Chapter 1 Introduction and Quick Start
©
National Instruments Corporation
1-3
PCI-MXI-2 Kit Overview
The PCI-MXI-2 kits link any computer with a PCI bus (hereafter referred
to as a PCI-based computer) directly to the VXIbus or VMEbus using the
high-speed Multisystem eXtension Interface bus (MXI-2).
A PCI-based computer equipped with a VXI MXI-2 kit can function as a
VXI Commander and Resource Manager. A PCI-based computer equipped
with a VME MXI-2 kit can function as a VMEbus master and/or slave
device. The PCI-MXI-2 kit makes your PCI-based computer behave as if it
were plugged directly into the VXI/VME backplane as an embedded CPU
VXI/VME module.
The software included with the kits is for Intel
x
86-based computers.
What You Need to Get Started
❑
A PCI-based computer running a supported Linux distribution
❑
VXIbus or VMEbus mainframe
❑
PCI-MXI-2 or PCI-MXI-2 Universal interface board
❑
VXI-MXI-2 or VME-MXI-2 interface module
❑
MXI-2 cable
❑
NI-VXI/NI-VISA software media for the PCI-MXI-2
For supported distributions, refer to the
NI-VXI/NI-VISA for the PCI-MXI-2
for Linux Installation Guide
.
MXI-2 Description
MXI-2 is the second generation of the National Instruments MXIbus
product line. The MXIbus is a general-purpose, 32-bit, multimaster system
bus on a cable. MXI-2 expands the number of signals on a standard MXI
cable by including VXI triggers, all VXI interrupts, CLK10, and all of the
utility bus signals (SYSFAIL*, SYSRESET*, and ACFAIL*).
Because MXI-2 incorporates all of these new signals into a single
connector, the triggers, interrupts, and utility signals can be extended not
only to other mainframes for multichassis VXI systems, but also to the local