GC/MS and LC/MS MassHunter Workstation and Networked Workstation

Significance of the Topic

The Agilent MassHunter Workstation and Networked Workstation platforms are critical for reliable data acquisition, archival, and analysis in modern GC/MS and LC/MS laboratories. By clearly defining hardware, software, and network requirements, laboratories can ensure uninterrupted instrument control, high-fidelity data capture, and compliance with QA/QC standards.

Objectives and Study Overview

This guide establishes minimum and recommended configurations for standalone and networked installations of MassHunter Acquisition, Qualitative, and Quantitative Analysis software. It covers supported Windows versions, .NET frameworks, browser compatibility, PC specifications, storage planning, network design, and step-by-step configuration of Windows 11 Professional.

Applied Instrumentation

The requirements support a broad range of Agilent GC/MS and LC/MS systems:

• GC/MS series: single‐quadrupole (GC/SQ), triple‐quadrupole (GC/TQ), and quadrupole time-of-flight (GC/Q-TOF, including 7250 Q-TOF).
• LC/MS series: tandem quadrupole (LC/TQ), TOF (LC/TOF), and quadrupole TOF (LC/Q-TOF 6546).
• Instrumentation network interfaces: 1 GbE for most systems; 10 GbE required for high-throughput Q-TOF modules.
• Workstations: HP Z-series with Intel Xeon CPUs, ECC RAM, NVMe SSD boot and RAID-protected data volumes.

Methodology and System Configuration

Requirements were determined through exhaustive compatibility testing on Windows 11 Pro. Key steps include:

1. Enable .NET 3.5.1 and .NET 4.7.2+.
2. Configure Windows 11 localization and create local administrator accounts.
3. Rename and statically assign IPs to instrument and in-house network adapters.
4. Disable power-saving on Ethernet ports and enable Telnet/TFTP clients for firmware support.
5. Adjust Windows Firewall and Defender exclusions for specified ports, folders, and processes.
6. Synchronize system clocks and integrate with Active Directory or OpenLab Server/ECM XT for networked deployments.

Main Results and Discussion

Recommended workstation configurations vary by instrument class: dual NICs for instrument isolation, 32–64 GB RAM, NVMe boot plus multi-TB RAID storage, and minimum Intel Xeon W-class CPUs. Network requirements include isolated VLANs, Gigabit or 10 GbE connectivity, DNS name resolution, and explicit port openings for services such as data transfer (port 30101), licensing, reverse proxy, and OpenLab components.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Adherence to these guidelines streamlines instrument installation, prevents data loss during acquisition, and simplifies support. Laboratories gain consistent performance across standalone and client-server configurations, robust firewall control, and optimized storage for year-long data retention.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging trends point to cloud-native server deployments, virtualization of workstations, AI-driven data QC, high-speed 25 GbE networking, and automated orchestration of instrument fleets. Integration with Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and expanded support for new MS modules will further enhance throughput and data integrity.

Conclusion

Establishing a standardized computing and network infrastructure is essential for reliable performance of Agilent MassHunter systems. These comprehensive requirements ensure seamless instrument communication, secure data management, and scalable lab operations.

References

No external literature references were provided in the original document.