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ni.com
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NI 9144 User Guide and Specifications
2.
Insert one edge of the DIN rail into the deeper opening of the DIN rail clip, as shown in
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
One Edge of the DIN Rail Inserted in a Clip
3.
Press down firmly on the chassis to compress the spring until the clip locks in place on the
DIN rail.
Connecting the NI 9144 Chassis to a Network
NI recommends that you install a private network segment for your deterministic Ethernet
expansion devices. Slave devices cause network flooding on a standard network.
Non-EtherCAT frames jeopardize the system performance and determinism on an EtherCAT
network. Refer to the EtherCAT Technology Group Web site at
www.ethercat.org
for more
information.
The following devices are required to connect the NI 9144 chassis to a network successfully: a
host computer, a supported LabVIEW Real-Time target
1
with the NI-Industrial Communications
for EtherCAT software driver installed on it, and an NI 9144 slave device.
To have your LabVIEW target establish a connection with the NI 9144 chassis, connect the
secondary port of the LabVIEW Real-Time target to the NI 9144 IN port. Use a standard
Category 5 (CAT-5) or better Ethernet cable. Use the NI 9144 OUT port to connect to other
NI 9144 chassis and slave devices on the same segment.
Once the connection is established, install the NI-Industrial Communications for EtherCAT
software on the host computer and then use Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) to
install the NI-Industrial Communications for EtherCAT driver on the target. Your NI 9144
comes pre-programmed to use the RIO Scan engine. If you want to program the FPGA with your
own custom logic, use LabVIEW FPGA.
Caution
To update your firmware on the NI 9144 chassis, refer to the
Updating
Your Firmware
section of this user guide.
Caution
To prevent data loss and to maintain the integrity of your EtherCAT
installation, do
not
use a CAT-5 Ethernet cable longer than 100 m. National
Instruments recommends using a CAT-5 or better shielded twisted-pair Ethernet
1
DIN Rail Clip
2
DIN Rail Spring
3
DIN Rail
1
For supported LabVIEW targets, refer to
ni.com/info
and enter
ecatmaster
.
2
1
3
