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Installation and Configuration

This section explains how to unpack, install, and configure the MXI-Express x4 hardware and
software.

Unpacking

Your MXI-Express x4 cards are shipped in antistatic packages to prevent electrostatic damage
(ESD) to the devices. ESD can damage several components on the device.

Caution

 

Never touch the exposed pins of connectors. Doing so may damage the

device.

To avoid such damage in handling the device, take the following precautions:

Ground yourself using a grounding strap or by holding a grounded object.

Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the computer chassis before removing the
device from the package.

Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose components or any sign
of damage. Notify NI if the device appears damaged in any way. Do not install a damaged
device into the computer or into a PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis.

Store the device in the antistatic envelope when not in use.

Hardware Installation

The following are general instructions for installing the MXI-Express x4 cards. Consult your
computer user manual or technical reference manual for specific instructions and warnings.

Installing a PXIe-8370 or PXIe-8374

The following table provides information on which PXI Express MXI-Express x4 boards are
compatible with which chassis slot types.

Table 2. NI MXI-Express x4 PXI Express Board Slot Type Compatibility

NI PXI Express Board

PXI Express Chassis

Controller

Peripheral

Hybrid

H

 

 

 

 

PXIe-8370

PXIe-8374

Note

 

For this section, all the above products will be referred to as an 

NI PXI

Express board

.

8

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ni.com

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PXIe-8370 User Manual

Summary of Contents for MXI PCIe-8371

Page 1: ...re Installation 8 PXIe 8370 194402x 02 LEDs 11 Software Installation and Configuration 12 Installation 12 Configuring Your System 13 Common Questions 13 General Hardware 13 MXI 3 and MXI 4 to MXI Express x4 Upgrade 14 General Software 14 Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines This product was tested and complies with the regulatory requirements and limits for electromagnetic compatibility EMC as...

Page 2: ...ess signals over a cable of up to 7 m with PCI Express to PCI Express switches You can do the following with MXI Express x4 Control a PXI Express or CompactPCI Express backplane with a PCI Express based PC Physically separate the measurement or automation system from a host PC Control multiple PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis with a single PCI Express based PC or PXI Express embedded cont...

Page 3: ...ctly To address this issue certain MXI Express x4 products have additional functionality intended to hide all PCI or PCI Express resources that are connected to the host machine and allow NI MXI Express BIOS Compatibility Software to handle the enumeration process of these resources instead of the BIOS In the cases where this software is required there may be a dip switch on the board that needs t...

Page 4: ...8372 in a PC connected to a PXIe 8370 in the controller slot of a PXI Express chassis as shown in the following figure Figure 2 Example of a Basic MXI Express x4 Link Topology Host PC to Target PXI Express Chassis Larger MXI Express x4 Systems The PCIe 8372 has two MXI Express x4 connectors allowing one PCIe 8372 to host two different PXIe 8370 cards in separate PXI Express or CompactPCI Express c...

Page 5: ... Figure 3 Example of MXI Express x4 Star Topology Figure 4 Example of MXI Express Daisy Chain Topology Getting Started This section explains what you will need to set up various MXI Express x4 hardware configurations The products covered by this guide are the PCIe 8371 8372 and PXIe 8370 8374 For the remainder of this manual the term MXI Express x4 product refers to any of these products Additiona...

Page 6: ...he Cabling section for details Most MXI Express kits include the cable but not all Host Board The MXI Express x4 board of a cabled pair of boards that is closer to the CPU Target Board The MXI Express x4 board of a cabled pair of boards that is farther from the CPU Cabled Pair Two MXI Express x4 boards that are connected with a single cable Connecting a PC to an Expansion Chassis Using a MXI Expre...

Page 7: ...on the items in this list Equipment Needed Chassis to daisy chain from Expansion chassis to daisy chain to MXI Express x4 copper cable A MXI Express x4 host board and target board that is appropriate for the host system slot and target chassis Refer to the following table for more information From Chassis Targets Slot Type Product PXI Express Chassis HDD RAID PXIe 8370 HDD 8263 HDD 8264 HDD 8265 P...

Page 8: ... loose components or any sign of damage Notify NI if the device appears damaged in any way Do not install a damaged device into the computer or into a PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis Store the device in the antistatic envelope when not in use Hardware Installation The following are general instructions for installing the MXI Express x4 cards Consult your computer user manual or technical...

Page 9: ...bottom of the system controller slot Caution Do not raise the injector ejector handle as you insert the NI PXI Express board It will not insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so that it does not interfere with the injector ejector rail on the chassis as shown in the figure below 5 Hold the handle as you slowly slide the module into the chassis until the handle catches on th...

Page 10: ... National Instruments MXI Express x4 Copper Cables Cable Length Meters Description Part Number 3 m MXI Express x4 copper cable 779725 03 7 m MXI Express x4 copper cable 779725 07 Connect the MXI Express x4 cable to both MXI Express x4 cards The cables have no polarity so you can connect either end to either card Note Do not remove the cable after the system is powered on Doing so can hang or cause...

Page 11: ...fore the host PC for the BIOS and OS to correctly configure a MXI Express x4 system Powering Off the MXI Express x4 System Because operating systems and drivers commonly make the assumption that PCI devices will be present in the system from power up to power down it is important to not power off the expansion chassis until after the host PC is powered off Powering off the expansion chassis while ...

Page 12: ...e slots Because the PXIe 1062 uses the last link for a PCI Express to PCI bridge for PXI communication this link always should be active Different chassis topologies give different default behaviors Contact your chassis manufacturer for more information about your chassis topology Software Installation and Configuration Installation MXI Express x4 is based on PCI Express technology using PCI Expre...

Page 13: ... You may see a small performance increase and or reduced latency in most applications but otherwise there is no functional difference What connectors do the NI MXI Express x4 copper cables use The NI MXI Express x4 copper cables use x4 PCI Express connectors For more information about these connectors visit Molex at www molex com and search for x4 PCIe iPass How many PXI bus segments can I connect...

Page 14: ...idual 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 r...

Page 15: ...ve installed For a list of operating systems PXI Platform Services supports refer to KnowledgeBase 53399AQ7 PXI Platform Services Operating System Support on ni com If PXI Platform Services does not support your operating system you still can use MXI Express x4 as a PCI Express expansion solution However this solution does not support features such as chassis and controller identification trigger ...

Page 16: ...ents EULAs and third party legal notices in the readme file for your NI product Refer to the Export Compliance Information at ni com legal export compliance for the NI global trade compliance policy and how to obtain relevant HTS codes ECCNs and other import export data NI MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES AS TO THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY ...

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