Chapter 1
Introduction
PCI-Based MXI-2 Interface for Windows
1-2
ni.com
What You Need to Get Started
You need the following items to set up your VXI or VME system:
❑
A PCI-based computer or PXI/CompactPCI chassis running Windows
❑
VXIbus or VMEbus mainframe
❑
PCI-MXI-2, PCI-MXI-2 Universal, or PXI-8320 interface board
❑
VXI-MXI-2, VXI-MXI-2/B, or VME-MXI-2 interface module
❑
MXI-2 cable
❑
National Instruments software media
PCI-Based MXI-2 Interface Kit Overview
The interface kits described in this manual link a PCI-based computer or
a PXI or CompactPCI chassis directly to the VXIbus or VMEbus using
the high-speed Multisystem eXtension Interface bus (MXI-2). The
MXI-2 kits, which include the NI-VXI/NI-VISA software for Windows,
are as follows:
•
VXI-PCI8000, containing a PCI-MXI-2 or PCI-MXI-2 Universal and
a C- or B-size VXI-MXI-2
•
VXI-PXI8000, containing a PXI-8320 and a C- or B-size VXI-MXI-2
•
VME-PCI8000, containing a PCI-MXI-2 or PCI-MXI-2 Universal and
a VME-MXI-2
•
VME-PXI8000, containing a PXI-8320 and a VME-MXI-2
A PCI-based computer equipped with a VXI-PCI8000 interface, or a
PXI/CompactPCI chassis equipped with a VXI-PXI8000 interface, can
function as a VXI Commander and Resource Manager. A PCI-based
computer equipped with a VME-PCI8000 interface, or a PXI/CompactPCI
chassis equipped with a VME-PXI8000, can function as a VMEbus master
and/or slave device. The MXI-2 interface kit makes your computer or
chassis behave as if it were plugged directly into the VXI/VME backplane
as an embedded CPU VXI/VME module.
The CD included with the kits contains software for Windows-based
computers.
