Enhancing today´s test system functionality through emerging technology

The VXI-bus is the platform of choice for many military and commercial test systems primarily because it offers the user a solution that is open-platform based, computer and operating system independent, and highly modular. The densities and performance offered are unmatched by any other platform, and multiple vendor support has ensured long life-cycle management. The emergence of the LAN Extension for Instrumentation (LXI) Standard, leveraging all the advantages of Ethernet while adding several critical components necessary for true test and measurement compatibility, has offered a glimpse into the future of test system interfaces. However, what options are available to the user to ensure existing system sustainability, and can the LXI Standard truly solve all test applications currently addressed by other open-architecture platforms?