Chapter 1
Introduction
VXI-MXI-Express Series User Manual
1-6
ni.com
The NI VXI-8360T/LT is, by factory default, hardware configured to
automatically detect if it is in Slot 0, and will supply a CLK10 sourced from
an onboard oscillator. Refer to Appendix B,
, for additional hardware configuration options.
MXI-Express x1 Functional Overview
The NI VXI-8360T/LT controllers enable control of a VXI mainframe with
a host computer using MXI-Express x1 technology.
MXI-Express x1 is based on PCI Express technology. A MXI-Express x1
kit may use a combination of PCI Express switches or PCI Express-to-PCI
bridges to enable control of a VXI chassis from a PC with an available
PCI Express or ExpressCard slot.
The link between the PC and the chassis is a x1 cabled MXI-Express link.
This link is a dual-simplex communication channel comprised of a
low-voltage, differentially driven signal pair. The link can transmit at a rate
of 2.5 Gbps in each direction simultaneously. This port is not compatible
with the cabled PCI Express specification developed by the PCI-SIG.
The BIOS of some host machines may not support the extension of the
PCI-Express fabric or PCI bus. Since this is the primary function of
MXI-Express x1 products, those systems may not boot or function
correctly. To address this issue, certain MXI-Express x1 products have
additional functionality intended to hide all PCI or PCI-Express resources
that are connected to the host machine allowing
NI MXI-Express BIOS
Compatibility Software
to handle the enumeration process of these
resources.
In the cases where this software is required, there may be a dip switch on
the MXI-Express x1 host adapter that needs to be toggled as instructed by
the documentation for the software.
