How to Launch NI TestStand Sequences Remotely via SSH

This article explains how to remotely execute NI TestStand .seq files on a Windows PC using SSH, by leveraging Windows Task Scheduler as a workaround for GUI application limitations.

Windows does not support launching GUI-based applications (like SeqEdit.exe) directly via SSH. Attempting to run .bat files that invoke TestStand sequences fails silently when triggered remotely. Use Windows Task Scheduler to run a batch file that launches the TestStand sequence. Trigger the scheduled task remotely via SSH:

1. Create a Batch File

Create a .bat file that launches your TestStand sequence:

"C:\Program Files\National Instruments\TestStand 2021\Bin\SeqEdit.exe" "C:\Path\To\YourSequence.seq"

2. Set Up a Scheduled Task

• Open Task Scheduler on the target Windows PC.
• Create a new task:
  • Action: Run the batch file.
  • Trigger: Manual (no schedule needed).
  • Run with highest privileges.
  • Configure for: Windows 10 or later.

3. Trigger the Task via SSH 

From the remote machine (e.g., Linux Bench PC), use:

schtasks /run /tn "YourTaskName"

Limitations:

• No execution feedback: schtasks does not confirm if the sequence completed.
• Monitoring workaround:
  • Use tasklist to check if SeqEdit.exe is running.
  • Optionally, integrate Python scripts to monitor and report execution status.

Additional Notes:

• • Ensure the .bat file has appropriate permissions.
  • GUI applications require interactive sessions; SSH does not provide this.