NI cDAQ-9171
The NI cDAQ-9171 is a one-slot, bus-powered CompactDAQ chassis that turns a single C Series module into a USB DAQ device. NI lists it as Mature and recommends the cDAQ-9170, but it is still sold for putting one module, such as an NI-9211 or NI-9234, on a laptop.
Specifications
| Analog inputs | –1-slot USB chassis; channels, ranges and rates come from the C Series module installed |
| Counters | 4 |
| Interfaces | USB |
| List price | $576ni.com list price (781425-01), Oct 2026 |
Vendor driver by OS
| Driver | NI-DAQmx (via DAQAtlas Bridge) |
| Windows | Yes |
| macOS | No |
| Linux | Yes |
Vendor software
| NI-DAQmx | Windows, LinuxFree. Driver with C and LabVIEW support on Linux; NI MAX, the configuration utility with test panels, is Windows only |
| FlexLogger | WindowsLite edition free; professional paid. configuration-based logging for NI DAQ hardware |
| LabVIEW | Windows, LinuxPaid. Graphical programming with NI-DAQmx VIs; NI-DAQmx has no macOS version |
One module, powered from USB
The cDAQ-9171 holds one C Series module and handles timing, triggering and data transfer to the host over USB 2.0 Hi-Speed. It draws power from USB (5 V, 500 mA maximum), so there is no power brick, and it uses a locking USB cable. Some modules have extra power requirements, so check the module’s documentation. The chassis has four 32-bit general-purpose counters that you reach through a hardware-timed digital C Series module, and it supports six independent hardware-timed data streams. NI lists it in the Mature lifecycle phase with the cDAQ-9170 as the replacement, and the list price at the time of writing is $576. For a one-module thermocouple setup, the thermocouple measurement guide covers wiring and cold junction compensation.
cDAQ-9171 on Linux, Windows and Mac
NI-DAQmx supports the cDAQ-9171 on Windows 11, Windows 10 LTSC and Windows Server, and on desktop Linux. NI’s compatibility table lists RHEL 9 and 10, openSUSE Leap 15.6 and 16, and Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04. NI-DAQmx for Linux installs through NI’s package repository and supports C and LabVIEW. NI MAX and FlexLogger are Windows only, so on Linux you configure and read the device from code. There is no NI-DAQmx for macOS, and NI-DAQmx Base, the old Mac driver, ended at version 15.0 with macOS 10.14 as its newest supported release.
NI lists module support on Linux separately from the chassis. The C Series modules covered on this site (NI-9211, NI-9215, NI-9205 and NI-9234) are all supported on the same distributions. DAQAtlas, which is in development, reaches the cDAQ-9171 through DAQAtlas Bridge, and because NI-DAQmx for Linux supports the chassis, the Bridge host can be a small Linux box as well as a Windows PC.
Questions
Does the cDAQ-9171 work on Linux?
Yes. NI-DAQmx for Linux supports the cDAQ-9171 on RHEL 9 and 10, openSUSE Leap 15.6 and 16, and Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04.
Does the cDAQ-9171 need a power supply?
No. It is bus powered from USB at up to 500 mA, though some C Series modules have their own power requirements.
Can I use a cDAQ-9171 on a Mac?
Not with NI software. NI-DAQmx doesn’t run on macOS, so the chassis needs a Windows or Linux PC.
Specifications and prices are taken from the vendor’s published pages at the time of writing and can change. Check the vendor before you buy. Sources: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6