How can I install/use DAQ (and other) toolboxes that are not compatible with MAC OS on my MAC?

I need to install the DAQ toolbox for a class I am in, but when I try to do this, it cannot be done because the toolbox is not compatible with MAC OS. I have a M1 chip processor and I have begun the process of attempting to install Windows Parallel (but I am also running into issues with that). My friend who already has Paralles said she tried this and it makes Parallels crash every time. Has anyone else run into this issue and found a way to work around it, or do I need to buy a PC?

[Mario Malic]

Not 100% sure, best to contact support on this one.

Issue is that DAQmx driver does not support MAC OS, except DAQmx base driver which supports only specific MAC OS versions https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/drivers/download.ni-daqmx-base.html#326058 and https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/compatibility/17/ni-daqmx-base-and-linux---os-x-compatibility.html

However, even if you do have eligible OS version, you will also need a proper MATLAB version, including the accompanying toolbox.

Another issue is that toolbox (as far as my usage goes) uses DAQmx driver and it is questionable if DAQmx base driver is fit for the toolbox.

Answer 1

[Sanchari]

Hello Olivia,

I understand that you want to install DAQ and other toolboxes that are incompatible with mac in macOS. I assume that you have MATLAB R2023a installed on your Mac and then want to install these toolboxes.

You can go through the following few options as workarounds-

• Use Dual boot for running Windows on MAC hardware: Use Boot Camp, a utility built into macOS. Boot Camp allows you to install and run a separate operating system (such as Windows) on your Mac. You can then install MATLAB and the incompatible toolboxes on the Windows partition created by Boot Camp. You can choose to boot into either macOS or Windows when starting your Mac, depending on your needs.
• Use Virtualization software: such as VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop, or VirtualBox. These applications allow you to run Windows (or other operating systems) within a virtual machine on your Mac, without the need for partitioning your hard drive.

For Parallels Desktop, 16.5 and newer versions are fully compatible with Mac computers with Apple M1 chips. You can download it from the official website as follows:

Parallels > Resources > Parallels Desktop Resources > Knowledge Base > Enter in search: Parallels Desktop support on Mac computers with Apple M series chips (Article 125038).

• Alternative toolboxes from MATLAB Central File Exchange: You can try and check if there are alternative toolboxes or packages available that provide similar functionality to the toolboxes that you need and are compatible with macOS from MATLAB Central File Exchange.

For further queries and clarifications, you can refer to the following articles-

• The following article by NI explains a workaround option for Mac users, https://forums.ni.com/t5/Multifunction-DAQ/End-of-Life-Announcement-for-DAQmx-Base-Driver/m-p/3967360?profile.language=en

To ensure functionality in MacOS system for using DAQmx base, the 15.0 version can be used, and the download link for the same is on ni.com. The DAQmx Base driver is no more compatible with the newly announced 10.15 update to macOS (macOS Catalina). If you need to preserve your current test system (MacOS 10.14 version), you should disable automatic updates for your macOS, and ensure you have backups of your pre-10.15 OS available.

Note: Virtual machines and Apple hardware running Windows or specific versions of Linux (dual-boot or other) will continue to be compatible with the full version of NI-DAQmx.

• For NI setup: please go through the Hardware Support Package System Requirements in the following link, https://www.mathworks.com/hardware-support/system-requirements.html.

Also, do refer the following ML Answers Learnings which might help you as well –

1. https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/439203-will-the-data-acquisition-toolbox-work-on-windows-installed-on-a-mac
2. https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/489580-why-does-data-acquisition-toolbox-support-package-for-national-instruments-ni-daqmx-devices-fail-t?s_tid=answers_rc1-1_p1_Topic
3. https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/68579-ni-usb-6008-matlab-mac-osx?s_tid=srchtitle
4. https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/272926-why-is-there-no-daq-toolbox-for-the-macos-environment?s_tid=srchtitle
5. https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/223452-is-it-possible-to-control-a-ni-usb6009-from-64-bit-matlab-2014b-in-mac-os-x-yosemite?s_tid=answers_rc1-3_p3_Topic

Please contact customer support in case you have other issues or if this is not what you are looking for.

Hope this helps!