The　paper　describes　the　design　of　a　multi-channel　data　acquisition　system　in　detail.　This　system　includes　two　parts,　a　hardware　circuit　and　a　virtual　instrument　software　on　a　computer　The　hardware　circuit　based　on　analog　signal　conditioning,　A/D　converter　and　CPLD　technology,　implements　1KSPS-500KSPS　12-bit　resolution　data　acquisition　of　eight　channels　analog　signals.　All　data　acquired　are　transferred　into　a　computer　through　EPP　mode　parallel　port　which　is　also　realized　in　CPLD　chip.　An　IVI　virtual　instrument　software　platform　developed　by　the　authors　is　applied　in　the　system　to　gather,　process　and　display　data　in　real　time.