.

Create and Modify Test Systems Quickly and Effi ciently with LXI

LAN connection

LAN configurationLAN discovery

Synchronization and triggering

Hardware triggering

Module-to-module communications

SecurityDocumentation

Trademark and licensingCompliance

Web interface

LXI Programming (Drivers)

Physical Physical consistency

Instrumentpages

LXIcompliance

Synchronization

IVI drivers

Ethernet

Defi ning LXI

Relying on stability

The LXI Standard: A few key facts

The benefi ts: How LXI enables better systems

Three classes

LAN eXtensions for

Instrumentation (LXI) is the power

of Ethernet and the Web applied to

test and measurement. Built on proven,

widely used standards, this versatile

architecture enables fast, effi cient and

cost-effective creation and reconfi guration

of test systems. By standardizing and

extending LAN, LXI offers new possibilities

in test systems — local, remote,

distributed and time-aware.

LXI is built on the proven LAN standard, which has a long and stable history. Even as the computer industry

continues to improve LAN, it has maintained backwards compatibility with previous versions of the standard.

This open architecture helps you get your system up and running sooner—and in less space.

With LXI, it is easier for you to integrate a reliable, fast test system today and revise it in the future.

The LXI standard defi nes three classes that provide

different levels of functionality.

Reduce test-system set-up timeAutomatic instrument discovery and addressing•

No cardcage or slot 0 controller to integrate •

Standard instrument drivers•

Instrument Web pages for easy setup and confi guratio• n

Reduce overall system cost

Reuse your ex• isting equipment

Build a system for• less:

Class C: Required for all LXI-compatible devices

Ethernet standardsInterface/connectors• Protocols• Instrument Discovery•

Instrument driver (IVI)

Instrument Web page

Physical

Size/shielding•

Power/cooling• Indicators/reset button•

Class B: Adds to class C

LAN messaging (peer-to-peer, multicast)

IEEE-1588 time synchronization

Time stamp data

Class A: Adds to classes B and C

Hardware trigger bus

Build versatile systems that accommodate future needs Keep pace with evolving measurement standards by simplifying the task of integrating

new instruments and new capabilities.

Go wireless or connect via fi ber in diffi cult environments•

Reuse hardware and soften the impact of software changes in future systems •

Download new capabilities or personalities into intelligent instruments •

Improve system throughput

Use Gigabit LAN to enable more than 100 times the throughput of GPIB •

Reduce programmatic wait states using peer-to-peer communication between LXI modules (class B• )

Leverage hardware and software from R&D to manufacturing

Reduce software costs by using a common set of test-system software across your organization—•

R&D, design validation, manufacturing and service

Gain geographic fl exibility

Place test systems virtually anywhere on your network •

Centralize troubleshooting and measurement monitoring•

Tap the expertise of test-system specialists in your company—worldwide•

Major components of the LXI standard.

Typical overhead costs to build a system with seven instruments.*No interface card required; use eight-port LAN router

1 9 7 0

72 85

GPIB VXI

97

PXI PXIe ?

04

PCIe1.1

07

PCIe2.0

94

MCA

cPCIVME

91

PCI

89

EISA

Windows

84

ISA

81

IBM PC

77

TRS80

69

ARPAnet3 Mb/s

85

IEE802.3Standard

95

Ethernet100 Mb/s

04

10 GbitEthernet

GbitEthernet

Ethernet10 Mb/s

82

Rapid I/OPCI-X

WorldwideWeb

1 9 8 0 1 9 9 0 2 0 0 0

LAN

Hardware VXI (13-slot) PXI (14-slot) GPIB LXI

Interface card $50 (FireWire) Incl. $500 $70*

Cabling $0 Incl. $1,000 $50

Card cage $4,400 $3,500 $0 $0

Slot 0 $2,534 $995 $0 $0

TOTAL $6,984 $4,495 $1,500 $120

LXILXI

LXI

LXI

LXI

PC

www.agilent.com/fi nd/open

Agilent LXI solutions

LXI advanced capabilitiesThe LAN connectivity requirement of LXI enables

advanced capabilities:

Smart, interactive Web pages: Monitor and

control your instrument from the instrument web page.

Easy set up and Compatibility Modes:

Setup is simplifi ed with utilities that fi nd, confi gure and verify connectivity of LAN and GPIB instruments.

Agilent LXI instruments include compatibility modes to simplify the move from GPIB to LXI and from older models.

Smart instruments: built-in intelligence LXI-compliant instruments have built-in processors that enable a variety of

advanced or “smart” capabilities that can enhance overall system performance:

Pre-download measurement or stimulus sequences•

Communicate directly between instruments•

Move alarm conditions into the instrument for faster program fl ow•

Enable faster test execution with LAN and IEEE-1588 triggers•

Agilent is the leader in LXI instruments and in guiding industry test-and-measurement

Standards. All instruments listed are class C compliant except where indicated.

Agilent LXI-compliant product families

1. Function/Arbitrary Waveform Generators: 33210A, 33220A, 81150A

2. Digital Multimeters: 34410A/11A, L4411A

3. Switch/Measure and Control:34980A, L4400 Series, L4490A, L4491A,

11713B/C, J7211ABC

4. DC System Power Supplies/Analyzers: N5741A through N5752A, N5761A through N5772A,

N6700B, N6701A/02A, N6705A

5. P-Series Modular Power Meter:N1911A/12A, N8262A

6. MXG Signal Generators: N5181A/2A

7. MXA, EXA, SSA Signal

(source) Analyzer: N9020A, N9010A, E5052B

8. Network Analyzers: E5061A/62A/71C

9. Precision LCR Meter: E4980A

10. Digital Signal Analyzer: DSA80000B

11. Oscilloscopes: 90000A Series, 8000 Series, 80000B Series, 7000 Series,

6000L Series, 6000 Series, 5000 Series

12. Trigger Box –LXI class B: E5818A

13. Synthetic Instruments –

LXI class A: N8201A/11A/12A/21A/41A/42A

For updates to this list, go to:

www.agilent.com/fi nd/LXI

LXI provides triggers beyond those available

in GPIB, VXI, or PXI.

For faster test execution, peer-to-peer and multi-cast trigger capabilities allow

instrument-to-instrument communication.

The combination of time synchronization and time stamping aligns events across

instruments during operation; it also helps simplify debugging and code tuning

during system development.

A hardware trigger bus provides precise synchronization and triggering

of co-located instruments.

LXI advanced triggering

LAN trigger (class B)

IEEE-1588 time-based triggers (class B)

Hardware trigger bus (class A)

C

bus

Class C

Class B

Class A

LXILXI

LXI

LXI

LXI

PC

BoundaryClock

LXI

LXI

LXI

LXI

The LXI Consortium

Resources

Agilent is a co-founder of the LXI Consortium, a not-for-profi t corporation that includes more than

50 leading companies in test and measurement. Rev 1.0 of the LXI specifi cation was fi nished in

Sep. 2005. Work has been proceeding on enhancements and Rev 1.2 was approved in Oct. 2007.

More than 500 products in more than 75 families (late 2005 to mid 2008)

For more information on the LXI Consortium, please visit: www.lxistandard.org

For more information, you can download our extensive library of application notes, the Test System

Developers Guide, code samples and other resources at: www.agilent.com/fi nd/LXI

To learn more about the LXI standard, go to: www.lxistandard.org

1

2

3

4

5

8

11

13

6

7

9

12

How they compare

How they work togetherMigrating to LXI—Your hardware and software

GPIB VXI PXI LXI

Cost See cost comparison table at left

Flexibility 14• instruments max

Device intelligence•

Limited distance•

13-slot cardcage•

Limited device • intelligence

17-slot cardcage•

No device • intelligence

Unlimited number • of instruments, device intelligence

Long distances, • new triggering

Longevity All major vendors•

>30 years•

Few suppliers•

VME derived•

Limited suppliers•

C-PCI derived•

All major vendors•

Stable computer • standards

Size Larger, instruments • with front panel

Large modules, • requires cardcage

Small modules, • requires cardcage

Flexible sizes, front • panels or faceless

Making the transition to an LXI-based system is as simple as moving your existing test equipment to your

LAN, which becomes the backbone of your system. Agilent provides tools, gateways and converters

that make it easy to use your existing test assets alongside next-generation instruments within a single

system. Our converters and gateways also make it easy to connect existing equipment to the LAN without

requiring changes to your test software. Minimal programming changes are necessary when you move

Agilent instruments from GPIB to LAN, due to built-in compatibility modes. Over time—and as even more

devices become available—you can make a complete transition to LXI instruments.

GPIB instruments

GPIB/LANconverter

LAN Slot 0 EmbeddedPC

Router

PC

PXIVXI

GP

IB

Synthetic

Modular

Classic

Cardcageinstruments LXI instruments

2 1 1 13 4

Connect your LXI equipment to the LAN then connect your existing equipment to LAN

LXI: Connects directly to the LAN

GPIB: Use the Agilent E5810A GPIB/LAN gateway

VXI: Replace your VXI slot 0 card with a LAN slot 0 card

PXI: Use the LAN port on an embedded PC

Integrate your existing test equipment with LXI

DisadvantagesLegend: AdvantagesNeutral

1

2

3

4

LXI, GPIB, VXI and PXI:

Technical data subject to change. Printed in U.S.A. July 28, 2008.

© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2008 5989-5114EN