Control Rigol DS1000Z series oscilloscopes over LAN using natural language.
rigol-mcp
MCP server for controlling a Rigol DS1000Z series oscilloscope over LAN. Exposes the scope as a set of tools that Claude (or any MCP client) can call to take measurements, configure the instrument, and capture screenshots — entirely through natural language.
Supported Hardware
Rigol DS1000Z / MSO1000Z series:
| Model | Channels | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DS1054Z | 4 analog | Most common, 50 MHz |
| DS1074Z | 4 analog | 70 MHz |
| DS1074Z-S | 4 analog + signal gen | |
| DS1104Z | 4 analog | 100 MHz |
| DS1104Z-S | 4 analog + signal gen | |
| MSO1054Z | 4 analog + 16 digital | MSO variant |
| MSO1074Z | 4 analog + 16 digital | |
| MSO1104Z | 4 analog + 16 digital |
The scope must be connected to your local network via Ethernet (rear panel RJ45). Wi-Fi is not supported by this hardware. USB-VISA is not currently supported — LAN only.
Requirements
- Python 3.11+
- uv (recommended) or pip
- Rigol DS1000Z on the same LAN as your computer
- SCPI over TCP/IP enabled on the scope (it is by default)
Installation
git clone https://github.com/erebusnz/rigol-mcp
cd rigol-mcp
uv sync
Scope Network Setup
On the scope, go to Utility → IO Setting → LAN and note the IP address (or assign a static one). The scope listens on port 5555 for raw SCPI commands — no additional configuration is needed.
Replace 192.168.1.123 with the IP address of your scope in all instructions below.
Verify in Browser: http://192.168.1.123/DS1000Z_WelcomePage.html
Verify connectivity before using as MCP:
python -c "import pyvisa; rm = pyvisa.ResourceManager(); s = rm.open_resource('TCPIP0::192.168.1.123::5555::SOCKET'); s.write_termination='\n'; s.read_termination='\n'; print(s.query('*IDN?'))"
You should see something like:
RIGOL TECHNOLOGIES,DS1054Z,DS1ZA123456789,00.04.04.SP4
Configuration
Set the scope IP for MCP via environment variable:
export RIGOL_IP=192.168.1.123
Or create a .env file (copy from .env.example):
RIGOL_IP=192.168.1.123
Optional:
| Variable | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
RIGOL_IP |
(required) | Scope IP address |
RIGOL_SCREENSHOT_DIR |
screenshots/ |
Directory for saved PNG screenshots |
Claude Desktop / Claude Code Setup
Add to your .mcp.json (or Claude Desktop MCP config):
{
"mcpServers": {
"rigol": {
"command": "uv",
"args": ["run", "rigol-mcp"],
"cwd": "/path/to/rigol-mcp",
"env": {
"RIGOL_IP": "192.168.1.123"
}
}
}
}
Tools
Identification & State
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
idn |
Identify the instrument — make, model, serial, firmware |
get_scope_state |
Snapshot of all channel configs, timebase, and trigger settings |
Acquisition Control
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
run |
Start continuous acquisition |
stop |
Stop and freeze display |
single |
Arm for one trigger event, then stop |
autoscale |
Auto-configure timebase, vertical scale, and trigger |
Configuration
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
set_channel |
Set scale (V/div), offset, coupling (AC/DC/GND), probe ratio, on/off |
set_timebase |
Set time/div and trigger offset |
set_trigger |
Configure edge trigger: source, slope (POS/NEG/RFAL), level |
Measurement
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
measure |
Query any single-channel measurement: VMAX, VMIN, VPP, VRMS, FREQUENCY, PERIOD, PWIDTH, NWIDTH, PDUTY, NDUTY, RTIME, FTIME, OVERSHOOT, PRESHOOT, and more |
measure_between |
Query delay or phase between two channels: RDELAY, FDELAY (seconds), RPHASE, FPHASE (degrees) |
get_waveform |
Download and analyse waveform data (~1200 points); returns text analysis by default, raw time/voltage arrays with raw_data=true |
Cursors
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
set_cursors |
Set cursor mode (MANUAL/TRACK/OFF) and time positions in seconds |
get_cursor_values |
Read cursor positions (in seconds) and all delta/amplitude readouts |
Utility
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
screenshot |
Capture display as PNG — returns image inline and saves to disk |
send_raw |
Send any SCPI command directly (escape hatch) |
check_error |
Query the SCPI error queue |
Example Prompts
Basic measurement session:
"Connect to the scope, check what's configured, then measure the frequency and Vpp on channel 1."
Signal characterisation:
"Stop the scope, download the waveform from channel 2, and tell me the rise time, overshoot percentage, and estimated fundamental frequency."
Setup from scratch:
"Set channel 1 to 2V/div DC coupling with a 10x probe, set the timebase to 1ms/div, trigger on channel 1 rising edge at 1V, then run and take a screenshot."
Cursor measurement:
"Put manual cursors on the first rising edge of the signal on channel 1 — cursor A at the 10% level and cursor B at the
Tools (17)
idnIdentify the instrument — make, model, serial, firmwareget_scope_stateSnapshot of all channel configs, timebase, and trigger settingsrunStart continuous acquisitionstopStop and freeze displaysingleArm for one trigger event, then stopautoscaleAuto-configure timebase, vertical scale, and triggerset_channelSet scale (V/div), offset, coupling (AC/DC/GND), probe ratio, on/offset_timebaseSet time/div and trigger offsetset_triggerConfigure edge trigger: source, slope (POS/NEG/RFAL), levelmeasureQuery any single-channel measurementmeasure_betweenQuery delay or phase between two channelsget_waveformDownload and analyse waveform dataset_cursorsSet cursor mode (MANUAL/TRACK/OFF) and time positions in secondsget_cursor_valuesRead cursor positions (in seconds) and all delta/amplitude readoutsscreenshotCapture display as PNG — returns image inline and saves to disksend_rawSend any SCPI command directly (escape hatch)check_errorQuery the SCPI error queueEnvironment Variables
RIGOL_IPrequiredScope IP addressRIGOL_SCREENSHOT_DIRDirectory for saved PNG screenshotsConfiguration
{"mcpServers": {"rigol": {"command": "uv", "args": ["run", "rigol-mcp"], "cwd": "/path/to/rigol-mcp", "env": {"RIGOL_IP": "192.168.1.123"}}}}