Pickering Remote Gateway Software Enables Networked PXI Control
The release allows engineers to control PXI and PXIe hardware over a network, removing the need for local driver stacks.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Software
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Pickering Interfaces has released its Remote Gateway software, which allows engineers to control PXI or PXIe hardware systems over network connections. The software removes the need for client workstations to carry a full driver stack by separating the test execution environment from the physical host.
Why it matters
This development allows engineering teams to optimize test hardware utilization by enabling remote access to centralized instruments. By decoupling the execution environment from the physical test rig, organizations can avoid the costs associated with duplicating hardware setups for individual developers.
The system utilizes the gRPC framework built on HTTP/2 for command routing across network connections. Protocol Buffers support code generation for Python, C#, Go, and Java, providing interoperability across Windows and Linux environments.
The players
Pickering Interfaces
A manufacturer of modular signal switching and simulation products for PXI and PXIe electronic test and measurement systems.
The details
The software architecture functions by establishing a bridge between a host system running the full Pickering driver stack and a remote workstation. By using Protocol Buffers — a language-neutral mechanism for serializing structured data — the system allows commands to travel across networks without requiring the local machine to host the full instrumentation drivers. This client-server split enables developers to execute code remotely while the host machine manages physical PXI or PXIe hardware communication.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: Pickering Interfaces released the Remote Gateway software.
The Tech Race
The introduction of remote gateway software for PXI systems moves the testing industry toward a shared, network-accessible infrastructure. It follows a broader trend of decoupling specialized hardware control from local workstations to mirror modern cloud-native development workflows.
Test engineers can now manage PXI and PXIe instruments remotely from Windows or Linux workstations without the burden of maintaining full driver stacks on every machine. This change is available immediately for teams using Pickering hardware, simplifying the development workflow for distributed testing environments.
The takeaway
This software signals a shift toward remote-first test architecture, potentially lowering the barrier for entry for remote development teams. Watch for future performance benchmarks regarding network latency when executing high-speed signal switching commands over shared office or lab networks.
Further reading
For broader trends in test environment modernization, see our Software coverage.
More information
View full technical details and documentation on the Pickering Interfaces product information site.
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