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  5. What Is NI SystemLink™ Software?

What Is NI SystemLink?

SystemLink™ software is a trusted, centralized platform for engineering and test teams of all sizes to plan, manage, and optimize tests. It simplifies software deployment and systems management and boosts performance by using data to find correlations and remove inefficiencies.

See pricing and editions
Request a demo

Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

The registered trademark Linux® is used pursuant to a sublicense from LMI, the exclusive licensee of Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark on a worldwide basis.

Intel, Intel Core, and Pentium are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.

What can I do with SystemLink?

SystemLink provides centralized visibility into system health, utilization, and operational status across distributed test environments.

Fragmented visibility across test systems makes bottlenecks and failures difficult to detect. Centralized monitoring enables earlier issue identification, better capacity planning, and consistent awareness across labs and sites.

SystemLink standardizes software deployment and configuration to maintain version consistency across distributed test systems.

Manual deployments introduce version drift and configuration errors. Automated rollout workflows improve traceability, reduce rework, and support change control processes in regulated or high-reliability environments.

Centralized SystemLink dashboard displaying real-time system health, temperature trends, memory usage, and active test status to support fleet-level operational visibility.
SystemLink software management interface showing centralized version control and software deployment across connected test systems.

SystemLink consolidates test data to accelerate analysis and maintain traceability across systems and programs.

Disconnected data slows failure analysis and obscures trends. Centralized results enable faster correlation, root-cause identification, and lifecycle traceability.

SystemLink dashboard showing failure Pareto analysis, test result filtering, and cumulative trend tracking across test systems.

SystemLink reduces manual effort by automating repetitive operational and data workflows.

Manual data handling, reporting, and system maintenance consume engineering time and introduce variability. Automated workflows improve consistency, reduce cycle time for analysis and reporting, and allow teams to scale operations without proportional increases in manual effort.

SystemLink dashboard displaying automated monitoring of temperature trends, machine metrics, memory usage, and tester status to support workflow automation across connected systems.

SystemLink enforces controlled access and standardized practices across teams and environments.

Uncontrolled access and inconsistent practices increase operational risk and reduce accountability. Governance mechanisms support consistent processes, controlled access to systems and data, and improved confidence in shared environments.

SystemLink access control interface displaying role-based permissions and user management to support governance, controlled access, and secure multiuser operation.

Example Diagram of a SystemLink Deployment

The following diagram shows how SystemLink connects distributed test systems to a centralized server for software management, asset tracking, and test data aggregation. Teams use the web interface to monitor systems, deploy updates, and analyze results across labs. Integrations with NI TestStand, NI LabVIEW, or NI FlexLogger can extend data workflows.

SystemLink architecture diagram showing NI and third-party test systems connected as nodes to a centralized SystemLink server (on-premises or cloud), enabling web-based management of test systems, software deployment, live data monitoring, test planning, and automated analysis and reporting across distributed test systems.

SystemLink Features and Benefits

Explore the platform capabilities that standardize, scale, and secure test operations.

Asset Utilization and Calibration

SystemLink provides centralized visibility into test system utilization, asset health, and calibration status across distributed test environments. Aggregated operational data supports capacity planning, compliance tracking, and proactive maintenance.


  • Tester utilization metrics across systems and sites
  • Asset telemetry linked to operational health
  • Calibration tracking with due dates and history
  • Identification of constrained or idle resources
  • Search and filtering across asset attributes

Central Software Control

SystemLink enables controlled distribution and configuration of software across connected test systems to maintain version consistency and reduce configuration drift.


  • Centralized package feeds and version visibility
  • Remote deployment and rollback workflows
  • System replication with saved software states
  • Software state comparison across systems
  • Standardized commissioning

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SystemLink Case Studies and Customer Stories

How SystemLink Integrates with LabVIEW, TestStand, DIAdem, Instrument Studio, and FlexLogger

SystemLink connects NI software LabVIEW, TestStand, DIAdem, FlexLogger, and InstrumentStudio to centralize system management, automate deployment, and unify test data workflows across distributed environments.

SystemLink integration diagram depicting how SystemLink connects with LabVIEW, TestStand, DIAdem, FlexLogger, and InstrumentStudio to manage test systems, deploy software, centralize measurement data, automate analysis, and optimize distributed lab operations across NI hardware and third-party devices.

The Future of SystemLink

The SystemLink roadmap is focused on ensuring it remains a trusted, centralized platform that empowers engineering and test teams of all sizes to plan, manage, and optimize test operations.
Learn more

Why Customers Choose SystemLink

Customer Priority

NI SystemLink

DIY/In-House Build

Vendor Platforms

Functionality Coverage

Deployment, monitoring, analytics, governance in one platform

Built per use case

Focused on single domain

Tool Integration

Native with NI tools and extensible multivendor hardware

Custom integration required

Optimized for vendor stack

Scalability

Designed to grow with your lab

Requires redesign to scale

Scales within vendor ecosystem

Time to Deploy

Self-guided setup in days

Months to build

Faster than DIY, service-led

Security Model

Built-in RBAC, encryption, managed updates

Internal CVE tracking and patching required

Vendor-defined controls

Maintenance Burden

Updates and compatibility included

Continuous internal support required

Vendor roadmap dependent

Cost Profile

Predictable subscription

Long-term maintenance often underestimated

License + customization fees

Flexibility

Open APIs, mixed-vendor support

Fully custom, resource-intensive

Constrained to vendor tool chain

Supported Hardware for SystemLink

SystemLink supports NI PXI systems, CompactRIO controllers, NI data acquisition devices, Windows-based test systems, NI Linux Real-Time targets, and third-party instruments through the NI-VISA instrument driver, enabling centralized management across mixed-vendor test environments.

NI PXI modular instrumentation system centrally managed through SystemLink for deployment and monitoring.

NI PXI and Modular Instrumentation Systems

SystemLink manages NI PXI chassis and modular instruments used in validation and production test environments. It enables centralized software deployment, health monitoring, asset tracking, and utilization visibility across distributed Windows and NI Linux Real-Time PXI systems.​

Learn more about NI PXI Systems
CompactRIO real-time controller connected to SystemLink for centralized configuration and monitoring.

CompactRIO and NI Linux Real-Time Controllers

NI CompactRIO and other NI Linux Real-Time controllers are supported as SystemLink nodes for deterministic control and edge processing applications. SystemLink enables centralized configuration, deployment, system monitoring, and lifecycle management of real-time test assets.​

Learn more about NI CompactRIO Systems
Multivendor PXI, LXI, and GPIB instruments connected through NI-VISA and managed in SystemLink.

Third-Party Instruments

SystemLink supports third-party instruments connected through NI-VISA, including LXI, USB-TMC, and GPIB devices running on Windows-based systems. This capability enables centralized management in mixed-vendor test environments without requiring hardware replacement.

Learn more about NI-VISA

SystemLink Resources

See all SystemLink resources
Product Documentation

SystemLink User Manual

Complete reference for installation, configuration, system management, and administration workflows.

Training

Getting Started Tutorial

Step-by-step guide to install SystemLink, activate a license or trial, and connect test systems.

Training

SystemLink Training Courses

Instructor-led and on-demand courses covering deployment, integration, and operational workflows.

Community

SystemLink FAQ and Forums

Answers to common questions and peer discussions on configuration, licensing, and best practices.

NI-recognized partners with deep SystemLink implementation experience

Get Help from an NI Partner

The NI Partner Program connects you with certified experts who can sell, deploy, and support SystemLink solutions. For larger-scale SystemLink implementations, NI works closely with experienced partners such as DMC, IRS, and MeasX, who specialize in complex deployments, multisite rollouts, and advanced customization to help expand and scale your SystemLink application.
Find a partner

System Requirements

Your systems must meet the following requirements to use SystemLink.
For more details on sizing guidance, refer to the official SystemLink requirements documentation.

Server Requirements

  • OS: Windows Server 2016–2022, Windows 10–11
  • Deployment options: physical machine or supported virtual machine (Microsoft Azure® or AWS)
  • Browser: Latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari
  • Disk space: 16+ GB minimum
  • Processor and RAM requirements: Varies based on number of nodes and workload

Client Requirements (Windows)

  • OS: Windows 10–11 (64-bit)
  • Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 or better
  • RAM: 2 GB minimum
  • Disk: 1 GB minimum

Client Requirements (NI Linux Real-Time)

  • OS: NI Linux Real-Time 2019 and later
  • Processor: Intel or ARM
  • RAM: 512 MB minimum
  • Disk: 512 MB

Are you ready to get started with SystemLink?

Connect test systems, monitor assets, and explore lab insights with full functionality.
Start free trialCompare editions and pricing
Raytheon Improves Manufacturing Quality
Raytheon modernized test and manufacturing workflows with SystemLink to increase quality, reliability, and operational visibility across distributed production environments, enabling scalable system coordination and faster issue detection.
Read the Raytheon story
Raytheon uses SystemLink in mission-critical products.
Jaguar Land Rover Accelerates Data Analysis
Jaguar Land Rover centralized large-scale test data workflows with SystemLink to analyze up to 95 percent of collected data—enabling faster engineering decisions, reduced retesting, and lower validation costs.
Explore Jaguar Land Rover results
Jaguar Land Rover uses SystemLink to analyze up to 95 percent of collected data.
HENSOLDT Increases First-Pass Yield
HENSOLDT connected distributed radar test systems with SystemLink to improve automation and data coordination, increasing first-pass yield and supporting digital transformation across complex validation workflows.
See the HENSOLDT transformation
Radar test systems integrated with SystemLink monitoring
Sub-Zero Scales Test Deployment Efficiency
Sub-Zero, a global manufacturer, automated deployment across production test systems using SystemLink, reducing update cycles from hours to minutes and improving operational consistency across distributed assets.
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Toyota Improves Test Data Reuse
Toyota streamlined data organization and analysis workflows with SystemLink to reduce manual processing and improve reuse of historical test results, accelerating validation and decision cycles.
Read the Toyota story
SystemLink allows you to index measurement data across the network to quickly search and access data from multiple clients at once.

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NI data acquisition device integrated with SystemLink for centralized monitoring and updates.

NI Data Acquisition (DAQ) Devices

NI DAQ hardware used in laboratory and production test systems can be monitored and managed through SystemLink. This functionality enables centralized software updates, system visibility, and operational insight across DAQ-based stations.

Explore NI data acquisition
Windows-based test station connected to SystemLink for centralized deployment and monitoring.

Windows-Based Test Systems

SystemLink connects Windows-based test systems running LabVIEW, TestStand, FlexLogger, or custom applications. These systems can be centrally managed for deployment, monitoring, access control, and data workflows across distributed test environments.​

See compatibility details