Appendix B
Common Questions
©
National Instruments Corporation
B-3
Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4 for PXI Express User Manual
includes two PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridges. The NI PXIe-8375 includes
five to seven bridges and one NI PXIe-8375 SMBus Controller device.
If the Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4 software is not installed, the PCI-to-PCI
function will still be detected and work correctly, but the SMBus master
will be detected as an unknown device.
MXI-4 to Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4 Upgrade Questions
What are some of the improvements from MXI-4 to Fiber-Optic
MXI-Express x4?
Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4 incorporates the latest technology to include:
•
Support for PCI Express slots.
•
Support for PXI Express and CompactPCI Express chassis.
•
Improved error correction and handling for noisy or harsh
environments.
•
Improved mechanical connectivity.
•
Improved performance (higher throughput).
Can a MXI-4 and Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4 board be used together
directly?
No. MXI-4 and Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4 boards use different cable
connectors and cannot be connected together. Additionally, the
board-to-board communication protocols differ.
Can I use a MXI-4 and Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4 kit in the same
multichassis PXI system?
Yes. Different MXI kits can be intermixed to connect multiple PXI and
PXI Express chassis together. As mentioned previously, an individual
MXI-4 board will not cable directly to a Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4
board.
MXI-4 systems required the use of a specific boot ordering. Is this a
requirement with Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4?
Yes. The requirements of the PCI bus still mandate that you must power-on
secondary PXI/PXI Express chassis before powering on the host PC when
using Fiber-Optic MXI-Express x4.
