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 National Instruments Corporation

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MXI-4 Series User Manual

About This Manual

This manual describes the features, functions, and operation of the MXI-4 
series of products. The four products in this series are the PCI-8331, 
PXI-8331, PCI-8336, and PXI-8336. The PXI-PCI 8331 and 8336 
incorporate MXI-4 technology, which couples two physically separate PCI, 
CompactPCI, or PXI buses with a data link capable of 1.5 Gbit/s serial data 
rates.

Conventions

The following conventions appear in this manual:

This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.

This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to 
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.

bold

Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such 
as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter 
names.

italic

Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction 
to a key concept. This font also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word 
or value that you must supply.

monospace

Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the 
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples. 
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories, 
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations, 
variables, filenames and extensions, and code excerpts.

MXI-4 card

MXI-4 card refers to any of the following cards, unless otherwise noted: 
PCI-8331, PXI-8331, PCI-8336, and PXI-8336.

MXI-4 dyad

MXI-4 dyad refers to any of the following 4 pairs of MXI-4 cards:

PCI-8331 and PXI-8331

PCI-8336 and PXI-8336

PXI-8331 and PXI-8331

PXI-8336 and PXI-8336

Summary of Contents for PCI-8331

Page 1: ...I 4 Series User Manual MXI 4 Multi System Extension Interface for PCI CompactPCI and PXI Bus Computers PCI 8331 PXI 8331 PCI 8336 PXI 8336 MXI 4 Series User Manual December 2003 Edition Part Number 37...

Page 2: ...89 741 31 30 Greece 30 2 10 42 96 427 India 91 80 51190000 Israel 972 0 3 6393737 Italy 39 02 413091 Japan 81 3 5472 2970 Korea 82 02 3451 3400 Malaysia 603 9131 0918 Mexico 001 800 010 0793 Netherlan...

Page 3: ...ents installation operation or maintenance instructions owner s modification of the product owner s abuse misuse or negligent acts and power failure or surges fire flood accident actions of third part...

Page 4: ...nt of Communications DOC Changes or modifications not expressly approved by NI could void the user s authority to operate the equipment under the FCC Rules Class A Federal Communications Commission Th...

Page 5: ...stallation 2 1 Hardware Installation 2 2 Installing a PCI MXI 4 Card 2 2 Installing a PXI MXI 4 Card 2 3 Cabling 2 5 Powering Up the MXI 4 System 2 6 Powering Down the MXI 4 System 2 6 Chapter 3 Hardw...

Page 6: ...Contents MXI 4 Series User Manual vi ni com Appendix A Specifications Appendix B Common Questions Appendix C Technical Support and Professional Services Glossary Index...

Page 7: ...ck in the software such as menu items and dialog box options Bold text also denotes parameter names italic Italic text denotes variables emphasis a cross reference or an introduction to a key concept...

Page 8: ...ation The following documents contain information that you might find helpful as you read this manual Set Up Your MXI 4 System Your computer or chassis documentation PXI Hardware Specification Revisio...

Page 9: ...the four allowable pairings of MXI 4 cards which are described in the Conventions section of the About This Manual About the MXI 4 Series Description and Features A MXI 4 dyad is a PCI master slave im...

Page 10: ...a PXI CompactPCI chassis A PXI MXI 4 in a non controller slot of a PXI CompactPCI chassis with an embedded controller connected to a PXI MXI 4 in the controller slot of another PXI CompactPCI chassis...

Page 11: ...e than one PCI bus segment The host configuration software BIOS and OS and device drivers must support the number of bus segments and PCI devices that you intend to use Figure 1 2 shows how MXI 4 card...

Page 12: ...a system can create a slight decrease in performance when communicating with devices behind the bridges Although the distance between individual chassis is confined to a maximum of 10 meters for coppe...

Page 13: ...at already has a controller An expansion chassis This is the PXI CompactPCI chassis that you control with the MXI 4 dyad NI MXI 4 software Note Your PXI MXI 4 card will work in any standard CompactPCI...

Page 14: ...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 com...

Page 15: ...provided on the MXI 4 Software CD or National Instruments Driver CD included with your kit To install the software insert the CD into your computer and run the setup exe program if it does not start a...

Page 16: ...MXI 4 device 2 Remove the top cover or access port to the PCI bus 3 Select any available PCI expansion slot 4 Locate the metal bracket that covers the cut out in the back panel of the computer for th...

Page 17: ...tects it from electrical damage while you install the module 2 Select a slot for the PXI MXI 4 card When being placed in the expansion chassis that you wish to control using MXI 4 choose the controlle...

Page 18: ...you insert the PXI MXI 4 card It will not insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so that it does not interfere with the injector rail on the mainframe as shown in Figure 2 2 6 H...

Page 19: ...The cables have no polarity so either end may be connected to either card Caution Do not remove the cable after the system is powered on Doing so can hang or cause errors in applications communicating...

Page 20: ...ssumption means that all of the expansion chassis must be turned on before the host PC or embedded controller in order for the BIOS and OS to correctly configure a MXI 4 system Note There are no requi...

Page 21: ...PCI Bridge Architecture Specification for the purpose of coupling PCI based peripherals located in separate chassis into a single PCI hierarchy Each of the MXI 4 cards contains half of the bridge logi...

Page 22: ...zed parallel data coming from the MXI 4 FPGA into a differential electrical signal Serial to Parallel Converter The serial receiver converts the incoming differential electrical signal to a parallel d...

Page 23: ...rer MAX provides access to information about your MXI 4 controller as well as other components of your PXI system This section provides introductory information about the MXI 4 specific functions with...

Page 24: ...frequently retransmissions are occurring by enabling the Show PXI Bus Details attribute of your PXI system refer to Figure 3 2 To set this attribute right click your PXI system in MAX and select the...

Page 25: ...g on a PXI Bridge entry in MAX that corresponds to a MXI 4 link will display information about the link in the right hand pane in MAX refer to Figure 3 3 To update the information shown click the Refr...

Page 26: ...cted through MXI 4 MAX can show additional information about the chassis status depending on the state of the MXI 4 link If there is a problem with the link or the chassis is not connected MAX will di...

Page 27: ...gure 3 5 Figure 3 5 Chassis Status Indication in Status Bar of Right Pane View If MAX indicates that the MXI 4 connection has timed out the MXI 4 card did not detect that it was connected to another M...

Page 28: ...0 16 0 cm 3 9 6 3 in Maximum cable lengths Copper 10 m Fiber optic 200 m Slot requirements One slot PCI or PXI Compatibility Fully compatible with the PXI Hardware Specification Revision 2 1 and the P...

Page 29: ...ng relative humidity 10 to 90 noncondensing tested in accordance with IEC 60068 2 56 Storage Environment Ambient temperature range 20 to 70 C tested in accordance with IEC 60068 2 1 and IEC 60068 2 2...

Page 30: ...trical equipment for measurement control and laboratory use IEC 61010 1 EN 61010 1 UL 3111 1 UL 61010B 1 CAN CSA C22 2 No 1010 1 Note For UL and other safety certifications refer to the product label...

Page 31: ...tive EMC 89 336 EEC Note Refer to the Declaration of Conformity DoC for this product for any additional regulatory compliance information To obtain the DoC for this product visit ni com hardref nsf se...

Page 32: ...r distances EMI resistance and electrical isolation Can I use a copper MXI 4 and a fiber MXI 4 kit in the same multi chassis PXI system A copper or fiber MXI 4 kit is comprised of two MXI boards of th...

Page 33: ...4 fiber optic cable is 200 meters National Instruments offers 10 meter 30 meter and 200 meter fiber optic cables How can I extend my system past the maximum cable length The best solution is to add a...

Page 34: ...red to use my MXI 4 kit For Windows and LabVIEW RT the required software is included as part of the latest version of NI VISA included with your kit The software for your MXI 4 controller enhances the...

Page 35: ...XI 3 and a MXI 4 board be used together directly No MXI 3 and MXI 4 boards use different cable connectors and cannot be plugged in together Additionally the board to board communication protocols diff...

Page 36: ...an be used in more types of PCI and PCI X slots Note PCI X and 66 Mhz PCI buses maintain backwards compatibility with 33 Mhz PCI boards like MXI 4 by slowing down the bus to 33 Mhz operation What is s...

Page 37: ...urement glossary and so on Assisted Support Options Contact NI engineers and other measurement and automation professionals by visiting ni com support Our online system helps you define your question...

Page 38: ...om calibration If you searched ni com and could not find the answers you need contact your local office or NI corporate headquarters Phone numbers for our worldwide offices are listed at the front of...

Page 39: ...idual circuitry in a computer Typically a bus is the expansion vehicle to which I O or other devices are connected Examples of PC buses are the AT bus NuBus Micro Channel and EISA bus bus master a typ...

Page 40: ...of the following 4 pairs of MXI 4 cards PCI 8331 and PXI 8331 PCI 8336 and PXI 8336 PXI 8331 and PXI 8331 PXI 8336 and PXI 8336 F FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array a logic device that has its functio...

Page 41: ...tion G 3 MXI 4 Series User Manual PXI PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation PXI is an open specification that builds off the CompactPCI specification by adding instrumentation specific features V VCSEL V...

Page 42: ...sources C 1 documentation conventions used in manual vii NI resources C 1 related documentation viii drivers NI resources C 1 E electromagnetic compatibility A 3 examples NI resources C 1 F fiber opti...

Page 43: ...ter 3 2 PCI MXI 4 card installation 2 2 figure 2 3 programming examples NI resources C 1 PXI MXI 4 card installation 2 3 figure 2 5 R related documentation viii S safety specifications table A 3 seria...

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