Remote Panels

Remote panels are almost identical in nature to the Embedded Panel option for web pages served up by LabVIEW's built-in web server (we learned about this option in the section,"Publishing to HTML with LabVIEW's Web Server"). The only difference is that remote panel clients connect from within LabVIEW and the remote panel appears as a separate VI window, rather than an embedded window in a web page. (The Web Server Embedded Panel option actually uses the remote panel technology under the hood.)

To connect to a remote panel from within LabVIEW, select Operate>>Connect to Remote Panel . . . from the menu. This will open a dialog where you can enter your connection parameters, and connect to the server, as shown in Figure 16.7.

Figure 16.7. The Connect to Remote Panel dialog

Once you are connected, the remote panel client window (see Figure 16.8) will appear and you will be able to take control and use the VI, just as if it was running on your computerbut don't forget, the VI is actually running on the remote system.

Figure 16.8. Remote panel client window connected to a VI on a remote computer

In order for remote panel (and Web Server Embedded Panel) clients to connect to your VIs, you will need one remote panel license per simultaneous client connection. The Base version of LabVIEW does not include any remote panel licenses, the Full version includes one license, and the Professional version includes five licenses. You can purchase additional licenses from National Instruments.