Chapter 1
Introduction
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
1-2
ni.com
Functional Overview
MXI-Express Gen II x8 is based on PCI Express technology. A
MXI-Express Gen II x8 kit uses PCI Express switches to enable control of
a PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis from a PC with an available
PCI Express slot, or from a PXI Express chassis with an available PXI
Express slot. The switch architecture is transparent to device drivers, so no
additional software is needed for CompactPCI Express level support for
PXI Express devices in connected chassis.
Note
For full PXI/PXI Express functionality such as chassis and controller identification,
trigger routing, and slot detection, install the PXI Platform Services software included with
your kit. This software also can be found at
ni.com/updates
by searching for
PXI Platform Services
.
The link between the PC and the chassis is a Gen II x8 cabled PCI Express
link. This link is a dual-simplex communication channel comprised of
eight low-voltage, differentially driven signal pairs. The link can transmit
at a rate of 40 Gbps in each direction simultaneously.
Note
This link is compatible with the cabled PCI Express specification developed by the
PCI-SIG.
Functional Block Diagrams
Figure 1-1.
NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L) Block Diagram
CLOCK MODE
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
BIOS COMPAT
2
1
3
5
4
6
OFF
OFF
0
OFF
OFF
DFLT
R1025
R1099
R1026
SW1
R1023
R1098
R1024
MXI-Express
Gen II x8
PWR/LNK
Status LED
PCIe
Switch
PCIe Gen II x8
PCIe Gen
II
x8
