PXI and VXI modular instrumentation in the new millennium

Instrumentation has evolved in many ways over the past several decades. Standards such as GPIB and VXI made open, multi-vendor test systems possible and personal computer technology stretched overall capabilities and ease-of-use. Test technology for the new millennium now includes CompactPCI with PXI extensions. PXI directly couples PC technology with traditional instrument capabilities found in VXI to result in broader measurement and automation capabilities. Advanced measurement technology combined with the fast processing capabilities of today's PCs result in performance gains of more than 10X when comparing PXI to older architectures. As PXI continues to grow, it is important to understand its relationship to VXI. A solid understanding of both architectures will help test engineers in the new millennium to properly configure systems using PXI, VXI, or both.