A versatile differential pumping system which consists of two independently pumped chambers connected with one of three interchangeable vacuum barriers and various optical elements is described. The three vacuum barriers are a straight tube collimator, a stainless steel capillary array, and a glass capillary array. The vacuum barriers were designed to handle different beam sizes, intensities, and vacuum isolation. The UHV chamber can reach a pressure below 5.0E-10 torr and can sustain a vacuum differential of greater than 1.0E 3 across the barrier. The main advantages of this system are the interchangeable vacuum barriers, the ability to provide control and analysis of the x-ray beam, and the quick ambient to vacuum turn around time. Some experience and data on the operation of this system at the Brookhaven synchrotron are presented. Some characteristics of the vacuum barriers are also discussed.