What is the maximum MXI-Express x4 copper cable length?
The maximum length for a MXI-Express x4 copper cable is 7 m. National Instruments offers
3 m and 7 m copper cables. Refer to the
Cabling
section for more information.
MXI-3 and MXI-4 to MXI-Express x4 Upgrade
What are some improvements from MXI-3 and MXI-4 to MXI-Express x4?
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 and performance.
•
Support for two chassis from a single card in the host PC.
Can I connect a MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express x4 board directly?
No. MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express x4 boards use different cable connectors and cannot be
connected. Also, the board-to-board communication protocols differ.
Can I use a MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express x4 kit in the same multichassis PXI
system?
Yes. You can mix different MXI kits to connect multiple PXI and PXI Express chassis. As
mentioned above, an individual MXI-3 or MXI-4 board cannot cable directly to a MXI-
Express x4 board.
MXI-3 and MXI-4 systems require a specific boot ordering. Is this a requirement with
MXI-Express x4?
Yes. When you use MXI-Express x4, the PCI bus still requires you to power-on secondary
PXI/PXI Express chassis before powering on the host PC.
With MXI-3 and several chassis connected in series (daisy chain configuration), you are
required to power-on the chassis in order starting with the chassis at the end of the chain and
move towards the host controller. With MXI-Express x4, multiple chassis are connected in
parallel. You can power them on in any order, but you must power on the host PC last.
For more details, refer to the
Powering On the MXI-Express x4 System
section.
General Software
Which operating systems do MXI-Express x4 products support?
Most operating systems recognize MXI-Express x4 as a collection of PCI-to-PCI bridges. It
should have CompactPCI Express support automatically with most systems such as Windows,
Macintosh OS X, Linux, and Solaris. Full PXI Express functionality requires PXI Platform
Services software. Refer to the
Software Installation and Configuration
section for more
information.
What software does my MXI-Express x4 kit require?
14
|
ni.com
|
PXIe-8370 User Manual
