Release Notes
This page documents what is new, changed, and known in each release of Keysight MCP Server for Instrument Control.
Version 0.1
Released May 2026. This first release delivers the core NLP-to-SCPI pipeline and foundational tools for natural-language-driven instrument control.
What Is Included
This release ships the full NLP-to-SCPI pipeline, engineer approval gate, IDF-based command validation, six built-in procedures, operation tracking, reusable command sequences, instrument screenshot capture, file transfer to and from instrument storage, and in-client update management. The MCP server is available as a Windows executable and connects to any MCP-compatible AI client over stdio or HTTP transport.
MCP Tools
Eighteen tools are available in this release:
| Tool | Group | Function |
|---|---|---|
discover_instruments
|
Discovery | Discovers all VISA instruments connected over USB, LAN, and GPIB. |
get_instrument_info
|
IDF and Command Resolution | Returns a summary of the IDF for a specific instrument model. |
search_instrument_capabilities
|
IDF and Command Resolution | Performs a keyword search across the instrument's full command set. |
resolve_commands
|
IDF and Command Resolution | Maps a batch of natural language intents to SCPI commands with confidence scoring, in a single call. |
preview_commands
|
Execution | Generates a plain-language preview of a command sequence for engineer review. |
execute_commands
|
Execution | Sends an approved command sequence to the instrument via VISA. |
get_all_errors
|
Instrument Utilities | Queries the instrument error queue and translates any errors to plain language. |
capture_screenshot
|
Instrument Utilities | Captures the instrument display to a local file. Supports oscilloscopes, signal analyzers, network analyzers, signal generators, and FieldFox handhelds. |
list_files
|
File Operations | Lists files and directories on instrument storage with name, size, and timestamp. |
upload_file
|
File Operations | Uploads a local file to instrument storage using the appropriate transport for the instrument family. |
download_file
|
File Operations | Downloads a file from instrument storage to a local path. |
copy_file
|
File Operations | Copies a file on the instrument without transferring it to the local machine. |
move_file
|
File Operations | Moves or renames a file on the instrument, including across directories. |
list_procedures
|
Procedures | Returns a list of all available procedures with descriptions. |
resolve_procedure
|
Procedures | Matches a multi-step intent to a built-in procedure and expands it into a command array. |
check_updates
|
Update Management | Checks whether a newer version of the MCP server is available and returns release notes. |
download_update
|
Update Management | Downloads and verifies the installer for an available update. Requires engineer approval. |
install_update
|
Update Management | Launches the downloaded installer. Requires engineer approval. Server keeps running during installation. |
Built-in Procedures
Six procedures are built into the server and available without any additional configuration:
| Procedure | Instrument Class | Description |
|---|---|---|
na_s_param_sweep
|
Network Analyzer | Configures and runs a linear S-parameter frequency sweep. |
na_calibration_solt
|
Network Analyzer | Performs a 1-port SOLT calibration with guided user action steps. |
sa_peak_search
|
Signal Analyzer | Sets frequency and span, triggers a sweep, and reads the peak marker. |
sg_cw_output
|
Signal Generator | Sets a CW frequency and power level and enables the RF output. |
ps_set_output
|
Power Supply | Sets output voltage and current limit and enables the output channel. |
dmm_dc_voltage
|
Multimeter | Configures the DMM for DC voltage, triggers a reading, and returns the result. |
Operation Tracking
Every tool call, command sent, instrument response, and result is recorded throughout the session. The full operation history is available for review at any point, supporting traceability and audit requirements without any additional configuration.
All core functions continue to work offline using locally stored IDFs when no connection is present. An internet connection is needed only to check for and install Keysight MCP Server for Instrument Control updates.
Save and Reuse Sequences
You can save an approved SCPI sequence for reuse, to share with your team or run again later.
Supported AI Clients
Keysight MCP Server for Instrument Control works with any AI client that supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Supported VISA Providers
| Provider | Argument | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Keysight IO Libraries Suite (default) | -visa-provider ks
|
Windows |
| National Instruments VISA | -visa-provider ni
|
Windows |
| Rohde & Schwarz VISA | -visa-provider rs
|
Windows |
| Mock (simulation) | -visa-provider mock
|
Windows |
| IVI VISA | -visa-provider set to an empty string |
Windows |
Known Limitations
- The SOLT calibration procedure (
na_calibration_solt) supports 1-port calibration only in this release. 2-port SOLT is not yet available. - Session state is held in memory. Restarting the MCP server clears all session context, including discovered instruments and logged results.
Not in This Release
The following capabilities are planned for future releases and are not available in version 0.1:
- Linux support for the MCP server.
- Customer-managed procedure databases, including the ability to add, update, or remove procedures.
- IVI driver code generation.
System Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| VISA Libraries | Keysight IO Libraries Suite 2026 or later (for Keysight VISA). NI-VISA 2020 or later (for NI VISA). |
| AI Client | Any MCP-compatible AI client. |
For installation and configuration instructions, see Getting Started.