RDK Port Expander Kit Hardware Reference Manual v1.0
© 2007, PLX Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
5
1. General Information
The RDK Port Expansion Kit is a bench top platform that enables various PLX RDKs to expand four PCI
Express lanes from a card edge connector to four individual connections; thereby, enabling more port
connectivity. One lane (typically the upstream port) is connected to a standard PCI Express x1 cable
connector, while the other three lanes connect to dedicated x16 PCI Express slots.
RDK Port Expansion Kit allows a user to convert their 5-port PEX 8509RDK (x4x1x1x1x1) into an 8-
port/8-lane configuration or fully enable their 5-port/5-lane PEX 8505RDK. The Port expansion Kit is
shipped with the RDK Port Expander (Figure 1-1), PCI Express x1 Cable Adapter (Figure 1-2), and the 1
meter x1 PCI Express cable (Figure 1-3).
Figure 1-1. RDK Port Expander
J3
J4
J5
J6
J2
U4
J1
SW1
1
2
3
RDK SLOT
PCI Express
Cable Connector
(Upstream Port)
Downstream
Slots
Manual
PERST#
