I'm running LabView 2012 on Linux (kernel 3.10) on an x86_64 machine. I think that VISA is not playing nicely with my 64-bit serial driver. I have a few instuments connected through an NPort serial to ethernet converter. Instruments which output data constantly (unpolled) are working fine. I'm reading ASCII data from those using both minicom and LabView / VISA with no problem. Instruments which need to be polled for data are not working.
The same software and drivers are working fine on a 32-bit machine in the same lab (although I compiled the NPort serial driver for 32-bit on that machine). All I can think is that 32-bit VISA doesn't like the "bitness" of the 64 bit serial driver, and it's mashing anything I try to write to a serial port. This being the case:
1) Can I install 64-bit VISA for Linux in conjunction with 32-bit Labview? Would that work?
2) If I have to go for a 64-bit LabView, do I really need to downgrade my kernel to 2.x as suggested in a hidden NI compatibility document that I now can't find?
3) Why is Linux such an after-thought with NI?