PCIe2-2711 PCI Express Gen2 Expansion System User’s Manual
4-1
Revision 1.1, October 2017
CHAPTER 4
SYSTEM OPERATION
4.1
SYSTEM POWER UP
The PCIe2-2711 system uses two PCI express cables and can be connected to two slots of the same host
or it can be connected to two different hosts.
The host PC(s) with the PCIe-426s installed control power-up for the entire system. The PCI Express
cables should be connected between the PCIe-426s and the PCIe-436/PCIe-460. The PCIe2-2711 power
cords should be connected to the chassis and plugged into power outlets. There is a power button on the
front of the PCIe2-2711 Expansion Chassis, however it is not connected and serves no practical purpose
in this application. When a host PC is powered on, a signal is sent over the PCI Express cable to turn on
the PCIe2-2711. If the chassis does not power up, make sure that all cards are seated properly, the
chassis is plugged in and the PCI Express cable is connected properly. There is only one LED on the
front of the expansion chassis that has meaning. The green LED indicates that the chassis is powered.
If two host PCs are connected to the PCIe2-2711, then the first host to power up turns on the system.
The last host to power down turns off the system.
4.2
SEATING OF CARDS
Unlike standard PC applications, the PCIe2-2711 Expansion System has a narrow lower gate that
precisely engages the lower end of the PCI Express Add-In board’s face panel. The purpose is to ensure
correct electrical connector mating of up-plugged boards. Failure to accurately mate the lower end of
the face panel with the chassis lower gate will lead to the board not being recognized by the host.
4.3
PCIe-426 HOST BUS CABLE ADAPTER
The PCIe-426 Host Bus Cable Adapter is installed in a host computer’s x16 Gen2 slot providing an
interface from the host to the x16 cable and, in turn, the expansion chassis. It can also be plugged into
Gen1 x16 slots, reducing performance.
4.3.1
PCIe-426 Power
The PCIe-426 only uses +3.3V power from the host, see Table 3-2.
4.3.2
PCIe-426 Mechanical
The PCIe-426 is a low profile PCI Express add-in card and is available with either a standard height
front panel or a low profile front panel. See Figure 5-3 for a mechanical drawing of the card and Figure
5-2 for a front panel drawing.
