Pico Technology has added Linux drivers to its complete range of data acquisition and digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) products. Now, by simply visiting Pico's website and downloading the free Linux software drivers, industrial, scientific, engineering and educational users can access Pico's products from a Linux platform.

Linux is fast becoming the operating system of choice in many PC-based test and measurement, and process control applications. Linux is particularly well suited to remote data logging applications, where a Windows License fee (and the need to use a powerful Windows compatible PC) could easily double the cost of a basic system.

“By providing Linux drivers for our products and, with our PicoLog and EnviroMon data logging software supporting IP, it is possible to develop a system with multiple remote sites employing Linux and have just one Windows interface at the central data collection point,” said Mike Green, managing director of Pico Technology.

The benefits of low-cost PC-based instruments over traditional bench-top solutions include portability, large color displays, fast processors, disk drives and printers — features available on only the high-end (and high-price) traditional instruments. Another advantage is that the PC can utilize common hardware for different software tools — in other words it can be more than one instrument at any one time, and the same instrument several times (just like opening Word more than once on a PC). Also, data can be exported to spreadsheets and can thereafter be 'pasted' directly into reports. In addition, with the growth of email and the power of the Internet, engineers can transmit waveforms, traces, and readings from site to site, via their portable PC, for further analysis. Indeed, many companies are employing PC-based instrumentation to build up libraries of traces showing typical waveforms for calibration and fault-finding purposes.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.