DMC worked closely with the laboratory engineering team to modernize the system while preserving the operator workflow they relied on. Much of the project centered on untangling years of accumulated technical debt and bringing structure, clarity, and predictability to a system that had grown increasingly difficult to evolve. Rather than replacing the host–client model, we focused on strengthening it by improving the way components communicated, streamlining the startup and coordination process, and ensuring the software behaved consistently across a wide range of test configurations.
Architecture Modernization
Our first priority was stabilizing and modernizing the existing architecture. The core host–client pattern remained intact, but we refactored the underlying logic to make coordination between nodes more reliable and easier to follow. This included reorganizing initialization workflows, improving timing alignment, and establishing clearer communication pathways between the host and each client. These changes significantly reduced intermittent issues and made the system’s behavior more predictable for operators.
Configuration Workflow Improvements
Configuration management had historically been a major pain point, requiring operators to restart the entire application after making even small changes. We redesigned this workflow to allow runtime configuration hot swapping, enabling users to adjust channel assignments or sampling parameters without interrupting their session. This not only reduced setup time but also eliminated a common source of frustration among operators. Validation checks were added to ensure that updated configurations were complete and consistent before use.
Multi-Chassis Synchronization and Reliability
With multiple PXI/PXIe chassis working together, synchronization was critical. We enhanced the existing approach by refining the shared timing strategy and restructuring the startup sequence so that each client node progressed through initialization in a predictable, coordinated manner. Improved retry logic and readiness indicators further increased system resilience, enabling smoother recoveries from transient hardware or network issues.
Simplified Operation and User Interface Enhancements
The redesigned UI focused on clarity and usability. We consolidated system information into intuitive views, introduced context-aware prompts, and simplified common workflows. Controls were reorganized to better match operator expectations, reducing the cognitive load required to run large-scale tests. These changes made the system far more approachable for both experienced and new users.
Observability and Logging
To help operators and developers understand what the system was doing, we reworked the logging and observability features. Rather than overwhelming users with low-level hardware diagnostics, the software now highlights actionable information such as configuration readiness, acquisition state, and node-level status. This made troubleshooting simpler and reduced reliance on external tools.
Data and Reporting
The updated platform outputs standardized, metadata-rich data files that unify previously fragmented formats. These files include consistent schemas and embedded context, such as configuration identifiers and version information, supporting long-term archival and streamlined postprocessing. This not only improved portability but also reduced the time engineers spent transforming data for analysis.
Outcome
- Substantially easier operation, with clearer workflows and fewer manual steps
- Preserved legacy behavior, ensuring existing test processes continue to function as expected
- Modern, maintainable architecture ready for ongoing enhancements
- More reliable scaling across many chassis and client nodes
- Consistent data outputs designed for standardized analytics
- Faster development cycles enabled by refactored libraries, coding standards, and improved architecture
Learn more about DMC’s Test and Measurement Automation expertise and contact us for your next project.