National Instruments NI PCIe-8360 User Manual

TM

MXI

MXI-Express Series User Manual

MXI-Express Multisystem eXtension Interface for PCI Express, Compact PCI,
and PXI Bus Computers

NI PCIe-8360
NI PXI-8360

MXI-Express Series User Manual

May 2005
371452A-01

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Important Information

Warranty

The NI PCIe-8360 and NI PXI-8360 are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of
shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to
be defective during the warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.

The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects
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notice of such defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be
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A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before
any equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are
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Consult the FCC Web site at

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Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated
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information. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit
and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.

* The CE marking Declaration of Conformity contains important supplementary information and instructions for the user or

installer.

ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line,

Contents

About This Manual

Conventions ...................................................................................................................vii

Related Documentation..................................................................................................viii

Chapter 1
Introduction

About the MXI-Express Series ......................................................................................1-1

Description and Features .................................................................................1-1

Basic MXI-Express System.............................................................................1-1

Larger MXI-Express Systems .........................................................................1-2

What You Need to Get Started ......................................................................................1-3

Unpacking......................................................................................................................1-3

Chapter 2
Hardware Installation

Hardware Installation.....................................................................................................2-1

Installing an NI PCIe-8360..............................................................................2-1

Installing an NI PXI-8360 ...............................................................................2-3

Cabling ............................................................................................................2-4

Powering Up the MXI-Express System ..........................................................2-5

Powering Down the MXI-Express System......................................................2-5

Chapter 3
Hardware Overview

Functional Overview......................................................................................................3-1

Functional Unit Descriptions .........................................................................................3-2

PCI Express x1 Card Edge Connector.............................................................3-2

PCI Express x1 Switch ....................................................................................3-2

Cabled PCI Express Connector .......................................................................3-2

PCI Express-to-PCI Bridge .............................................................................3-3

LED Indicators...............................................................................................................3-3

MXI-Express Cable Options..........................................................................................3-4

Appendix A
Specifications

© National Instruments Corporation v MXI-Express Series User Manual

Contents

Appendix B
Common Questions

Appendix C
Technical Support and Professional Services

Glossary

Index

MXI-Express Series User Manual vi ni.com

About This Manual

This manual describes the features, functions, and operation of the
MXI-Express series of products. The products in this series are the
NI PCIe-8360 and the NI PXI-8360.

Conventions

The following conventions appear in this manual:

» The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options

to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
from the last dialog box.

This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.

This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.

bold Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such

as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter
names.

italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction

to a key concept. This font also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.

monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the

keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames and extensions, and code excerpts.

MXI-Express card MXI-Express card refers to any of the following cards, unless otherwise

noted: NI PCIe-8360 and NI PXI-8360.

Note In this manual, whenever a PXI chassis is referenced, a CompactPCI chassis could

be used instead.

© National Instruments Corporation vii MXI-Express Series User Manual

About This Manual

Related Documentation

The following documents contain information that you might find helpful
as you read this manual:

• Set Up Your MXI-Express System

• Your computer or chassis documentation

• PXI Hardware Specification, Revision 2.1

• PXI Software Specification, Revision 2.1

• PCI Specification, Revision 2.3

• PCI-PCI Bridge Architecture Specification, Revision 1.1

• PICMG CompactPCI 2.0 R3.0 specification

• PCI Express Specification, Revision 1.0a

MXI-Express Series User Manual viii ni.com

Introduction

This chapter describes the MXI-Express series of products, lists what you
need to get started, and explains how to unpack and set up your hardware.

The two products in this series are the NI PCIe-8360 and NI PXI-8360. For
the remainder of this manual the term MXI-Express card refers to any
product in the MXI-Express series.

MXI-Express cards must always be installed as a PCI Express card and a
PXI card.

About the MXI-Express Series

Description and Features

MXI-Express functions as a cabled PCI Express link of up to 7 m and a
PCI Express-to-PCI bridge. With MXI-Express, you can do the following:

• Control a PXI/CompactPCI backplane with a PCI Express-based PC

• Physically separate the measurement or automation system from
a host PC

• Combine PCI Express, CompactPCI, and PXI devices in the same
system

1

Basic MXI-Express System

The simplest MXI-Express system consists of an NI PCIe-8360 in a PC
connected to an NI PXI-8360 in the controller slot of a PXI/CompactPCI
chassis, as shown in Figure 1-1.

© National Instruments Corporation 1-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Chapter 1 Introduction

Larger MXI-Express Systems

Each NI PCIe-8360 has two MXI-Express connectors. One NI PCIe-8360
may be connected to two different NI PXI-8360 cards in separate
PXI/CompactPCI chassis. If multiple PCI Express slots are available in
the host PC, additional PXI chassis can be connected by installing an
NI PCIe-8360 in any available PCI Express slot.

PC to PXI/CompactPCI

Figure 1-1. Basic MXI-Express Configuration

Figure 1-2 shows how you can use MXI-Express cards to connect multiple
expansion chassis to a PC in a star topology. The star topology is the only
supported topology due to the point-to-point nature of PCI Express.

Figure 1-2. Star Topology MXI-Express Configuration

MXI-Express Series User Manual 1-2 ni.com

What You Need to Get Started

To set up and use your MXI-Express cards, you need the following:

❑ One NI PCIe-8360 and one NI PXI-8360

❑ A MXI-Express cable

❑ A host PC with an available x1 (or wider) PCI Express slot

❑ An expansion chassis—the PXI/CompactPCI chassis that you control

with MXI-Express

Note Your PXI MXI-Express card will work in any standard CompactPCI chassis

adhering to the PICMG CompactPCI 2.0 R3.0 specification, or in PXI chassis that are
compatible with the PXI Hardware Specification, Revision 1.0 or later. Your PCI Express
MXI-Express card will work in systems compliant with the PCI Express Specification,
Revision 1.0a or later.

Unpacking

Chapter 1 Introduction

Your MXI-Express cards are shipped in antistatic packages to prevent
electrostatic damage (ESD) to the devices. ESD can damage several
components on the device.

Caution Never touch the exposed pins of connectors. Doing so may damage the device.

To avoid such damage in handling the device, take the following
precautions:

• Ground yourself using a grounding strap or by holding a grounded
object.

• Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the computer chassis
before removing the device from the package.

Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose
components or any sign of damage. Notify NI if the device appears
damaged in any way. Do not install a damaged device into the computer
or PXI/CompactPCI chassis.

Store the device in the antistatic envelope when not in use.

© National Instruments Corporation 1-3 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Hardware Installation

This chapter explains how to install the MXI-Express hardware.

Hardware Installation

The following are general instructions for installing the MXI-Express
cards. Consult your computer user manual or technical reference manual
for specific instructions and warnings.

Note The software for your MXI-Express kit is included with the current NI driver CD,

and is installed with the PXI platform software included as part of NI-VISA and other
NI driver software products.

Installing an NI PCIe-8360

1. Power off your computer, but leave it plugged in while installing the
NI PCIe-8360. The power cord grounds the chassis and protects it from
electrical damage while you install the card.

2

Caution To protect both yourself and the computer from electrical hazards, your computer

should remain off until you finish installing the NI PCIe-8360.

2. Remove the top cover or access port to the PCI Express bus.

3. Select any available PCI Express expansion slot (x1 or wider).

Note The BIOS or motherboard may not support the NI PCIe-8360 in a slot intended for

a graphics card.

4. Locate the metal bracket that covers the cut-out in the back panel of the
computer for the slot you have selected. Remove and save the
bracket-retaining screw and the bracket cover.

5. Touch the metal part of the power supply case inside the computer to
discharge any static electricity that might be on your clothes or body.

© National Instruments Corporation 2-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Chapter 2 Hardware Installation

6. Line up the NI PCIe-8360 with the slot on the back panel. Slowly push
down on the top of the NI PCIe-8360 until its card-edge connector is
resting on the expansion slot receptacle. Using slow, evenly distributed
pressure, press the NI PCIe-8360 straight down until it seats in the
expansion slot.

7. Reinstall the bracket-retaining screw to secure the NI PCIe-8360 to the
back panel rail.

8. Replace the computer cover.

3

2

1

1 NI PCIe-8360
2 PCI Express x1 Card-Edge Connector

3 PCI Express Slot

Figure 2-1. Installing the NI PCIe-8360

MXI-Express Series User Manual 2-2 ni.com

Installing an NI PXI-8360

Complete the following steps to install the NI PXI-8360 in your PXI or
CompactPCI chassis.

1. Power off your PXI or CompactPCI chassis, but leave it plugged in
while installing the NI PXI-8360. The power cord grounds the chassis
and protects it from electrical damage while you install the module.

2. Select a slot for the NI PXI-8360. The NI PXI-8360 must be installed
in the controller slot (slot 1 in PXI).

Caution To protect both yourself and the chassis from electrical hazards, leave the chassis

off until you finish installing the NI PXI-8360.

3. Remove or open any doors or covers blocking access to the slot in
which you intend to install the NI PXI-8360.

4. Touch the metal part of the case to discharge any static electricity that
might be on your clothes or body.

5. Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position.
Be sure to remove all connector packaging and protective caps from
retaining screws on the module. Align the NI PXI-8360 with the card
guides on the top and bottom of the system controller slot.

Chapter 2 Hardware Installation

Caution Do not raise the injector/ejector handle as you insert the NI PXI-8360. It will not

insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so that it does not interfere
with the injector/ejector rail on the chassis, as shown in Figure 2-2.

6. Hold the handle as you slowly slide the module into the chassis until
the handle catches on the injector/ejector rail.

7. Raise the injector/ejector handle until the module firmly seats into the
backplane receptacle connectors. The front panel of the NI PXI-8360
should be even with the front panel of the chassis.

8. Tighten the bracket-retaining screws on the top and bottom of the front
panel to secure the NI PXI-8360 to the chassis.

9. Replace or close any doors or covers to the chassis.

© National Instruments Corporation 2-3 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Chapter 2 Hardware Installation

2

Figure 2-2 shows an NI PXI-8360 just before installation in the system
controller slot of a National Instruments chassis.

1

4

3

1 PXI/Compact PCI Chassis
2 NI PXI-8360

Figure 2-2. NI PXI-8360 Card Before Installation

3 Ejector Handle in Down Position
4 PXI/Compact PCI Slot 1

Cabling

1. Connect the appropriate MXI-Express cable to both MXI-Express
cards. The cables have no polarity, so either end may be connected to
either card.

Caution Do not remove the cable after the system is powered on. Doing so can hang

or cause errors in applications communicating with devices behind MXI-Express. If a
cable becomes unplugged, plug it back into the system.

Note For more information about cables, refer to the MXI-Express Cable Options section

of Chapter 3, Hardware Overview.

MXI-Express Series User Manual 2-4 ni.com

Powering Up the MXI-Express System

1. Power on all of the expansion chassis in any order you choose.

2. Power on the host.

Typical PCI-PCI bridges are used to add PCI devices to a PCI hierarchy in
which all the bridges and devices are contained within a single chassis.
Because of this, BIOSes and operating systems make the assumption that
all PCI devices in the entire hierarchy will be available as soon as code
execution begins at power-up time. This assumption means that all of the
expansion chassis must be turned on before the host PC for the BIOS and
OS to correctly configure a MXI-Express system.

Note There are no requirements on how MXI-Express expansion chassis are powered up

relative to each other, as long as they are all on before the computer is powered on.

Powering Down the MXI-Express System

Because operating systems and drivers commonly make the assumption
that PCI devices will be present in the system from power-up to
power-down, it is important not to power off the expansion chassis until
after the host PC is powered off. Powering off the expansion chassis while
the host is still on can cause crashes or hangs. The order in which expansion
chassis are powered off, relative to each other, is not important.

Chapter 2 Hardware Installation

© National Instruments Corporation 2-5 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Hardware Overview

This chapter presents an overview of MXI-Express hardware functionality
and explains the operation of each functional unit.

Functional Overview

MXI-Express is based on PCI Express technology. A MXI-Express kit uses
a PCI Express switch and PCI Express-to-PCI bridge to enable control of a
PXI or CompactPCI chassis from a PC with an available PCI Express slot.
The PCI Express-to-PCI bridge architecture is transparent to device
drivers, so no additional software is needed to support using PXI and
CompactPCI devices in a chassis connected using MXI-Express.

The link between the PC and the chassis is a x1 cabled PCI 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.

Figure 3-1 shows the basic architecture of MXI-Express. The
NI PCIe-8360 consists of a PCI Express x1 card edge connector, a PCI
Express switch, and two cabled PCI Express connectors. The NI PXI-8360
consists of one cabled PCI Express connector, a PCI Express-to-PCI
bridge, and a PXI connector.

3

© National Instruments Corporation 3-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Chapter 3 Hardware Overview

NI PCIe-8360

PCI

Express

Switch

PCI EXPRESS

Cabled

PCI Express

Connector

Cabled

PCI Express

Connector

Figure 3-1. MXI-Express Block Diagram

Functional Unit Descriptions

PCI Express x1 Card Edge Connector

The card edge connector allows you to use the NI PCIe-8360 in a x1 or
wider PCI Express slot in a PC. The PCI Express Card Electromechanical
Specification defines this connector.

PCI Express x1 Switch

The PCI Express Base Specification defines a PCI Express switch as a
logical collection of PCI Express-to-PCI Express bridge devices. On the
NI PCIe-8360, the upstream port of the switch is connected to the
PCI Express x1 card edge connector, and the two downstream ports are
connected to the two cabled PCI Express connectors.

PXI-8360

Cabled

PCI Express

Connector

PCI Express

to PCI Bridge

PXI BUS

Cabled PCI Express Connector

The cabled PCI Express connector provides all necessary signals to connect
an NI PCIe-8360 and an NI PXI-8360. These signals include the
PCI Express transmit and receive pair, the system clock, and a presence
detect signal.

MXI-Express Series User Manual 3-2 ni.com

PCI Express-to-PCI Bridge

The PCI Express Base Specification defines a PCI Express-to-PCI bridge
as a device that connects a PCI Express fabric and a PCI hierarchy. On the
NI PXI-8360, the PCI Express-to-PCI bridge connects the x1 PCI Express
link and the PCI bus in a PXI or CompactPCI chassis.

LED Indicators

The LEDs on MXI-Express give status information about power supplies
and link state. The NI PCIe-8360 has two tri-color LEDs, one for each port
on the panel. The NI PXI-8360 has two LEDs, one for power supply status
and one for link state.

The LEDs on the NI PCIe-8360 indicate the following:

Amber Power is within spec; no link to chassis

Chapter 3 Hardware Overview

Color Meaning

Off Power is off

Red Power is out of spec

Green Power is within spec; link established

The LEDs on the NI PXI-8360 indicate the following:

LED Color Meaning

PWR Off No power

Red Power is out of spec

Green Power is within spec

LINK Off Link not established

Green Link established

© National Instruments Corporation 3-3 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Chapter 3 Hardware Overview

MXI-Express Cable Options

MXI-Express is available with cables of various lengths. Table 3-1 shows
the cables available from National Instruments.

Table 3-1. National Instruments MXI-Express Cables

Cable Length (Meters) Description

3 m MXI-Express copper cable

7 m MXI-Express copper cable

MXI-Express Series User Manual 3-4 ni.com

Specifications

This appendix lists the system specifications for NI PCIe-8360 and
NI PXI-8360 cards. These specifications are typical at 25 °C, unless
otherwise stated.

Physical

Dimensions

NI PXI-8360 ................................... 10.0 × 16.0 cm (3.9 × 6.3 in.)

NI PCIe-8360.................................. 10.7 × 17.5 cm (4.4 × 6.9 in.)

Maximum cable length........................... 7 m

Slot requirements

NI PXI-8360 ................................... One system slot

NI PCIe-8360.................................. One slot (PCI Express)

Compatibility ......................................... Fully compatible with the

A

PXI Hardware Specification,
Revision 2.1 and the
PCI Express Specification,
Revision 1.0a

Weight

NI PXI-8360 ................................... 0.25 Kg (0.55 lb) typical

NI PCIe-8360.................................. 0.19 Kg (0.42 lb) typical

Power requirements

NI PXI-8360

Power Rail Typical Current Maximum Current

+3.3 V 1.500 A 1.750 A

+5 V 5 mA 20 mA

+12 V 5 mA 20 mA

–12 V 0 mA 0 mA

© National Instruments Corporation A-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Appendix A Specifications

Environment

NI PCIe-8360

Power Rail Typical Current Maximum Current

+3.3 V 1.800 A 2.000 A

+3.3 V Aux 0 A 0 A

+12 V 0 A 0 A

NI PXI-8360

Maximum altitude...................................2,000 m

Pollution Degree .....................................2

Indoor use only

Operating Environment

Ambient temperature range ....................0 to 55 °C (tested in accordance

with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2)

Operating relative humidity....................10 to 90%, noncondensing

(tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56)

Storage Environment

Ambient temperature range ....................–20 to 70 °C (tested in accordance

with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2)

Storage relative humidity........................5 to 95%, noncondensing

(tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56)

MXI-Express Series User Manual A-2 ni.com

Appendix A Specifications

Shock and Vibration

Operational shock .................................. 30 g peak, half-sine, 11 ms pulse

(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-27. Test profile
developed in accordance with
MIL-PRF-28800F.)

Random Vibration

Operating................................................ 5 to 500 Hz, 0.3 g

rms

Nonoperating.......................................... 5 to 500 Hz, 2.4 g

(Tested in accordance
with IEC-60068-2-64.
Nonoperating test profile
exceeds the requirements of
MIL-PRF-28800F, Class 3.)

rms

NI PCIe-8360

Maximum altitude .................................. 2,000 m

Pollution Degree .................................... 2

Indoor use only

Operating Environment

Ambient temperature range.................... 0 to 40 °C (tested in accordance

with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2)

Operating relative humidity ................... 10 to 90%, noncondensing

(tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56)

Storage Environment

Ambient temperature range.................... –20 to 70 °C (tested in accordance

with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2)

Storage relative humidity ....................... 5 to 95%, noncondensing

(tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56)

© National Instruments Corporation A-3 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Appendix A Specifications

Caution Clean the NI PXI-8360 and NI PCIe-8360 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make

sure that the device is completely dry and free from contaminants before returning it to
service.

Note For full EMC compliance, operate this device with shielded cabling. In addition, all

covers and filler panels must be installed. Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
for this product for any additional regulatory compliance information. To obtain the DoC
for this product, visit
and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.

Safety

Note For UL and other safety certifications, refer to the product label or visit

ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line, and click the

appropriate link in the Certification column.

ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line,

This product is designed to meet the requirements of the following
standards of safety for electrical equipment for measurement, control,
and laboratory use:

• IEC 61010-1, EN 61010-1

• UL 61010-1

• CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1

Electromagnetic Compatibility

Emissions................................................EN 55011 Class A at 10 m.

FCC Part 15A above 1 GHz

Immunity ................................................EN 61326:1997 + A2:2001,

Table 1

CE, C-Tick, and FCC Part 15 (Class A) Compliant

Note For EMC compliance, operate this device with shielded cabling.

CE Compliance

This product meets the essential requirements of applicable European
Directives, as amended for CE marking, as follows:

Low-Voltage Directive (safety)..............73/23/EEC

Electromagnetic Compatibility

Directive (EMC) .....................................89/336/EEC

MXI-Express Series User Manual A-4 ni.com

Cleaning

Appendix A Specifications

Note Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product for any additional

regulatory compliance information. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit

ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line, and click the

appropriate link in the Certification column.

If you need to clean the module, use a soft, nonmetallic brush. Make sure
that the module is completely dry and free from contaminants before
returning it to service.

© National Instruments Corporation A-5 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Common Questions

This appendix lists common questions related to the use of the
MXI-Express controllers.

General Hardware

What are the board names of the MXI-Express remote controllers?

• NI PCIe-8360: PCI Express MXI-Express interface

• NI PXI-8360: PXI MXI-Express interface

How many PXI bus segments can I connect together with
MXI-Express?

The PCI specification allows up to 255 bus segments. MXI-Express does
not limit this number, but the maximum number of bus segments allowed
can be BIOS or operating system dependent. Also, a computer may already
have several PCI bus segments internally, and the MXI-Express link also
has multiple PCI buses internally.

B

Note Due to the point-to-point nature of PCI Express, MXI-Express supports only the star

configuration. You must use traditional MXI for the daisy chain configuration.

General Cabling

What is the maximum length of a MXI-Express copper cable?

The maximum length for a MXI-Express copper cable is 7 m. National
Instruments offers 3 m and 7 m copper cables.

© National Instruments Corporation B-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Appendix B Common Questions

General Software

Under which operating systems will MXI-Express work?

MXI-Express is a PCI-to-PCI bridge that is recognized by the majority of
operating systems. It should automatically work with most systems like
Windows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, and Solaris, but only Windows XP has
been verified in the initial release of MXI-Express.

What software is required to use my MXI-Express kit?

For Windows and LabVIEW RT, the required software is included as part
of the latest version of NI-VISA included with your kit. The software for
your MXI-Express controller enhances the product, allowing you to
view information about the organization of your PXI system and
programmatically retrieve data about the chassis and modules you have
installed.

If the MXI-Express software does not support your operating system,
you can still use MXI-Express and the operating system will provide a
mechanism for you to ignore the MXI-Express configuration device that is
built into the MXI-Express hardware.

MXI-3 required optimization software. Does MXI-Express require
the same?

No. The necessary optimization is now done automatically by the
MXI-Express hardware.

How does my MXI-Express board show up in the Windows Device
Manager?

MXI-Express boards contain two types of PCI devices onboard and will
have several listings in the Windows Device Manager (WDM). The first
devices show up in the WDM listed under System devices as PCI standard

PCI-to-PCI bridges. The second device type shows up in the WDM as an
NI PXI-8360 when the correct MXI-Express driver is installed. This

second device provides configuration information for the software.
The NI PCIe-8360 includes three PCI standard PCI-to-PCI bridges. The
NI PXI-8360 includes two additional bridges and one NI PXI-8360 device.

If the MXI-Express software is not installed, the PCI-to-PCI function will
still be detected and work correctly, but the MXI-Express configuration
device will be detected as an unknown device.

MXI-Express Series User Manual B-2 ni.com

Appendix B Common Questions

MXI-3 and MXI-4 to MXI-Express Upgrade Questions

What are some of the improvements from MXI-3 and MXI-4 to
MXI-Express?

MXI-Express incorporates the latest technology to include:

• Support for PCI Express slots.

• Improved error correction and handling for noisy or harsh
environments.

• Improved mechanical connectivity.

• Improved performance.

• Support for two chassis from a single card in the host PC.

Can a MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express board be used together
directly?

No. MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express boards use different cable
connectors and cannot be connected together. Additionally, the
board-to-board communication protocols differ.

Can I use a MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express kit in the same
multichassis PXI system?

Yes. Different MXI kits can be intermixed to connect multiple PXI chassis
together. As mentioned previously, an individual MXI-3 or MXI-4 board
will not cable directly to a MXI-Express board.

MXI-3 and MXI-4 systems required the use of a specific boot ordering.
Is this a requirement with MXI-Express?

Yes. The requirements of the PCI bus still mandate that you must power on
secondary PXI chassis before powering on the host PC when using
MXI-Express.

With MXI-3 and several chassis connected in series (daisy chain
configuration), you were required to power on the chassis in order starting
with the chassis at the end of the chain and move towards the host
controller. Now with MXI-Express, multiple chassis are connected in
parallel and can be powered on in any order, except that you need to ensure
that the last component powered on is the host PC.

For more details, refer to the Powering Up the MXI-Express System section
of Chapter 2, Hardware Installation.

© National Instruments Corporation B-3 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Technical Support and
Professional Services

Visit the following sections of the National Instruments Web site at

ni.com for technical support and professional services:

• Support—Online technical support resources at
include the following:

– Self-Help Resources—For answers and solutions, visit the

award-winning National Instruments Web site for software drivers
and updates, a searchable KnowledgeBase, product manuals,
step-by-step troubleshooting wizards, thousands of example
programs, tutorials, application notes, instrument drivers, and
so on.

– Free Technical Support—All registered users receive free Basic

Service, which includes access to hundreds of Application
Engineers worldwide in the NI Developer Exchange at

ni.com/exchange. National Instruments Application Engineers

make sure every question receives an answer.

For information about other technical support options in your
area, visit

ni.com/contact.

• Training and Certification—Visit
self-paced training, eLearning virtual classrooms, interactive CDs,
and Certification program information. You also can register for
instructor-led, hands-on courses at locations around the world.

• System Integration—If you have time constraints, limited in-house
technical resources, or other project challenges, National Instruments
Alliance Partner members can help. To learn more, call your local
NI office or visit

• Declaration of Conformity (DoC)—A DoC is our claim of
compliance with the Council of the European Communities using
the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity. This system affords
the user protection for electronic compatibility (EMC) and product
safety. You can obtain the DoC for your product by visiting

ni.com/certification.

ni.com/services or contact your local office at

ni.com/alliance.

C

ni.com/support

ni.com/training for

© National Instruments Corporation C-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Appendix C Technical Support and Professional Services

• Calibration Certificate—If your product supports calibration,

you can obtain the calibration certificate for your product at

ni.com/calibration.

If you searched

ni.com and could not find the answers you need, contact

your local office or NI corporate headquarters. Phone numbers for our
worldwide offices are listed at the front of this manual. You also can visit
the Worldwide Offices section of

ni.com/niglobal to access the branch

office Web sites, which provide up-to-date contact information, support
phone numbers, email addresses, and current events.

MXI-Express Series User Manual C-2 ni.com

Glossary

Symbol Prefix Value

nnano10

µ micro 10

m milli 10

k kilo 10

Mmega10

Symbols

° Degrees

≥ Equal or greater than

≤ Equal or less than

% Percent

–9

–6

–3

3

6

B

bus the group of conductors that interconnect individual circuitry in a computer.

Typically, a bus is the expansion vehicle to which I/O or other devices are
connected. Examples of PC buses are the AT bus, NuBus, Micro Channel,
and EISA bus.

bus master a type of a plug-in board or controller with the ability to read and write

devices on the computer bus

C

CCelsius

clock hardware component that controls timing for reading from or writing to

groups

counter/timer a circuit that counts external pulses or clock pulses (timing)

© National Instruments Corporation G-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Glossary

D

device a plug-in instrument card or pad that can contain multiple channels and

conversion devices. Plug-in boards and PCMCIA cards, which connect to
your computer parallel port, are examples of devices.

digital trigger a TTL level signal having two discrete levels—a high and a low level

DMA direct memory access—a method by which data can be transferred to/from

computer memory from/to a device or memory on the bus while the
processor does something else. DMA is the fastest method of transferring
data to/from computer memory.

F

FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array—a logic device that has its functionality

defined after it is manufactured.

I

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

P

PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect—a high-performance expansion bus

architecture originally developed by Intel to replace ISA and EISA. It is
achieving widespread acceptance as a standard for PCs and workstations;
it offers a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 132 Mbytes/s.

PCI Express a scalable full-simplex serial bus standard that operates at 2.5 Gbps and

offers both asynchronous and isochronous data transfers

PCI-PCI bridge a device that transparently expands the PCI bus on a computer motherboard

to another bus segment in the same machine. The bridge expands the
number of PCI expansion slots, but remains transparent to the end user.

PXI PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation. PXI is an open specification

that builds off the CompactPCI specification by adding
instrumentation-specific features.

MXI-Express Series User Manual G-2 ni.com

X

x1 a link or port with one physical lane

Glossary

© National Instruments Corporation G-3 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Index

A

additional MXI-Express configuration

(figure), 1-2

B

basic MXI-Express configuration (figure), 1-2
basic MXI-Express system, 1-1
block diagram (figure), 3-2

C

cable options (table), 3-4
cabled PCI Express connector, 3-2
cabling common questions, B-1
calibration certificate (NI resources), C-2
card edge connector, 3-2
CE compliance specifications, A-4
cleaning, A-5
common questions, B-1

general cabling, B-1
general hardware, B-1
general software, B-2
MXI-3 to MXI-Express, B-3

configuration, additional

star (figure), 1-2
configuration, basic (figure), 1-2
conventions used in the manual, vii

D

Declaration of Conformity (NI resources), C-1
diagnostic tools (NI resources), C-1
documentation

conventions used in manual, vii

NI resources, C-1

related documentation, viii

drivers (NI resources), C-1

E

electromagnetic compatibility, A-4
environmental specifications, A-2

NI PCIe-8360, A-3
NI PXI-8360, A-2

examples (NI resources), C-1

F

functional unit descriptions, 3-2

G

getting started, 1-3

H

hardware common questions, B-1
help, technical support, C-1

I

installation

cabling, 2-4
hardware, 2-1
of an NI PCIe-8360, 2-1
of an NI PXI-8360, 2-3
powering down the MXI-Express

system, 2-5

powering up the MXI-Express system, 2-5

instrument drivers (NI resources), C-1

K

KnowledgeBase, C-1

© National Instruments Corporation I-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual

Index

L

larger MXI-Express systems, 1-2
LED indicators, 3-3

M

MXI-3 to MXI-Express common

questions, B-3

MXI-Express

basic system, 1-1
block diagram (figure), 3-2
cable options (table), 3-4
hardware overview, 3-1
larger systems, 1-2
specifications, A-1

MXI-Express system

description, 1-1
getting started, 1-3

N

National Instruments support and

services, C-1

NI PCIe-8360

installation, 2-1

figure, 2-2

NI PXI-8360

installation, 2-3

figure, 2-4

NI support and services, C-1

O

operating environment specifications

NI PCIe-8360, A-3
NI PXI-8360, A-2

overview

functional, 3-1
functional unit descriptions, 3-2
hardware, 3-1

P

PCI Express x1

card edge connector, 3-2

switch, 3-2
PCI Express-to-PCI bridge, 3-3
physical specifications, A-1
programming examples (NI resources), C-1

R

random vibration specifications

NI PXI-8360, A-3
related documentation, viii

S

safety specifications, A-4
shock and vibration specifications

NI PXI-8360, A-3
software (NI resources), C-1
software common questions, B-2
software installation, 2-1
specifications, A-1

CE compliance, A-4

cleaning, A-5

electromagnetic compatibility, A-4

environmental, A-2

NI PCIe-8360, A-3

NI PXI-8360, A-2
physical, A-1
safety, A-4

storage environment specifications

NI PCIe-8360, A-3
NI PXI-8360, A-2

support, technical, C-1

T

technical support, C-1
training and certification (NI resources), C-1
troubleshooting (NI resources), C-1

MXI-Express Series User Manual I-2 ni.com

U

unpacking, 1-3

W

Web resources, C-1

Index

© National Instruments Corporation I-3 MXI-Express Series User Manual