This file contains installation instructions and compatibility information for NI-RFSG.
You can find more release information on ni.com.
NI-RFSG Release Notes: Known issues, bugs fixed since the last release, and other notes about this release
NI-RFSG Manuals: New features, behavior changes, and other documentation
Overview
New Features
Supported Hardware
System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems
Application Software Support
Installation Instructions
Accessing the API
Finding Examples
Accessing the Documentation
Product Security and Critical Updates
IVI Compliance Package Functionality
Automating the Installation of NI Products
Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 10
Unsupported Windows Operating Systems
Legal Information
Overview
This software installation provides support for customers using RF signal generator or vector signal transceiver hardware, as specified in the Supported Hardware section. To program your device, use the NI-RFSG instrument driver or NI-RFSG Soft Front Panel (SFP).
The getting started guide for your device provides information about how to install, configure, test, and begin using your hardware.
New Features
NI-RFSG 2022 Q3 includes the following new feature:
Support for LabVIEW 2022
NI-RFSG 21.8 includes the following new feature:
Support for NI Linux® Real-Time
NI-RFSG 21.5 includes the following new feature:
Support for RF list mode on PXIe-5840/5841 for LO Source, Upconverter Frequency Offset Mode, and Signal Bandwidth attributes
Supported Hardware
Visit NI Hardware and Operating System Compatibility to view driver, desktop operating system, and real-time operating system support for individual hardware devices.
To view information for your device:
Select your hardware model in the dropdown list on the page to view compatibility information for your device.
Type your hardware model number in the dropdown list on the web page to filter the list of available devices.
Note: Some compatibility information may only be available in the archive attached to the NI Hardware and Operating System Compatibility page. For historic driver and OS support information, refer to the readme for the relevant driver version.
MXI Express and MXI-4 are supported on Windows 10.
Note You must install the same version of the NI-RFSA/NI-RFSG Runtime for PXIe-5644/5645/5646 and NI-RFSA/NI-RFSG Runtime for PXIe-5820/5830/5831/5832/5840/5841 if you choose to install the runtimes independently.
Note For best memory performance on the PXIe-5831/5832, NI recommends using only 64-bit applications.
System Requirements
NI-RFSG has the following requirements:
Processor—1 GHz 64-bit (x64) processor
4 GB RAM*
A screen resolution of 1,024 x 768
Windows 10, with all available critical updates and service packs
*Depending on the amount of data acquired and/or processed, a larger amount of memory may be required.
Note Guest accounts are not supported under any OS.
Note NI-RFSG 2022 Q3 is not compatible with NI-RFSA 2.6. Upgrade to NI-RFSA 2.7 or later before installing NI-RFSG 2022 Q3.
Supported Operating Systems
NI-RFSG and NI-RFSG SFP support the following operating systems:
Windows 11
Windows 10
Windows Server 2022
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2016
NI Linux® Real-Time
Note Refer to Unsupported Windows Operating Systems for more information about support for Microsoft Windows OSes.
NI-RFSG supports the following application software versions, including service packs. You should install application software, such as LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI or Microsoft Visual Studio®, before installing NI-RFSG. To add support for application software installed after installing NI-RFSG, modify your NI-RFSG installation or launch the NI-RFSG installer again. If you are not using NI application software, refer to Microsoft Visual Studio Support.
Application Software
Versions Supported by NI-RFSG
LabVIEW
2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
LabWindows/CVI
2018 to current
LabVIEW Real-Time Module
2021 and 2022
Note Install any toolkits or add-on software you intend to use with the NI-RFSG instrument driver after NI-RFSG installation is complete. Refer to the getting started guide for your device for more information about software and hardware installation.
Note MXI users must install the software included with the MXI hardware.
Microsoft Visual Studio Support
If you are using the NI-RFSG .NET Class Library, .NET Framework 4.0 (minimum) is required. The NI-RFSG .NET Class Library can be used with Visual C# or Visual Basic .NET in any Visual Studio version that can target .NET Framework 4.0 or .NET Framework 4.5. For more information on .NET development using NI .NET drivers, visit ni.com/info and enter Info Code NETAPIdriversupport.
To install the NI-RFSG .NET Class Library, ensure that you select .NET Framework 4.5 Languages Support or .NET Framework 4.0 Languages Support in the NI-RFSG installer.
Installation Instructions
Download the NI-RFSG installer from ni.com/downloads. NI software includes NI Package Manager to handle the installation. Refer to the NI Package Manager Manual for more information about installing, removing, and upgrading NI software using NI Package Manager.
Accessing the APILabVIEW
NI-RFSG VIs are available in LabVIEW from the Functions»Measurement I/O»NI-RFSG palette.
LabWindows/CVI
NI-RFSG functions are available in LabWindows/CVI from the Instrument menu. To load the NI-RFSG function panel (.fp), select Instrument»Load, and navigate to IVI\Drivers\niRFSG\niRFSG.fp.
.NET Framework
You can use the NI-RFSG .NET Class library by adding a reference to NationalInstruments.ModularInstruments.NIRfsg.Fx40 or NationalInstruments.ModularInstruments.NIRfsg.Fx45 and any dependent class libraries from within the Solution Explorer in Visual Studio.
C
You can use the NI-RFSG C dynamically linked library by adding a reference to: Program Files (x86)\IVI Foundation\IVI\Bin\niRFSG.dll for 32-bit development or Program Files\IVI Foundation\IVI\Bin\niRFSG_64.dll for 64-bit development.
NI-RFSG SFP
To launch the NI-RFSG SFP, navigate to Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-RFSG»NI-RFSG Soft Front Panel.
Finding Examples
Select Help»Find Examples from LabVIEW or LabWindows/CVI to launch the NI Example Finder and navigate to Hardware Input and Output»Modular Instruments»NI-RFSG. You can also select the Search tab to search all installed examples by keyword.
You can access all the installed NI-RFSG examples at Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-RFSG»NI-RFSG Examples.
Accessing the Documentation
Documentation for NI-RFSG is located at Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-RFSG»Documentation. This documentation set is composed of the following documents.
Document
Format
Description
NI RF Signal Generators Help
HTML/Windows Help
Contains primary help content for NI-RFSG products. The help is an HTML version of a traditional user manual that includes the following information:
An introduction to RF fundamentals
Hardware device overviews
How to get started with application development
The NI-RFSG Soft Front Panel Help
A complete reference for all NI-RFSG VIs, properties, and functions, as well as the NI-RFSG .NET Class Library Help
Few other documentation for NI-RFSG is located at Program Files\IVI Foundation\IVI\Drivers\niRFSG\documentation. This documentation set is composed of the following documents.
Document
Format
Description
Introduction to niRFSG
HTML
Contains information about driver documentation, examples, connecting to your instrument, configuring instrument settings, and known issues.
NI-RFSG IVI Compliance Document
TXT
Contains information about IVI compliance.
For the most recent revisions of documentation and for newly released documentation, visit ni.com/manuals.
Product Security and Critical Updates
Visit ni.com/security to view and subscribe to receive security notifications about NI products. For information about critical updates from NI, refer to Available Critical and Security Updates for NI Software.
IVI Compliance Package Functionality
NI-RFSG no longer installs IVI Compliance Package (ICP). NI-RFSG supports IVI configuration and runtime, but no longer installs the following IVI components:
LabVIEW and CVI IVI class drivers for developing IVI interchangeable applications
IVI Class Simulation drivers
IVI-COM Adapters
To use these features, you must install ICP separately. ICP is included in the Software Platform Bundle media. A stand-alone web distribution is available from ni.com/downloads.
Automating the Installation of NI Products
You can automate the installation of most NI products using command-line arguments to suppress some or all of the installer user interface and dialog boxes.
If the NI product you are installing uses Microsoft .NET 4.6.2, the .NET installer may run before any NI software installs and may require a reboot before the installation of NI software begins. To avoid a .NET reboot, install .NET 4.6.2 separately before you install NI software.
For more information about automating the installation of NI products, refer to Automating an Installer in the NI Package Manager manual.
Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 10
For more information about NI support for Windows 10, refer to NI Product Compatibility for Microsoft Windows 10.
Unsupported Windows Operating Systems
NI-RFSG no longer supports Windows Vista/XP/7/8.x, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012, or any 32-bit Windows operating system. Versions of this product that ship after May 1, 2021, may not install or execute correctly on these operating systems. For detailed information about NI operating system support, visit https://www.ni.com/r/win32bitsupport.
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 Instruments Corporation.
NI respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. NI software is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Where NI software may be used to reproduce software or other materials belonging to others, you may use NI software only to reproduce materials that you may reproduce in accordance with the terms of any applicable license or other legal restriction.
End-User License Agreements and Third-Party Legal Notices
You can find end-user license agreements (EULAs) and third-party legal notices in the following locations after installation:
Notices are located in the \_Legal Information and directories.
EULAs are located in the \Shared\MDF\Legal\license directory.
Review \_Legal Information.txt for information on including legal information in installers built with NI products.
U.S. Government Restricted Rights
If you are an agency, department, or other entity of the United States Government ("Government"), the use, duplication, reproduction, release, modification, disclosure or transfer of the technical data included in this manual is governed by the Restricted Rights provisions under Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.227-14 for civilian agencies and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Section 252.227-7014 and 252.227-7015 for military agencies.
IVI Foundation Copyright Notice
Content from the IVI specifications reproduced with permission from the IVI Foundation.
The IVI Foundation and its member companies make no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The IVI Foundation and its member companies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
Trademarks
Refer to the NI Trademarks and Logo Guidelines at ni.com/trademarks for information on NI trademarks. Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
Patents
For patents covering the NI products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your media, or the NI Patent Notice at ni.com/patents.