Controlling instruments remotely has become a part of nearly every engineer’s and researcher’s life, whether by working remotely or combining instruments into large test systems. The Keithley 4200A-SCS Parameter Analyser supports a few different methods of remote control optimized for each scenario. This blog introduces remote control using Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Connection and the Keithley External Control Interface (KXCI). What is Remote Desktop Connection?
What is Remote Desktop Connection?
Remote Desktop Connection is a program included in Microsoft’s Windows 10 Operating System. It allows you to control a Windows 10 PC from a remote Windows PC. Because the 4200A-SCS runs Windows 10 natively, you can use this tool to control your 4200A-SCS too! Remote Desktop allows you to take full advantage of the Clarius software’s test and project library, intuitive test configuration and data analysis tools. There is no downtime to develop code and debug code, and previously configured projects and saved data can be quickly accessed. You can also use other Clarius+ Suite tools like the KULT Extension to develop user libraries. Remote Desktop facilitates a seamless transition between working in the lab and working from home.
How do I use Remote Desktop Connection with my 4200A-SCS?
Controlling your 4200A-SCS with Remote Desktop Connection is just as easy as controlling any Windows 10 PC. Both computers must be connected via LAN or the internet. For full instructions on connecting, see Microsoft’s support article here.
Once connected, you can use Clarius to control the 4200A-SCS’s instruments as shown in Figure 1. New runs of a project are stored in Clarius and can be exported from Clarius to either a shared network location or to the 4200A-SCS system, where they can be copied through the Remote Desktop connection. Remote Desktop is a great option if you want to get up and running fast without developing code.