# Configure an NI device

> Connect National Instruments DAQ hardware to the Driver and configure it for tasks.

The Driver connects to [National Instruments](https://www.ni.com/) hardware that works with NI-DAQmx: CompactDAQ chassis and modules, USB and PCIe DAQ devices, and PXI. It finds them through NI-DAQmx. Before a task can use a device, you configure it.

## Prerequisites

* Supported

  WindowsLinuxNI Linux RT

* Not supported

  macOSDocker

- Install [NI-DAQmx](https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/drivers/download.ni-daq-mx.html) on the computer that runs the Driver. If the Driver says that System Configuration is missing, install [NI System Configuration](https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/drivers/download.system-configuration.html).
- The Driver loads the software on its next scan, so you do not need to restart the Driver. Restart the computer if the NI installer asks.

## How the Driver finds devices

The Driver looks for NI devices every few seconds. A device shows in the [devices toolbar](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/hardware/devices#devices-toolbar) with:

* **Name** -> `NI` and the model, such as `NI 9205` or `NI USB-6343`.
* **Location** -> the name of the device in NI-DAQmx, such as `Dev1` or `cDAQ1Mod1`. The Driver uses it to address the ports of the device, such as `Dev1/ai0`.

The key of an NI device is its serial number. Modules show under their chassis. The Driver skips CompactRIO controllers, but it finds the modules in them. The Driver also finds simulated devices that you create in NI MAX, so you can try Synnax without hardware.

To stop the search, right-click the Driver in the devices toolbar and select **Toggle NI device scanner**.

## Configure a device

[Enterprise](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/get-started/editions "Needs Synnax Enterprise")

**Console**

1. In the devices toolbar, right-click the device and select **Configure**. You can also click **Configure** in the “New … connected” notification. To list each device that the Driver found, click and select **NI hardware**.
2. Enter a **Name** and an [**Identifier**](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/hardware/devices#identifiers), or click one of the identifiers that the Console suggests.
3. Click **Save**. To also open a read task for the device, click **Save and create read task**.

Configure each module that a task uses.

[](https://synnax.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/docs/device-drivers/ni/configure-device/ni-configure-device/cc17d06c6d74-dark.mp4#t=0.001)

**Python**

Find the NI devices that the Driver found:

```python
for dev in client.devices.retrieve(makes=["NI"]):
    print(dev.key, dev.name, dev.model, dev.location)
```

Configure devices in the Console.

**TypeScript**

Find the NI devices that the Driver found:

```typescript
const devices = await client.devices.retrieve({ where: { make: { eq: "NI" } } });
for (const dev of devices) console.log(dev.key, dev.name, dev.model, dev.location);
```

Configure devices in the Console.

Do not create NI devices in code. A device that you create has a different key than the device that the Driver finds, and the Console cannot use it.

## Troubleshooting

* [The device does not show in the devices toolbar.](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/hardware/ni/configure-device#the-device-does-not-show-in-the-devices-toolbar)

  * Cause

    The Driver cannot load NI-DAQmx, or it skips the device.

  * Fix

    * **NI-DAQmx is not installed** -> install NI-DAQmx. The device shows after the next scan.
    * **The device has no name** -> check that NI MAX shows the device with a name. The Driver skips a device that has no name.

    For more causes, see [Troubleshoot hardware](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/hardware/troubleshooting#a-device-does-not-show-in-the-devices-toolbar).

* [National Instruments NI-DAQmx shared library is not installed.](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/hardware/ni/configure-device#national-instruments-ni-daqmx-shared-library-is-not-installed)

  * Cause

    The Driver cannot load NI-DAQmx. The task shows “Failed to configure task”, or the device finder shows “Failed to scan for devices”, with this text in the description. The text names System Configuration instead when only that library is missing.

  * Fix

    1. Install the software in the [prerequisites](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/hardware/ni/configure-device#prerequisites).
    2. Start the task again. You do not need to restart the Driver.

* [The device is temporarily unreachable. The Driver will keep trying to reach it.](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/hardware/ni/configure-device#the-device-is-temporarily-unreachable-the-driver-will-keep-tryin)

  * Cause

    The Driver lost the connection to the device. The task shows “Failed to read data” or “Failed to write commands”, with this text in the description.

  * Fix

    Check the cable and the power. The task continues when the device comes back.

For other problems, see [Troubleshoot hardware](https://docs.synnaxlabs.com/reference/hardware/troubleshooting).