Updated database engine added to LabVIEW package

With version 3, the RDM Plus functionality is now accessible. This means that LabVIEW programs running on NI Linux Real-time, VxWorks or Windows may define and manipulate local databases that may be shared and distributed among multiple cooperating computers.

RDM Plus is more than an ACID-compliant high-performance database engine. With this offering to the National Instruments community of embedded computer programmers, RDM is positioned to be the database operating both inside and outside the cloud. By running on NI’s CompactRIO systems, RDM can efficiently manage databases at the point of data collection – in the field or lab, on the vehicle or in the machine – where massive volumes of data may be collected and simplified before passing it on to the cloud, or where local computing can make instant decisions.

The RDM Plus features, now supported through the LabVIEW API, facilitate data movement. Replication causes immediate movement of captured data in an embedded computer onto other embedded computers or cloud-based databases, including Oracle, SQL Server and MySQL. Seamless movement into RDM for Windows or Linux is recommended. The Mirroring feature is the cornerstone for highly available databases, where an exact copy of the master database is maintained for read-only use or failover if the master computer is lost. The Notification feature allows client computers to subscribe to transactional notifications from other computers, receiving data asynchronously for actions that demand a quick response.

Version 3 also introduces a new Waveform data type, allowing native Waveform variables in the LabVIEW environment to be stored and retrieved as columns in the local database. Waveforms are represented as a starting time, a time increment, and an array of readings of variable length. Many embedded applications use waveforms to capture vibration data and recognize mechanical deterioration before failure, saving the cost of repair and frequent inspection.

Wayne Warren, CTO at Raima claims “Raima is serious about storing and moving data from the edge to the cloud and back. Powerful embedded computers are capable of extending both computing power and storage capacity in complete distributed application systems. RDM has always been right-sized for embedded operating systems and computers, and now the LabVIEW API makes it extremely accessible.”