Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
- Nkbhvid
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27 Jan 2026 18:13 #342011
by Nkbhvid
Replied by Nkbhvid on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
My current version is 3.4.9
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- tommylight
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27 Jan 2026 18:21 #342012
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
You do not need mesaflash unless you need to change the firmware.
Use MesaCT to create a config and test the machine.
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From your posts it is unclear what you are trying to achieve, you mention Mach3 and 4 used for position control on stepper driven machines, but here you are using a Mesa 7i97T that is explicitly for analog servo drives, so what gives?
Use MesaCT to create a config and test the machine.
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From your posts it is unclear what you are trying to achieve, you mention Mach3 and 4 used for position control on stepper driven machines, but here you are using a Mesa 7i97T that is explicitly for analog servo drives, so what gives?
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27 Jan 2026 19:51 #342017
by Nkbhvid
Replied by Nkbhvid on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
But will it make any sense at all to try to configure the setup as long as I get an “unsupported board”
A little about the background for the project.
I have over time -as a side business - made several retrofits of older (woodworking)cnc machines
Normally I change the driveline to new hybrid steppers controlled by a plc with a control sw developed by ourselves (or in a few projects Mach 3&4), but in this project I have a huge 7ton Homag with very powerful Rexroth motors and drives where i have modified the drives to analog control.
Therefore I went for a LinuxCNC and a mesa 7i97T.
I accept there is a learning curve but it has been far more complex than expected.
I’m surprised about how many YouTubes are found about “LinuxCNC as easy as Mach3” a statement I have hard to believe unless you have 20 years of Linux behind you
A little about the background for the project.
I have over time -as a side business - made several retrofits of older (woodworking)cnc machines
Normally I change the driveline to new hybrid steppers controlled by a plc with a control sw developed by ourselves (or in a few projects Mach 3&4), but in this project I have a huge 7ton Homag with very powerful Rexroth motors and drives where i have modified the drives to analog control.
Therefore I went for a LinuxCNC and a mesa 7i97T.
I accept there is a learning curve but it has been far more complex than expected.
I’m surprised about how many YouTubes are found about “LinuxCNC as easy as Mach3” a statement I have hard to believe unless you have 20 years of Linux behind you
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27 Jan 2026 21:19 #342023
by unknown
Replied by unknown on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
You don't need "20 years of Linux behind you", get rid of that way of thinking. All you need to be able to do is follow instructions, minding syntax and not taking shortcuts, and be able to relay any error messages without leaving anything out. It is also to follow any links in replies, it saves those that reply having to repeat any info.
Oh and mesa wouldn't sell you a product that is deemed to work with Linuxcnc that doesn't .
Did you look at the download PCW attached, I think it was a simple config to get you going.
Upgrading mesaflash from the GitHub page may help with your issue .
Oh and mesa wouldn't sell you a product that is deemed to work with Linuxcnc that doesn't .
Did you look at the download PCW attached, I think it was a simple config to get you going.
Upgrading mesaflash from the GitHub page may help with your issue .
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27 Jan 2026 22:01 #342029
by tommylight
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As for "easy as...", it is same as everything in life, i can not use an iphone and will never ever learn as it is absolutely not intuitive, but i can operate medical equipment i have never seen before after about 15 seconds of looking at it.
Friendly advice, stop thinking about "mach vs LinuxCNC", they are not the same in any way, shape, or form, except both control machines, Mach is for small simple weekend use machines, LinuxCNC for everything from small engravers to huge industrial machines and fully automated production lines, hence it is simple only for simple machines, it can not be simple for a several ton industrial machine.
Get over it, move on, and start here first and foremost and do not skip anything:
forum.linuxcnc.org/10-advanced-configura...to-example-mesa-7i77
Replied by tommylight on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
You should ignore that, it is the older version of mesaflash, you do not need mesaflash at all unless you need to change the board firmware, ever.But will it make any sense at all to try to configure the setup as long as I get an “unsupported board”
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As for "easy as...", it is same as everything in life, i can not use an iphone and will never ever learn as it is absolutely not intuitive, but i can operate medical equipment i have never seen before after about 15 seconds of looking at it.
Friendly advice, stop thinking about "mach vs LinuxCNC", they are not the same in any way, shape, or form, except both control machines, Mach is for small simple weekend use machines, LinuxCNC for everything from small engravers to huge industrial machines and fully automated production lines, hence it is simple only for simple machines, it can not be simple for a several ton industrial machine.
Get over it, move on, and start here first and foremost and do not skip anything:
forum.linuxcnc.org/10-advanced-configura...to-example-mesa-7i77
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27 Jan 2026 22:05 #342030
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
Forgot to mention, 7i97T = 7i92T + 7i77
So everything there is valid for your board.
So everything there is valid for your board.
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- Nkbhvid
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27 Jan 2026 22:49 #342037
by Nkbhvid
Replied by Nkbhvid on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
Thanks a lot for helping
So… my question is: when do I need to change my firmware?
In all the resources I have been through I have been informed that I needed to secure that the connection between LinuxCNC and the mesa card (hostmot, hm2_eth and bitfile) all were in place and functioning correctly.
The ping OK was not enough.
Do I still need to do this or can I carry on?
So… my question is: when do I need to change my firmware?
In all the resources I have been through I have been informed that I needed to secure that the connection between LinuxCNC and the mesa card (hostmot, hm2_eth and bitfile) all were in place and functioning correctly.
The ping OK was not enough.
Do I still need to do this or can I carry on?
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27 Jan 2026 23:02 - 27 Jan 2026 23:27 #342040
by PCW
Replied by PCW on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
I would just try either MesaCT or the sample configuration.
As others have mentioned, you don't need mesaflash, unless you need
a configuration with a parallel expansion port connected daughter card,
or perhaps want MODBUS support.
Unfortunately the mesaflash version included with 2.9.4 is quite ancient
and does not recognize the 7I97T.
As long as:
mesaflash --device ethernet --addr 10.10.10.10
replies with the card name (whether it recognizes it or not) you have a connection.
The ping test also works, except if you set the host IP address to the FPGA cards address
(a common mistake) but if mesaflash finds a card, unsupported or not, you have connectivity.
As others have mentioned, you don't need mesaflash, unless you need
a configuration with a parallel expansion port connected daughter card,
or perhaps want MODBUS support.
Unfortunately the mesaflash version included with 2.9.4 is quite ancient
and does not recognize the 7I97T.
As long as:
mesaflash --device ethernet --addr 10.10.10.10
replies with the card name (whether it recognizes it or not) you have a connection.
The ping test also works, except if you set the host IP address to the FPGA cards address
(a common mistake) but if mesaflash finds a card, unsupported or not, you have connectivity.
Last edit: 27 Jan 2026 23:27 by PCW. Reason: oops forgot IP address
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27 Jan 2026 23:06 #342041
by tommylight
Replied by tommylight on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
Yeah, that is very old info, for some reason google insists on finding docs and info for version 2.4 but not for 2.8 or 2.9, and that is aggravating, extremely, but is beyond our reach to fix it.
We do remove outdated info from the forum whenever we bump into it.
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Ping OK is the only thing you need, make a config and start wiring stuff.
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You might need mesaflash ONLY if you need firmware for:
-you want to use a Mesa 7i74 or 7i85 or add a 7i76 or similar
-you request special firmware that is not standard
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One major tip for wiring, do NOT wire everything and power the machine ON.
Follow the link i posted, wire stuff one by one as mentioned there, check and recheck, and only when making sure all is good, move on to wiring and testing the next thing on that list.
We do remove outdated info from the forum whenever we bump into it.
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Ping OK is the only thing you need, make a config and start wiring stuff.
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You might need mesaflash ONLY if you need firmware for:
-you want to use a Mesa 7i74 or 7i85 or add a 7i76 or similar
-you request special firmware that is not standard
-
One major tip for wiring, do NOT wire everything and power the machine ON.
Follow the link i posted, wire stuff one by one as mentioned there, check and recheck, and only when making sure all is good, move on to wiring and testing the next thing on that list.
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27 Jan 2026 23:38 #342043
by Nkbhvid
Replied by Nkbhvid on topic Linuxcnc 2.9.4 and Mesa 7i97T
Again THANKS a lot
My issue isn’t with Linux itself, but with the documentation.
I guarantee you that I am starting on a very small scale. My gantry weighs 600 kg without the spindle.
I will start tomorrow with mesa ct but just a small question:
When I look through the files immediately after the installation i see no bitfile I can relate to 7i97 card. Is that how it is supposed to be? Does the bitfile exist at all as a separate file and is it generated automatically when the config file is written by mesaCT?
My issue isn’t with Linux itself, but with the documentation.
I guarantee you that I am starting on a very small scale. My gantry weighs 600 kg without the spindle.
I will start tomorrow with mesa ct but just a small question:
When I look through the files immediately after the installation i see no bitfile I can relate to 7i97 card. Is that how it is supposed to be? Does the bitfile exist at all as a separate file and is it generated automatically when the config file is written by mesaCT?
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