,
visit
ni.com/support for software drivers and updates,
a searchable KnowledgeBase, product manuals, step-by-step
troubleshooting wizards, thousands of example programs,
tutorials, application notes, instrument drivers, and so on.
Registered users also receive access to the NI Discussion Forums
ni.com/forums. NI Applications Engineers make sure every
at
question submitted online receives an answer.
–Standard Service Program Membership—This program
entitles members to direct access to NI Applications Engineers
via phone and email for one-to-one technical support as well as
exclusive access to on demand training modules via the Services
Resource Center. NI offers complementary membership for a full
year after purchase, after which you may renew to continue your
benefits.
For information about other technical support options in your
area, visit
ni.com/contact.
self-paced training, eLearning virtual classrooms, interactive CDs,
and Certification program information. You also can register for
instructor-led, hands-on courses at locations around the world.
technical resources, or other project challenges, National Instruments
Alliance Partner members can help. To learn more, call your local
NI office or visit
Appendix BTechnical Support and Professional Services
•Declaration of Conformity (DoC)—A DoC is our claim of
compliance with the Council of the European Communities using
the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity. This system affords
the user protection for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and
product safety. You can obtain the DoC for your product by visiting
ni.com/certification.
•Calibration Certificate—If your product supports calibration,
you can obtain the calibration certificate for your product at
ni.com/calibration.
If you searched
ni.com and could not find the answers you need, contact
your local office or NI corporate headquarters. Phone numbers for our
worldwide offices are listed at the front of this manual. You also can visit
the Worldwide Offices section of
ni.com/niglobal to access the branch
office Web sites, which provide up-to-date contact information, support
phone numbers, email addresses, and current events.
backplaneAn assembly, typically a printed circuit board, with connectors and signal
paths that bus the connector pins.
BIOSBasic Input/Output System—BIOS functions are the fundamental level
of any PC or compatible computer. BIOS functions embody the basic
operations needed for successful use of the computer’s hardware resources.
C
CCelsius.
cacheSmall portion of high-speed memory used for temporary storage of
frequently used data.
CMOSComplementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor—A type of integrated circuit.
CompactPCIAn adaptation of the PCI specification for industrial and/or embedded
applications that require a more robust mechanical form factor than desktop
PCI. CompactPCI provides a standard form factor for those applications
requiring the high performance of PCI as well as the small size and
ruggedness of a rack-mount system.
ControllerAn embedded computer module which configures and accesses a series of
devices connected to a chassis backplane.
D
DCDirect Current.
nd
DDR2Double Data Rate, 2
DIMMDual In-line Memory Module.
DMADirect Memory Access—A method by which data is transferred between
devices and internal memory without intervention of the central processing
unit.
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generation.
Page 56
Glossary
DRAMDynamic RAM (Random Access Memory)—Storage that the computer
must refresh at frequent intervals.
DVI-IDirect Video Interface, Integrated—A video technology enabling the use of
both analog and digital video signals.
E
ECPExtended Capabilities Parallel.
EEPROMElectronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.
EMCElectromagnetic Compatibility.
EMIElectromagnetic interference.
EPPEnhanced Parallel Port.
expansion ROMAn onboard EEPROM that may contain device-specific initialization and
system boot functionality.
F
FCCFederal Communications Commission.
G
g1. Grams.
2. A measure of acceleration equal to 9.8 m/s
GPIBGeneral Purpose Interface Bus (IEEE 488).
g
rms
A measure of random vibration—The root mean square of acceleration
levels in a random vibration test profile.
I/OInput/output—The techniques, media, and devices used to achieve
communication between machines and users.
IDEIntegrated Drive Electronics—Hard disk and built-in controller.
IEEEInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
in.Inches.
instrument driverA set of routines designed to control a specific instrument or family of
instruments, and any necessary related files for LabWindows/CVI or
LabVIEW.
interruptA means for a device to request service from another device.
interrupt levelThe relative priority at which a device can interrupt.
IRQ#Interrupt request signal.
ISAIndustry Standard Architecture—The original PC bus architecture,
specifically the 16-bit AT bus.
K
kBKilobytes of memory.
L
LANLocal Area Network—Communications network that serves users within
a confined geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations,
a network operating system, and a communications link.
LEDLight-emitting diode.
M
mMeters.
masterA functional part of a PXI device that initiates data transfers on the
PXI backplane. A transfer can be either a read or a write.
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Page 58
Glossary
MBMegabytes of memory.
MTBFMean time between failure.
MTTRMean time to repair.
N
NI-488 or NI-488.2The National Instruments software for GPIB systems.
NI-DAQThe National Instruments software for data acquisition instruments.
NI-VISAThe National Instruments implementation of the VISA standard—An
interface-independent software that provides a unified programming
interface for VXI, GPIB, and serial instruments.
NMINon-maskable interrupt—High-priority interrupt that cannot be disabled.
It is used to report malfunctions such as parity, bus and math coprocessor
errors.
P
PCIPeripheral Component Interconnect—The PCI bus is a high-performance
32-bit or 64-bit bus with multiplexed address and data lines.
PCI ExpressPeripheral Component Interconnect Express—A faster, serialized version
of the PCI bus.
PCMCIAPersonal Computer Memory Card International Association.
peripheralAny hardware device connected to a computer, such as a monitor,
keyboard, printer, plotter, disk or tape drive, graphics tablet, scanner,
mouse, and so on.
POSCPower On Self Configuration.
PXIPCI eXtensions for Instrumentation—An open implementation of
CompactPCI that adds electrical features that meet the high-performance
requirements of instrumentation applications by providing triggering,
local buses, and system clock capabilities. PXI also offers two-way
interoperability with CompactPCI products.