Data can be processed in automatic test equipment by dividing the test sites into groups and processing each group using a corresponding processor in a group of processors. Sections of the test equipment can communicate via a tester bus to a particularly designed multi-stream switch. The multi-stream switch can communicates with a plurality of processors via a plurality of processor busses. Each of the processors can run a separate instance of test software without interfering with software running on any other of the processors. The inventive protocol can be embodied essentially in hardware that can be adapted to an existing infrastructure without requiring substantial modifications of existing hardware or software.