NI-FBUS Monitor 4.0.2 and Framing Errors

[mschrier45]

We are looking for an explanation on the behavior of the different versions of the NI FBUS monitors.

With version 2.x (the old PCMCIA version) we would see Framing Errors when packets were corrupted.

Then with 4.0.1 there is an issue that many packets were lost during normal operation

With 4.0.2 the bus monitor NEVER shows any framing errors.  We run a side-by side test with 2.x in noisy conditions and when 2.x shows framing errors the 4.0.2 either shows a good packet, a missing packet, or very often a TL frame.  This is a completely bogus Transfer LAS (TL) frame that has a 00 as the first byte.  But there are no framing errors, which seems to us to be incorrect behavior.  We know that packets are being corrupted and the framing errors should be reported.

So what we want to know is where are all the framing errors?  Is 4.0.2 now suppressing them?  Are they restored in 4.0.3 or other versions??

If there is anybody out there with experience running these bus monitors please let us know what we are seeing.

Thanks

- Matt

[LewisL]

Hi Matt,

Can you tell me what hardware you are using?

If you are FBUS PCMCIA card, it'd be very inconvenient for us to investigate because this type of interface card is virtually End-of-lined, and we are unlikely to debug this potential firmware bug. If you are using USB-8486, we have recently fixed a bug where send and receive has racing condition in certain circumstance. I recommend you to upgrade to NI-FBUS 14.0 and apply the patch I'm going to attach below for you.

NI-FBUS 14.0 Monitor  (as well as Configurator) is free to upgrade to, unlike previously paid upgrade policy. You only need to use your original serial number to activate the corresponding sw of 14.0.

The patch is at (available for 72 hours.) ftp://ftp.ni.com/outgoing/USB_Firmware/

File name: 14.0 solution.rar

Replace the same file(s) at <National Instruments>\NI-FBUS\Binaries

[mschrier45]

We are using the USB-8486 interface.  We'll download the update and give it a try.

Thanks

- Matt

[AFoose]

Thanks for the response. This patch did not appear to correct the behavior.

Have there been any released updates to fix this issue where Framing Errors are reported as Transfer LAS?

Thanks

- Alan