VISA Overview

VISA is an application programming interface (API) for instrument control. It allows you to programmatically send commands and receive data from instruments and other test and measurement devices (such as sources and switches).

This version of the IO Libraries Suite supports Windows and Linux. Available utilities, APIs, help files and features vary by operating system. Variations are flagged in help with these icons: for Windows and for Linux.

VISA is a part of the Keysight IO Libraries Suite product. The Keysight IO Libraries Suite includes four VISA-related APIs:

Keysight Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA)
VISA for Microsoft .NET (VISA.NET)
VISA for the Common Object Model (VISA COM)
Keysight Standard Instrument Control Library (SICL)

For information on any API, click the Keysight IO Control in your Windows taskbar, then click Documentation and select a document from the displayed list.

About VISA, VISA COM, and SICL in IO Libraries

Keysight Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) is an I/O library that allows software developed from different vendors to run on the same system.

If you are using new instruments or are developing new I/O applications or instrument drivers, and you have chosen to use direct I/O rather than instrument drivers, we recommend you use Keysight VISA, VISA.NET, or VISA COM.

( Linux note: Of these APIs, VISA and SICL are included in the Linux version of IO Libraries Suite.)

See the Keysight IO Libraries Suite Help for an in-depth discussion of your programming options.

Keysight Standard Instrument Control Library (SICL) is an I/O library developed by Keysight that is portable across many I/O interfaces and systems. You can use Keysight SICL if you have been using SICL and want to remain compatible with software currently implemented in SICL.

VISA Support

Keysight VISA is supported on the following interfaces :

Windows - GPIB, VXI, GPIB-VXI, Serial (RS-232), LAN, PXI, and USB.
Linux - GPIB, Serial (RS-232), LAN, and USB.

LAN support from within VISA occurs via an address translation such that a GPIB interface can be accessed remotely over a computer network.

Keysight VISA provides support for version 5.8 of the VISA specification which is available from www.ivifoundation.org.

VISA Documentation

The following table shows associated documentation you can use when programming with Keysight VISA.

Document

Description

Keysight IO Libraries Suite documentation

See Finding Help and Contacting Support.

VISA Help

(This help file.) Contains a VISA user's guide, a function reference, and other programming information.

VISA Sample Programs

Sample programs are provided to help you develop VISA applications. See Example Programs and Installation Folders for locations.

VISA Specification

Specifications for VISA: www.ivifoundation.org.

PXI Specification

Specifications for PXI: www.pxisa.org.

IEEE Standard Codes, Formats, Protocols, and Common Commands

ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.2-1992: www.standards.ieee.org.

VXI Bus Consortium Specifications (when using VISA over LAN)

TCP/IP Instrument Protocol Specification - VXI-11, Rev. 1.0

TCP/IP-VXIbus Interface Specification - VXI-11.1, Rev. 1.0

TCP/IP-IEEE 488.1 Interface Specification - VXI-11.2, Rev. 1.0

TCP/IP-IEEE 488.2 Instrument Interface Specification - VXI-11.3, Rev. 1.0

These specifications are available from the VXI Bus Consortium at: www.vxi.org

Document	Description
Keysight IO Libraries Suite documentation	See Finding Help and Contacting Support.
VISA Help	(This help file.) Contains a VISA user's guide, a function reference, and other programming information.
VISA Sample Programs	Sample programs are provided to help you develop VISA applications. See Example Programs and Installation Folders for locations.
VISA Specification	Specifications for VISA: www.ivifoundation.org.
PXI Specification	Specifications for PXI: www.pxisa.org.
IEEE Standard Codes, Formats, Protocols, and Common Commands	ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.2-1992: www.standards.ieee.org.
VXI Bus Consortium Specifications (when using VISA over LAN)	TCP/IP Instrument Protocol Specification - VXI-11, Rev. 1.0 TCP/IP-VXIbus Interface Specification - VXI-11.1, Rev. 1.0 TCP/IP-IEEE 488.1 Interface Specification - VXI-11.2, Rev. 1.0 TCP/IP-IEEE 488.2 Instrument Interface Specification - VXI-11.3, Rev. 1.0 These specifications are available from the VXI Bus Consortium at: www.vxi.org