Introduction to Streaming
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Streaming is the process of transferring data to or from an instrument at a rate high enough to sustain continuous acquisition or generation. This process is also often referred to as data recording and playback. Streaming enables higher sustained acquisition and generation rates, reduces test times by eliminating delays associated with downloading or uploading waveforms to or from instruments, and makes new applications possible.
Many instrumentation systems provide limited streaming capabilities because stand-alone instruments interface to controlling PCs through buses such as GPIB and LAN. These buses lack the bandwidth to sustain high transfer rates. Consequently, the instruments cannot continuously acquire or generate at high rates while streaming data to or from the controlling PC, and the amount of onboard memory available in an instrument dictates the maximum acquisition or generation duration.
The PXI platform, because it is based on the high-bandwidth PCI and PCI Express buses, enables instruments to continuously stream data to or from sources on the controller or controlling PC, such as memory or RAID hard drives arrays. With up to 6 GB/s of system bandwidth and up to 2 GB/s of dedicated bidirectional bandwidth per slot, PXI provides the highest data streaming rates of all standard instrumentation platforms. For more information on streaming please refer to the documents linked below.
White Papers
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Streaming Data to and from Disk Learn the basics about streaming to and from disk. Learn More >> |
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Data Streaming Architectures in PXI Systems |
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Selecting Hard Drives for Test, Measurement, and Control Systems Learn how to select hard drives for Test, Measurement and Control systems. Learn More >> |
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High-Speed Data Streaming: Programming and Benchmarks Learn about programming high-speed data streaming applications. Learn More >> |
Miscellaneous Streaming Resources
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LabVIEW Streaming API This API, used in the above designs, allows for much higher data throughput to disk. It calls directly into the Windows API for maximal read and write performance. Learn More >> |
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RF Recording and Playback Learn about real time spectral streaming of RF signals to and from disk. Learn More >> |
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IF / Baseband Streaming Obtain information on intermediate frequency or baseband time domain signal streaming to and from disk. Learn More >> |
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Noise Mapping Learn about high channel count sensor arrays used to spatially locate sources of noise and vibration. This application is also known as acoustic imaging. Learn More >> |
Conclusion
This page is one of many resources available on the Streaming Gateway.
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