A Net-Centric Instrument Driver Approach for Multi-Computer System Architectures

There is a growing interest among system architects to employ multiple computers. Typically, one central computer runs the test executive and user interface, and other computers control the multiple instrument chassis. This architecture produces complexity regarding the location of the instrument driver and associated development and debugging tools. This paper describes the software architecture for a complex digital test instrument that allows the driver and associated tools to be located with the test executive even though the instrument is resident remotely and controlled by another computer.