The VXI bus architecture is an open standard platform for automated test based upon VMEbus. VXI stands for VME eXtensions for Instrumentation, defining additional bus lines for timing and triggering as well as mechanical requirements and standard protocols for configuration, message-based communication, multi-chassis extension, and other features. In 2004, the 2eVME extension was added to the VXI bus specification, giving it a maximum data rate of 160 MB/s.
The basic building block of a VXI system is the mainframe or chassis. This contains up to 13 slots into which various modules (instruments) can be added. The mainframe also contains all the power supply requirements for the rack and the instruments it contains. Instruments in the form of VXI Modules then fit the slots in the rack. VXI bus modules are typically 6U in height (see Eurocard) and C-size (unlike VME bus modules which are more commonly B-size). It is therefore possible to configure a system to meet a particular requirement by selecting the required instruments.
The VXIbus grew from the VME bus specification, it was established in 1987 by Hewlett Packard (now Agilent Technologies), Racal Instruments (now EADS North America Test and Services), Colorado Data Systems, Wavetek and Tektronix. VXI is promoted by the VXIbus Consortium, whose sponsor members are currently (in alphabetical order) Agilent Technologies, Bustec, EADS North America Test and Services (formerly Racal Instruments), National Instruments, Teradyne, and VTI Instruments (formerly known as VXI Technology) . ZTEC Instruments is a participating Executive Member. VXI's core market is in Military and Avionics Automatic Test Systems.
The VXIplug&play Alliance specified additional hardware and software interoperability standards, notably the Virtual Instrument Software Architecture or VISA, although the alliance was eventually merged with the IVI Foundation. Application software that supports VXIplug&play instrument drivers for controlling instruments include LabVIEW and MATLAB. There is a VXIbus Consortium of industry leaders, which can be found at http://www.vxibus.org/
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