CTA Deployment & Troubleshooting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When deploying a TestStand system using the Deployment Utility, which license type must end-users have to run sequences without the full TestStand development environment?
- TestStand Development License
- TestStand Runtime License (Correct answer)
- TestStand Evaluation License
- LabVIEW Run-Time Engine License
Correct answer: TestStand Runtime License
End-users who only need to execute sequences (not develop them) require a TestStand Runtime License.
Question 2: A deployed TestStand application fails because a custom step type DLL cannot be found. What is the most likely cause?
- The DLL was not registered in the Windows Registry
- The DLL was not included in the deployment package or is not in the search path (Correct answer)
- The TestStand Runtime License is expired
- The sequence file references an incorrect step type name
Correct answer: The DLL was not included in the deployment package or is not in the search path
Custom step type DLLs must be explicitly included in the deployment package and placed in a location within TestStand's search path.
Question 3: Which TestStand feature allows multiple stations to share a single license over a network?
- FlexLM License Manager
- National Instruments License Manager (NILM) with a volume license
- TestStand Concurrent License Server (Correct answer)
- LabVIEW Network License Broker
Correct answer: TestStand Concurrent License Server
The TestStand Concurrent License Server allows a pool of runtime licenses to be shared across multiple networked test stations.
Question 4: A test sequence intermittently reports 'Step failed to load code module' on the deployed system but works fine on the development machine. What should you check first?
- The sequence file version compatibility
- Whether all required code module dependencies and runtimes are installed on the target (Correct answer)
- The TestStand station options for step type loading
- The network drive mapping for the sequence file
Correct answer: Whether all required code module dependencies and runtimes are installed on the target
Missing runtime dependencies (e.g., LabVIEW RTE, .NET Framework, Visual C++ redistributables) on the target machine are the most common cause of intermittent code module load failures.
Question 5: When using the TestStand Deployment Utility, what is the purpose of the 'Support Files' category?
- To include TestStand system configuration files
- To bundle additional files like images, data files, or help documents needed at runtime (Correct answer)
- To package the TestStand engine installer
- To include source code for code modules
Correct answer: To bundle additional files like images, data files, or help documents needed at runtime
The 'Support Files' category in the Deployment Utility is used to include ancillary files such as images, configuration data, or documentation that the application needs at runtime.
Question 6: A TestStand operator interface crashes when opening a specific sequence file on a deployed station. Logs show an 'Unhandled exception in TestStand Engine'. What is the recommended first troubleshooting step?
- Reinstall the TestStand Runtime on the station
- Enable the TestStand Engine diagnostic log and reproduce the crash to capture detailed error information (Correct answer)
- Replace the operator interface executable with a fresh build
- Roll back the station to a previous system image
Correct answer: Enable the TestStand Engine diagnostic log and reproduce the crash to capture detailed error information
Enabling the TestStand Engine diagnostic log provides detailed stack traces and error context that are essential for diagnosing unhandled exceptions.
Question 7: Which file in a TestStand deployment controls the default paths TestStand uses to search for sequence files and code modules?
- TestStand.ini
- StationOptions.ini (or the Station Options configuration) (Correct answer)
- NI_TestStand_Paths.cfg
- deploy.manifest
Correct answer: StationOptions.ini (or the Station Options configuration)
The Station Options configuration (persisted in StationOptions.ini or the equivalent settings file) controls the search directories TestStand uses for sequences and code modules.
CTA Deployment & Troubleshooting 2
When deploying a TestStand system using the Deployment Utility, which license type must end-users have to run sequences without the full TestStand development environment?