control several instruments from a single workstation

[trozen]

As you may know, Agilent ChemStation allows you to configure several on-line instruments to run simultaneously from a single PC.
I like this feature very much and control three 5973 MSDs from one workstation.
At the same time, with XCalibur software (Thermo, GC-MS DSQ) it is not possible (or, am I wrong?).
Question is: is this a unique feature of Agilent ChemStation? Or maybe Perkin, Waters, Varian or Shimadzu data systems also offer such capability?

[Chris0000]

Hi

Galaxie (Varian) and
Clarity (DataApex)

can do this, too...

and I think most other CDS should also be able to do this, but Im not sure

Best regards
Chris

[trozen]

Chris, thank you
if I understood correctly, Clarity cannot control mass specs, only GCs or LCs.
Varian CDS looks great, but I have mostly Agilents now and will in future have only Thermo..
Thermo also has a CDS called Atlas but it is also for GCs and LCs whereas I need full support of, say, GC-MS DSQs and LC-MS TSQs..

[JGK]

Waters Empower 2 workstations can control up to 4 LC/GCs on a single unit.

However in my experience, using one to control any more than two is counterproductive. Your analysts will be fighting for use at the end of the workday, when all of the sample processing is done and sequences need to be entered and started. Also, backing up data can be an issue as it usually has to be done when no acquisition is occurring (a problem if 4 instrument s are running).

If you're looking at multiple workstations, then you need multiple copies of the CDS. It may be more cost efficient to look at server based CDS and user terminals. This allows ant instrument to be run from any terminal and backup issues are avoided. Addition of new instruments is also easier.

[CE Instruments]

Talk to your Thermo rep. When I left in 2002 I am sure that whilst a PC was needed with the instrument it was possible to remote access data and re-process remotely. The current Thermo kit we represent has the ability for remote access and control on multiple bits of kit some even without a PC at the instrument, I would expect Xcalibur to have progressed in a similar direction