NI TestStand 4.1 Accelerates Parallel Test Performance with Multicore Support

AUSTIN, Texas – May 27, 2008 – National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) today announced NI TestStand 4.1, the latest version of the company’s test management software, which now helps engineers develop faster test systems with multicore processor support. As manufacturers shift to multicore processors to provide performance gains, NI TestStand 4.1 running on these new processors can deliver more powerful systems with increased test throughput. With the new NI Switch Executive 3.0, developers can more quickly develop parallel test systems in NI TestStand by graphically specifying switch signal routes.

“The proven multithreaded architecture of NI TestStand allows our customers to take advantage of multicore processing,” said John Pasquarette, director of software marketing for National Instruments. “Now engineers can achieve improved test system performance by complementing the built-in multicore support in NI TestStand with multithreaded application development environments such as NI LabVIEW and multithreaded drivers.”

NI TestStand 4.1 introduces the new instrument resource profiler. This tool gives engineers a graphical representation of test system execution and statistics on instrument resource use, which simplifies test system analysis and exposes opportunities for test time reduction. By visualizing the execution of test systems, engineers can also optimize instrument use and increase total system throughput. In addition, engineers can reduce parallel system development time with the new NI Switch Executive 3.0 intelligent switch management software. Developing code for switches is one of the most challenging aspects of programming parallel test systems. NI Switch Executive 3.0 facilitates rapid switch code generation with a new graphical interface that provides point-and-click creation of routes and simplified system maintenance through tighter integration with Microsoft Excel.

The new version of NI TestStand also facilitates large system development through a hierarchical view of sequences that illustrates all sequences calls in a system and simplified results collection for easily adding results to reports with just a few clicks rather than manual coding.

Engineers using NI TestStand with NI Switch Executive 3.0, LabVIEW, LabWindows™/CVI and PXI can quickly design parallel test systems capable of testing units under test (UUTs) with the shortest possible test time. NI TestStand also integrates with PXI modular instruments, and NI Requirements Gateway offering a complete software and hardware platform for automated test.

For more information on NI TestStand 4.1, visit www.ni.com/teststand and for more information NI Switch Executive 3.0, visit www.ni.com/switchexecutive.

About NI TestStand
NI TestStand is a ready-to-run test management environment for automating your test and validation system. NI TestStand is used to develop, manage and execute sequences, which integrate test modules written in any test programming language, and specify sequence flow, reporting, database logging and connectivity to other enterprise systems. NI TestStand is designed to maximize test-code reuse through built-in language adapters and simplify maintenance by using a modular and fully customizable test-system framework.

About National Instruments
National Instruments (http://www.ni.com/) is transforming the way engineers and scientists design, prototype and deploy systems for measurement, automation and embedded applications. NI empowers customers with off-the-shelf software such as NI LabVIEW and modular cost-effective hardware, and sells to a broad base of more than 25,000 different companies worldwide, with no one customer representing more than 3 percent of revenue and no one industry representing more than 10 percent of revenue. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more than 4,800 employees and direct operations in nearly 40 countries. For the past nine years, FORTUNE magazine has named NI one of the 100 best companies to work for in America. Readers can obtain investment information from the company’s investor relations department by calling (512) 683-5090, e-mailing nati@ni.com or visiting www.ni.com/nati.

Pricing and Contact Information

NI TestStand 4.1 priced* from US$3,799
NI Switch Executive 3.0 priced* from US$1,199

National Instruments New Zealand
Freecall 1800 300 800 * Email: info.newzealand@ni.com
National Instruments Australia
Freecall 1800 300 800 * Email: info.australia@ni.com

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