Before you begin with the installation, it is important to determine the configuration you wish to use.

This section describes the configurations to be applied to your RT-LAB system. RT-LAB makes a distinction between the computer or computers used for development, and the computer or computers used to run the simulation, although the same computer may be used for both development and simulation.

Definitions

Command Station

Development is always done on Windows. The computer used to run the RT-LAB user interface, design software including Simulink, and/or monitoring software such as LabVIEW, is known as the Command Station. Users can include more than one Command Station in an RT-LAB system.

Target Nodes

The computers used to run your simulation are called target nodes, targets, or simulators. The Windows command station can be used simultaneously as a target node for slow pseudo-real-time purposes. For super-computer performance, RT-LAB can be set up using a network of multi-processor computers.

Requirements

Hardware Requirements

Command station computer (Windows):

• Any Intel or AMD x86-64 processor
• 5 GB of disk space
• 16 GB of RAM (including use of MATLAB/Simulink)

For the below compatibility tables, the following legend applies:

• YES/Y: Supported.
• -: Not supported.
• *: Partial support (read notes below table).

Microsoft Windows Compatibility

Required Elements:

• MATLAB: Underlying mathematical engine
• Simulink: Graphical design environment
• Simulink Coder (formerly known as Real-Time Workshop): Code generator

MATLAB Compatibility

National Instruments LabVIEW Compatibility

LabVIEW is not required for RT-LAB to work. However, RT-LAB’s API for LabVIEW can be used to create custom user applications.

National Instruments TestStand Compatibility

TestStand is not required for RT-LAB to work. However, it can be used to create custom test sequences for various quality assurance duties.

For more information on the compatibility between RT-LAB and TestStand, contact https://www.opal-rt.com/support-home/

Windows target node / MingW compiler

In order to use the Windows command station as a target node, one compiler is available, the free and open-source MinGW compiler.

This compiler is installed during the setup of RT-LAB.

If for any reason it fails, you can start it manually, as it is located: <RT-LAB installation folder>/mingw_download.bat

RT-LAB enforces the use of a specific version of MinGW which has been verified as compatible with the software.

Real-Time Operating System Compatibility

RT-LAB targets run on OPAL-RT Linux (x86-based) real-time operating systems. 

RT-LAB no longer supports targets running on QNX real-time operating systems.

Python compatibility

• Python is required on the Windows command station and the target nodes for some RT-LAB functionalities.
• By default, the command station uses its own Python 2.7 distribution.

RT-EVENTS Compatibility

RT-EVENTS is a block set of Simulink developed by OPAL-RT. It may be used in real-time when compiled with RT-LAB. Here is a compatibility table with RT-LAB, but it is always recommended to use the RT-EVENTS version that is packaged with RT-LAB on the website download or on the installation disc.

RT-LAB Versions vs. RT-EVENTS Versions

RT-LAB Versions vs. ARTEMIS Versions

TestDrive Software Compatibility

TestDrive is software developed by OPAL-RT that allows the user to replace the Simulink console by a LabVIEW panel. RT-LAB 2019.3 is compatible with TestDrive v2.8.

RT-XSG Compatibility

The integration of RT-LAB with the Xilinx System Generator toolbox is provided by the OPAL-RT RT-XSG product. Compatibility of RT-XSG with MATLAB and Xilinx System Generator versions can be found in RT-XSG Installation Guide.

RT-LAB is compatible with all versions of RT-XSG between RT-XSG 2.0 and RT-XSG 3.3.x. Note that RT-XSG 3.3.4+ is only compatible with RT-LAB 2023.1+. RT-XSG users should refer to the OPAL-RT RT-XSG Toolbox User Guide in order to validate compatibility between the FPGA boards in OPAL-RT chassis, Xilinx ISE Design Suite (including System Generator for DSP), and MATLAB.

OPAL-RT Chassis Compatibility

• OPAL-RT chassis have reconfigurable FPGA boards for which the compatibility varies depending on the version of RT-LAB. It is important to note that the same OPAL-RT chassis (ex: OP5600) may be powered by different FPGA boards (ex: OP5142_1, OP5142_2, ML605_1, and ML605_2 or OP5143).
• In the column header, the different possibilities of FPGA boards are under each OPAL-RT chassis. The FPGA boards are identified with their firmware filename prefix.
  • For example, the “MMPK7_1-EX-0001-2_2_2_4-RESOLVER_IO-02-01.bin” firmware file is for the “MMPK7_1” FPGA board in the “OP4500” OPAL-RT chassis.
• The table below presents the compatibility between RT-LAB versions and OPAL-RT chassis that serve as target nodes. In other words, all these OPAL-RT chassis have processor power. The OP5031 chassis is the only one without an FPGA board and, without an I/O expansion box, has no I/O capability.

RT-LAB vs OPAL-RT Chassis (Target Nodes)

RT-LAB vs OPAL-RT Chassis (I/O Expansion Boxes)