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LXI Conformance

 

How to Get a Product LXI Certified in Five Steps


Introduction

How LXI Instruments Increase Your Efficiency and Effectiveness.

LAN is everywhere. More and more, so are your test systems. LXI puts the power of Ethernet and the Web inside those systems and, by standardizing and extending LAN (Local Area Network), LXI offers new possibilities in test-system design — local, remote, distributed, and time-aware. How To Get a Product LXI Certified in Five Steps highlights the benefits of LXI technology and best practices for accomplishing the integration of LXI instruments into the system you need today and the migration to the one you need next.

Overview

Getting a product LXI certified for the first time might seem a daunting task.  Common questions are: Where do I start?  Who do I contact? What is the process?  How much will it cost?  Some may ask why certification is necessary.  The goal in the following steps is to provide clarity around LXI technology, processes, migration, and integration – to help you create the system you need today – and quickly move forward to the one you need next.

Why is certification necessary?

Interoperability.  Plain and simple.  The LXI Consortium was formed in part to drive assurance that all LXI devices could work seamlessly together, creating an open standard environment and driving a consistent user experience.  Certification allows the usage of the LXI Logo on your device and in your promotional material.

Note: No vendor may use the LXI logo or the letters "LXI" on an instrument or in any promotional material or press releases regarding the instrument until the instrument passes all certification tests and is approved by the LXI Conformance Committee as being LXI compliant. The LXI Consortium will enforce the laws governing the use of the LXI trademark for the benefit of all its members.

  1. First order of business is to join the LXI Consortium by filling out the membership application form found on the web (http://www.lxistandard.org/Consortium/HowToJoin.aspx ) There are various classes of membership from Informational ($2500) to Strategic ($20,000) so you can choose which one is right for you.  You can contact Bob Helsel, the LXI Consortium Executive Director to get more information.
  2. Once you join, you will have access to the conformance information to get started.  Also, as a member, you have access to an annotated version of the standard including additional background information. In addition, you gain insight into the evolving LXI Standard, can contribute to and collaborate with T&M industry leaders, customers and partners, advance your knowledge of new testing approaches and grow marketing leverage for your new LXI-conformant products.
  3. Download the CoTS (conformance test suite) software which is available on the website in the Conformance Committee folder in the Members area at http://www.lxistandard.org/members. (A consortium member obtains the logon and password to the Members' area from Bob Helsel.) This software is an automated test which covers all the mandatory rules specified in the LXI Standard for Class C, B and A devices. This test program is used for the conformance testing during PlugFests or by the independent test houses (see below).  The Conformance Test Suite software is very useful for those who would like to see how their products are doing with the LXI compliance process.  It should be treated as a pre-test before submitting the product for compliance testing.
  4. Ready to test? There are two basic ways for you to test your device. A good overview of the conformance testing process is provided in the Wheelwright presentations below:
    1. Test at a PlugFest.  Pre-register your product and sign up to attend the next available PlugFest.  Event schedule is on the website under Upcoming Events. There are no additional costs associated with conformance testing for members attending the PlugFest.
    2. Test using an approved, privately arranged testing house.  Currently there are four test vendors: two in the US, one in Europe, and one in China:
      1. Wheelwright Enterprises www.wheelwrightenterprises.com/
        Contact: Lynn Wheelwright
      2. Agilent Technologies, Inc., LXI Class C Test Lab, Mailstop: GHTC
        Herrenberger Strasse 130, 71034 Boeblingen, Germany
        Contact: Marcus Flach
      3. Rigol LXI Class C Compliance Testing

If testing at a PlugFest, the vendor must have a representative familiar with the device present at the screening. If using an LXI Test House, then a product expert needs to be available by phone for questions.  The compiled test results, which are the XML-based output of the CoTS software, are then forwarded to the Chair of the LXI Conformance Committee, Jochen Wolle.

  1. Pass or Fail? Immediately after testing, you will get an official record of the test results and a statement that your device has passed or failed.
    1. If it has Passed
      1. Submit your “Application for LXI Conformance Certification” with your conformance documentation and the CoTS XML file with test results to the Compliance TWG chair, Jochen Wolle. For the conformance documentation use the 2-page template from the website within the members' area at http://www.lxistandard.org/members
      2. The Conformance Committee Chair will then present the application to the Conformance Committee who will approve/deny the application within one month and inform the Board of Directors.
        1. If approved, you will receive the notification to use the LXI trademark and advertise the device as LXI conformant.  Also, your product will be included in the official list of LXI conformant devices on the LXI website.
        2. If denied, you will get an explanation why and detailed steps to resolve any issue(s).  Go back to step four.
    2. If it has Failed, you will receive a statement explaining why and what steps to take to pass.

Note:  Vendors can use LXI legacy to claim compliance of similar products through technical justification.  The process for technical justification is this:

  1. Submit via email to the Compliance TWG chair Jochen Wolle the following documents:
    1. Original submission for LXI Compliant Device
    2. Original test data for LXI Compliant Device
    3. Test results from running the original tests on the new product
    4. Conformance document form for the new product

    LXI Conformance Committee - Technical Justification (pdf)

Certifying a product as LXI assures your product is interoperable and participates in an open standard environment. Being part of the LXI Consortium opens the door to more information on conformance, the standard, and it allows you to participate and collaborate with more than 50 of the top Test and Measurement industry leaders. These five easy steps show you where to start when you want to certify a product, whom to contact, the process, what to expect, and the costs. We welcome your suggestions for improving the process so you may continue to create new possibilities in testing with LXI.