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Virtual instrument software architecture

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The Virtual Instrument Software Architecture

Commonly known as VISA, this is a widely used I/O API in the Test & Measurement industry for communicating with instruments from a PC. VISA is an industry standard implemented by several T&M companies, such as Agilent Technologies and National Instruments.

The VISA standard includes specifications for presentation of T&M-specific I/O protocols such as GPIB and VXI. There are also specifications for implementations of T&M-specific protocols over PC-standard I/O, such as VXI-11 (over TCP/IP ) and USBTMC (over USB. )

The VISA library has standardized implementations over several software reuse mechanisms, including through a C API exposed from Windows DLL, visa32.dll and over the Microsoft COM technology. Implementations from specific vendors are also available for less common programming languages.

History

VISA was originally standardized through the VXI plug&play Alliance, a now-defunct T&M standards body. The current standard VISA 2.2, is maintained by the IVI Foundation.

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