The VISA hardware abstraction layer provides an interface-independent communication channel to T&M instruments.
When the IVI Foundation took over the Alliance in 2002, it defined a new generation of instrument drivers to replace the VXIplug&play standard.
The drivers reduce the difficulty of string formatting when using SCPI commands by providing a well-defined API.
The IVI and VXIplug&play Instrument Drivers use the VISA as the hardware abstraction layer so that hardware-independent applications can be developed.
The following interfaces are available: The LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation (LXI) standard defines the communications protocols for controlling test and measurement systems using Ethernet.