IC-3120 failing to boot up properly

[Ozfarmboy]

We have an NI IC-3120 (Linux RT) that is having some issues.

Anyone know how to resolve?

Here is what we are observing and have attempted:

1. Referred to download.ni.com/support/manuals/376097a.pdf for guidance
2. Observed that the IC-3120 boots up, and then the STATUS LED is continuously blinking. The above manual states “The IC-3120 has not booted into NI Linux Real-Time. The controller either booted into an unsupported operating system, was interrupted during the boot process, or detected an unrecoverable software error.”  However there is no instruction on how to resolve this.
3. We have a VGA monitor connected, and nothing is showing on this monitor. Confirmed that this monitor works fine on another IC-3120.
4. When connected to our PC via Ethernet, NI MAX is not finding a device. We have other IC-3120’s on the network, and we are seeing those on NI-MAX ok.

What we tried:

1. Tried putting unit into SAFE mode, by holding in RESET for 5 seconds – never seemed to go into SAFE mode.  Always booted up with the STATUS LED continuously blinking.
2. Tried holding the RESET button in for 5 seconds, followed shortly after with another 5 seconds to try and do an IP Reset, but don’t think this worked.
3. Tried to boot up into the BIOS, by plugging in a USB keyboard, holding down the DELETE key, and power cycling the IC-3120.  Nothing coming up on the monitor.  STATUS LED still continuously blinking.
4. During our reboots, I noticed once or twice that if I held in the REBOOT button for say ~7s, the IC-3120 did not boot at all, and ALL LEDs were off after I rebooted it?  Another quick reboot resolves this, but still returns to continuously blinking.
5. We also attempted to create a USB Bootable USB Flash drive as per IC-3120/3121 BIOS 1.3.6f0 Download Confirmation - NI, but when connecting the USB stick into IC-3120 and rebooting whilst holding down DELETE key, it sill just went into continuously blinking after reboot.

Any advice for what to try next?

[ZYOng]

Try connecting a keyboard and a monitor, and see if you can boot into the BIOS.

You can try referring to KB Restore NI Linux RT Target to Factory Default Configuration

[Ozfarmboy]

We already created a bootable usb diagnostic disk as per the 5th point in my original post, but this was unsuccessful.  I am guessing I'll have the same problem with what you've suggested, however it's worth trying, so thank you!

[Ozfarmboy]

NI (Braemac) Support suggested:

Another related article that you can reference to in the troubleshooting.

Flashing Status Light on CompactRIO Controller - NI

Status LED Flashing Continuously on a CompactRIO Controller - NI

Usually if the reformatting does not work, then it could be an irrecoverable corruption and sending it for repair will be the only option.

[Ozfarmboy]

We tried Restore NI Linux RT Target to Factory Default Configuration - NI method today as suggested by ZYong.

Unfortunately, it did not work too.

We're suspecting the module is gone to an “unrecoverable error” !