National Instruments PXIe-8840 User Manual

PXI Express

PXIe-8840 User Manual

PXIe-8840 User Manual

April 2018
374236B-01

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1

.

circuits.

1

for product installation requirements.

1

.

1

The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) contains important EMC compliance information and instructions

for the user or installer. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit
model number or product line, and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.

ni.com/certification, search by

Contents

About This Manual

How to Use the Documentation Set ................................................................................. xi

Related Documentation .................................................................................................... xi

Chapter 1
Introduction

Benefits of PXI Express ................................................................................................... 1-1

PXIe-8840......................................................................................................................... 1-2

Description................................................................................................................ 1-2

Functional Overview ................................................................................................ 1-2

PXIe-8840 Functional Description................................................................................... 1-3

National Instruments Software ......................................................................................... 1-4

Chapter 2
Installation and Configuration

Installing the PXIe-8840................................................................................................... 2-1

How to Remove the Controller from the PXI Express Chassis................................ 2-3

BIOS Setup Utility............................................................................................................ 2-4

Accessing BIOS Setup Utility .................................................................................. 2-4

Main Setup Menu ..................................................................................................... 2-5

Advanced Setup Menu.............................................................................................. 2-5

SATA Configuration Submenu ........................................................................ 2-6

CPU Configuration Submenu ........................................................................... 2-6

Video Configuration Submenu ......................................................................... 2-7

Power/Wake Configuration Submenu .............................................................. 2-7

ExpressCard Configuration Submenu .............................................................. 2-8

PCI Configuration Submenu ............................................................................ 2-8

USB Configuration Submenu ........................................................................... 2-9

Serial Port Configuration Submenu.................................................................. 2-9

LabVIEW RT Setup Menu ....................................................................................... 2-10

Current Hardware Switch Settings ................................................................... 2-10

LabVIEW RT Configuration Overrides Submenu ........................................... 2-10

Boot Setup Menu ...................................................................................................... 2-11

Boot Settings Configuration Submenu ............................................................. 2-12

Hard Drive BBS Priorities Submenu................................................................ 2-12

CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities Submenu .............................................. 2-12

Floppy Drive BBS Priorities Submenu ............................................................ 2-12

Network Device BBS Priorities Submenu........................................................ 2-12

Security Menu........................................................................................................... 2-12

Save & Exit Menu .................................................................................................... 2-13

BIOS Diagnostic Utilities ................................................................................................. 2-13

Accessing BIOS Diagnostic Utilities ....................................................................... 2-13

© National Instruments | vii

Contents

Hard Drive Diagnostic Utility...................................................................................2-14

Memory Diagnostic Utility....................................................................................... 2-14

System CMOS .................................................................................................................. 2-14

LabVIEW RT Installation................................................................................................. 2-15

LabVIEW RT Software Installation ......................................................................... 2-15

LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches..................................................................... 2-17

Drivers and Software ........................................................................................................ 2-18

PXI Express Features........................................................................................................ 2-19

PXI Express Trigger Connectivity............................................................................ 2-19

PXI Express Chassis Configuration.................................................................................. 2-19

PXI Express System Configuration .......................................................................... 2-19

Upgrading RAM ............................................................................................................... 2-20

Hard Drive Recovery ........................................................................................................ 2-21

Installing an OS ................................................................................................................2-21

Installing from a USB CD/DVD-ROM .................................................................... 2-21

ExpressCard ...................................................................................................................... 2-21

Installing an ExpressCard ......................................................................................... 2-22

Removing an ExpressCard........................................................................................ 2-22

Chapter 3
I/0 Information

Front Panel Connectors..................................................................................................... 3-1

Front Panel ........................................................................................................................ 3-2

DisplayPort ............................................................................................................... 3-3

COM1 ....................................................................................................................... 3-4

Ethernet .....................................................................................................................3-6

Universal Serial Bus ................................................................................................. 3-8

Trigger ......................................................................................................................3-10

GPIB (IEEE 488.2) ................................................................................................... 3-11

ExpressCard/34 Slot ................................................................................................. 3-13

Front Panel Features ......................................................................................................... 3-15

Data Storage...................................................................................................................... 3-15

Chapter 4
Common Configuration Questions

General Questions............................................................................................................. 4-1

Boot Options ..................................................................................................................... 4-1

Cables and Connections .................................................................................................... 4-2

Software Driver Installation.............................................................................................. 4-3

Upgrade Information.........................................................................................................4-4

PXI Express Configuration ............................................................................................... 4-5

Chapter 5
Troubleshooting

viii | ni.com

Appendix A
Specifications

Appendix B
NI Services

PXIe-8840 User Manual

© National Instruments | ix

About This Manual

This manual contains detailed instructions for installing and configuring the National
Instruments PXIe-8840 embedded computer kit.

How to Use the Documentation Set

Begin by reading the PXIe-8840 Installation Guide, a brief quick-start guide that describes how
to install and get started with your controller.

This manual, the PXIe-8840 User Manual, contains more details about changing the installation
or configuration from the defaults and using the hardware.

Related Documentation

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

• PICMG EXP.0 R2.0 CompactPCI Express Specification, PCI Industrial Computers
Manufacturers Group

• IEEE Standard P1284.1-1997 (C/MM) Standard for Information Technology for Transport

Independent Printer/System Interface

• PCI Express Base Specification, PCI Special Interest Group

• PXI-5 PXI Express Hardware Specification, PXI Systems Alliance

• PXI-6 PXI Express Software Specification, PXI Systems Alliance

• Serialized IRQ Support for PCI Systems Specification, Compaq Computer et al.

• ExpressCard Standard, PCMCIA

© National Instruments | xi

1

Introduction

Benefits of PXI Express

The PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) industry standard, an open specification governed
by the PXI Systems Alliance (PXISA), has quickly gained adoption and grown in prevalence in
test, measurement, and control systems since its release in 1998. One of the key elements driving
the rapid adoption of PXI is its use of PCI in the communication backplane. As the commercial
PC industry has improved the available bus bandwidth by evolving PCI to PCI Express, PXI is
now able to meet even more application needs by integrating PCI Express into the PXI standard.
By taking advantage of PCI Express technology in the backplane, PXI Express increases the
available PXI bandwidth from up to 132 MB/s to up to 8 GB/s for a more than 60x improvement
in bandwidth.

PXI Express maximizes both hardware and software compatibility with PXI modules.
PXI Express hybrid slots deliver both PCI and PCI Express signaling to accept devices that use
PXI communication and triggering or the newer PXI Express standard. Software compatibility
is maintained because PCI Express uses the same OS and driver model as PCI, resulting in
complete software compatibility among PCI-based systems, for example PXI, and
PCI Express-based systems such as PXI Express.

PXI Express, like PXI, leverages from the CompactPCI specification to define a rugged,
modular form factor that offers superior mechanical integrity and easy installation and removal
of hardware components. PXI Express products offer higher and more carefully defined levels
of environmental performance required by the shock, vibration, temperature, and humidity
extremes of industrial environments. Mandatory environmental testing and active cooling is
added to the CompactPCI mechanical specification to ease system integration and ensure
multivendor interoperability.

The demanding timing and synchronization requirements of instrumentation systems are met by
the integrated features of PXI Express. Not only are the trigger bus, 10 MHz system reference
clock, and star trigger bus available in PXI retained by PXI Express, but new timing and
synchronization features that include a 100 MHz differential system reference clock for the
synchronization of multiple modules and three differential star trigger buses for the distribution
of precise clock and trigger signals have been added. Differential timing and synchronization
signals provide PXI Express systems with increased noise immunity and the ability to transmit
clock signals at higher frequencies.

© National Instruments | 1-1

Chapter 1 Introduction

PXIe-8840

Description

The PXIe-8840 PXI Express/CompactPCI Express embedded controller is a high-performance
PXI Express/CompactPCI Express-compatible system controller. The PXIe-8840 controller
integrates standard I/O features in a single unit by using state-of-the-art packaging. Combining
a PXIe-8840 embedded controller with a PXI Express-compatible chassis, such as the
PXIe-1082, results in a fully PC-compatible computer in a compact, rugged package.

®

The PXIe-8840 has an Intel
standard I/O, and a 250 GB (or larger) hard drive. It also has a PCI-based GPIB controller and
an ExpressCard/34 expansion slot.

The standard I/O on each module includes two DisplayPort video, one RS-232 serial port, four
Hi-Speed USB ports, two SuperSpeed USB ports, two Gigabit Ethernet, a reset button, and a PXI
trigger.

Core™ i5 4400E processor (2.7 GHz dual core processor), all the

1

Functional Overview

This section contains functional descriptions of each major logic block on the PXIe-8840
embedded computer.

1

Available on the PXIe-8840 ExpressCard variant only.

1-2 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

PXIe-8840 Functional Description

The PXIe-8840 is a modular PC in a PXI Express 3U-size form factor. Figure 1-1 is a functional
block diagram of the PXIe-8840. Following the diagram is a description of each logic block
shown.

Figure 1-1. PXIe-8840 Block Diagram

PXI

Express

DisplayPort

DisplayPort

RJ45

Por t 1

RJ45

Por t 2

GPIB

Connector

PCI Express

4x4

Intel I217-LM

Gigabit

PHY

Intel I210-IT

Gigabit

MAC/PHY

Express

Card/34 Slot

(ExpressCard

Variant Only)

GPIB

Controller

Switch

x4 DDI

x4 DDI

x1 PCIE

x1 PCIE

USB

x8

Processor

Intel Core

8 Series

x1 PCIE

PCI

Intel

PCH

i5

x4 DMI2

Memory Bus Ch. A

USB 3.0 x2

USB 3.0 x2

USB 2.0 x4

SATA

SPI

LPC

Watchdog

Trigger

DDR3L SDRAM

SATA

Hard Disk

FLASH

UART

SMB

Connector

SO-DIMM

PC3 12800

USB 2.0 x4

COM1

The PXIe-8840 consists of the following logic blocks on two circuit card assemblies (CCAs):

• The processor is an Intel
processor connects to the SO-DIMM block through the DDR3L interface supporting up to
1600 MHz SO-DIMMs, the PCH through a x4 DMI2 (Direct Media Interface) interface
supporting up to 5 GT/s per lane.

• The SO-DIMM block consists of one 64-bit DDR3L SDRAM socket that can hold up to
8 GB of memory.

• The processor provides the DisplayPort interface that connects to display peripherals on the
PXIe-8840, and the PCI Express interface to the PXI Express backplane through a
PCI Express switch.

PXI

Triggers

®

Core™ i5 4400E processor (3 MB Cache, 2.7 GHz). The

© National Instruments | 1-3

Chapter 1 Introduction

• The Platform Controller Hub (PCH) provides the USB, PCI Express x1, and LPC interfaces
that connect to the peripherals on the PXIe-8840.

• The DisplayPort block consists of two DisplayPort connectors.

• The USB block consists of four Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectors and two SuperSpeed
USB 3.0 connectors.

• The GPIB block contains the GPIB interface.

• The ExpressCard/34 slot accommodates an ExpressCard/34 module.

• The Ethernet Port 1 block consists of an Intel® I217-LM Gigabit Ethernet Connection.

• The Ethernet Port 2 block consists of an Intel® I210-IT Gigabit Ethernet Connection.

• The UART block connects to one serial port.

• The SMB Front Panel Trigger provides a routable connection of the PXI triggers to/from
the SMB on the front panel.

• The Watchdog block consists of a watchdog timer that can reset the controller or generate
triggers.

• The PXIe Connectors connect the PXIe-8840 to the PXI Express/CompactPCI Express
backplane.

National Instruments Software

National Instruments has developed several software tools you can use with the PXIe-8840.

National Instruments hardware and software work together to help you make the most of your

™

PXI Express system. The LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, and LabWindows
application development environments combine with leading hardware drivers such as
NI-DAQmx to provide exceptional control of NI hardware. Instrument drivers are available at
ni.com/idnet to simplify communication with instruments over a variety of buses.

LabVIEW is a powerful and easy-to-use graphical programming environment you can use to
acquire data from thousands of different instruments including USB, IEEE 488.2, VXI, serial,
PLCs, and plug-in boards. LabVIEW helps you convert acquired data into meaningful results
using powerful data analysis routines. Add-on tools provide additional specialized functionality.
For more information visit

ni.com/labview and ni.com/toolkits.

If you prefer to use Microsoft’s Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Visual Studio .NET for the core
of your application, Measurement Studio adds tools for Measurement and Automation to each
language. For more information visit

ni.com/mstudio.

LabWindows/CVI is an interactive ANSI C programming environment designed for building
virtual instrument applications. LabWindows/CVI delivers a drag-and-drop editor for building
user interfaces, a complete ANSI C environment for building your test program logic, and a
collection of automated code generation tools, as well as utilities for building automated test
systems, monitoring applications, or laboratory experiments. For more information visit

ni.com/lwcvi.

/CVI™

1-4 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

NI-DAQmx provides an extensive library of functions that you can call from your application
development environment or interactive environment such as NI Signal Express. These
functions provide an intuitive API for National Instruments multifunction DAQ products.
Features available include analog input (A/D conversion), buffered data acquisition
(high-speed A/D conversion), analog output (D/A conversion), waveform generation,
digital I/O, counter/timer operations, SCXI signal conditioning, RTSI or PXI synchronization,
self-calibration, messaging, and acquiring data to extended memory. For more information

ni.com/daq.

visit

National Instruments Modular Instruments use specialized drivers suited to each product’s
specialization. Express VIs provide customized, interactive programming of instruments in a
single interface and soft front panels provide an interface for testing the functionality of each
instrument with no programming required. NI Switches, DMMs, High-Speed DIO, High-Speed
Digitizers, and Sources each have customized drivers for high-end modular instrumentation
systems. RF applications leverage two drivers, NI-RFSG and NI-RFSA and Dynamic Signal
Acquisition is available through NI-DAQmx. For more information visit

modularinstruments

.

ni.com/

You can expand the timing and triggering functionality of your PXI system with PXI Timing and
Synchronization products. These products provide precision clock sources, custom routing of
triggers for multi-chassis synchronization, clock sharing, and more and are programmed with
NI-Sync. For more information visit

ni.com/pxi.

NI-VISA is the National Instruments implementation of the VISA specification. VISA is a
uniform API for communicating and controlling USB, Serial, GPIB, PXI, VXI, and various
other types of instruments. This API aids in the creation of portable applications and instrument
drivers. For information on writing your own PXI instrument driver with NI-VISA, refer to the
NI-VISA Help and the

ni.com/visa.

readme.txt file in the NI-VISA directory. For more information visit

With LabVIEW for Linux and support for over two hundred devices on Linux with the
NI-DAQmx driver, you can now create Virtual Instruments based on the Linux OS. Instrument
control in Linux has been improved by the NI-VISA driver for Linux and NI Modular
Instruments are partially supported. For more information visit

ni.com/linux.

© National Instruments | 1-5

2

Installation and Configuration

This chapter contains information about installing and configuring your PXIe-8840 controller.

Installing the PXIe-8840

This section contains general installation instructions for the PXIe-8840. Consult your
PXI Express chassis user manual for specific instructions and warnings.

1. Plug in your chassis before installing the PXIe-8840. The power cord grounds the chassis
and protects it from electrical damage while you install the module.

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

chassis powered off until you finish installing the PXIe-8840 module.

• Remove any filler panels blocking access to the system controller slot (Slot 1) in the

chassis.

• Touch the metal part of the case to discharge any static electricity that might be on your

clothes or body.

2. Remove the protective plastic covers from the four bracket-retaining screws as shown in
Figure 2-1.

© National Instruments | 2-1

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Figure 2-1. Removing Protective Screw Caps

1

1 Protective Screw Cap (4x)

3. Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position. Align the PXIe-8840
with the card guides on the top and bottom of the system controller slot.

Caution Do not raise the injector/ejector handle as you insert the PXIe-8840. The

module will not insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so that
it does not interfere with the injector rail on the chassis.

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

5. Raise the injector/ejector handle until the module firmly seats into the backplane receptacle
connectors. The front panel of the PXIe-8840 should be even with the front panel of the
chassis.

6. Tighten the four bracket-retaining screws on the top and bottom of the front panel to secure
the PXIe-8840 to the chassis.

7. Check the installation.

8. Connect the keyboard and mouse to the appropriate connectors. If you are using a PS/2
keyboard and a PS/2 mouse, a Y-splitter adapter is available to connect both to a single USB
connector. Refer to Figure 4-1, Y-Splitter Cable.

2-2 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

9. Connect the DisplayPort monitor video cable to the DisplayPort connector, or use the
DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter included with your controller to connect a VGA monitor to
the DisplayPort connector.

10. Connect devices to ports as required by your system configuration.

11. Power on the chassis.

12. Verify that the controller boots. If the controller does not boot, refer to the What if the
PXIe-8840 does not boot? section of Chapter 5, Troubleshooting.

Figure 2-2 shows an PXIe-8840 installed in the system controller slot of a PXIe-1082 chassis.

Figure 2-2. PXIe-8840 Controller Installed in a PXI Express Chassis

1

2

3

1 PXIe-1082 Chassis
2 PXIe-8840 Controller

3 Injector/Ejector Rail

How to Remove the Controller from the PXI Express
Chassis

The PXIe-8840 controller is designed for easy handling. To remove the unit from the PXI
Express chassis, complete the following steps.

1. Power off the chassis.

2. Unscrew the four bracket-retaining screws in the front panel.

3. Press the injector/ejector handle down.

4. Slide the unit out of the chassis.

Note If the PXI Express chassis Inhibit Mode Selector Switch is not in the Default

position, any attempt to shut down the PXIe-8840 through the push button reset or
using Windows will result in the controller Power OK LED blinking. You must use
the Remote Inhibit pin on the Remote Inhibit and Voltage Monitoring Connector to
turn off the chassis. Refer to the PXI Express chassis user manual for details of the
Remote Inhibit and Voltage Monitoring control functionality.

© National Instruments | 2-3

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

BIOS Setup Utility

You can change the PXIe-8840 configuration settings in the BIOS setup program. The BIOS is
the low-level interface between the hardware and operating system software that configures and
tests your hardware when you boot the system. The BIOS setup program includes menus for
configuring settings and enabling PXIe-8840 controller features.

Most users do not need to use the BIOS setup program, as the PXIe-8840 controller ships with
default settings that work well for most configurations.

Caution Changing BIOS settings may lead to incorrect controller behavior and

possibly an unbootable controller. If this happens, follow the instructions for
restoring default settings in the System CMOS section. In general, do not change a
setting unless you are absolutely certain what it does.

Accessing BIOS Setup Utility

Complete the following steps to start the BIOS setup program.

1. Power on or reboot your PXIe-8840 controller.

2. When the message Press <DEL> to enter setup appears, press the <Delete> key.
The setup program loads after a short delay.

The Main menu is displayed when you first enter the BIOS setup program.

Use the following keys to navigate through the BIOS setup program:

• Left Arrow, Right Arrow—Use these keys to move between the different setup menus. If
you are in a submenu, these keys have no effect, and you must press <Esc> to leave the
submenu first. (To use the arrows on the numeric keypad, you must turn off Num Lock.)

• Up Arrow, Down Arrow—Use these keys to move between the options within a setup
menu. (To use the arrows on the numeric keypad, you must turn off Num Lock.)

• <Enter>—Use this key either to enter a submenu or display all available settings for a
highlighted configuration option.

• <Esc>—Use this key to return to the parent menu of a submenu. At the top-level menus,
this key serves as a shortcut to the Exit menu.

• <+> and <->—Use these keys to cycle between all available settings for a selected
configuration option.

• <Tab>—Use this key to select time and date fields.

• <F9>—Use this key to load the optimal default values for BIOS configuration settings. The
optimal default values are the same as the shipping configuration default values.

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Main Setup Menu

The most commonly accessed and modified BIOS settings are in the Main setup menu. The
Main setup menu reports the following configuration information:

• BIOS Version and Build Date—These values indicate the version of the PXIe-8840
controller BIOS and the date on which the BIOS was built.

• Embedded Firmware Version—This value helps identify the built-in hardware
capabilities.

• Processor Type, Base Processor Frequency, and Maximum Processor Core
Count—These values indicate the type of processor used in the PXIe-8840 controller, the
speed of the processor, and the maximum number of processor cores.

• Total Memory—This value indicates the size of system RAM detected by the BIOS.

• PXIe Chassis Information—These values indicate the overall chassis link configuration,
the link width of each link, and the link speed of each link.

The Main setup menu also includes the following settings:

• System Date—This setting controls the date, which is stored in a battery-backed real-time
clock. Most operating systems also include a way to change this setting. Use <+> and <->
in conjunction with <Enter> and <Tab> to change these values.

• System Time—This setting controls the time of day, which is stored in a battery-backed
real-time clock. Most operating systems also include a way to change this setting. Use <+>
and <-> in conjunction with <Enter> and <Tab> to change these values.

Advanced Setup Menu

This menu contains BIOS settings that normally do not require modification. If you have specific
problems such as unbootable disks or resource conflicts, you may need to examine these
settings.

Caution Changing settings in this menu may result in an unstable or unbootable

controller. If this happens, follow the procedures outlined in the System CMOS
section to restore BIOS settings to their factory defaults.

The Advanced setup menu includes the following settings and submenus:

• SATA Configuration—Use this setting to access the SATA Configuration submenu.
Refer to the SATA Configuration Submenu section for more information.

• CPU Configuration—Use this setting to access the CPU Configuration submenu. Refer
to the CPU Configuration Submenu section for more information.

• Video Configuration—Use this setting to access the Video Configuration submenu.
Refer to the Video Configuration Submenu section for more information.

• Power/Wake Configuration—Use this setting to access the Power/Wake Configuration
submenu. Refer to the Power/Wake Configuration Submenu section for more information.

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• ExpressCard Configuration1—Use this setting to access the ExpressCard
Configuration submenu. Refer to the ExpressCard Configuration Submenu section for

more information.

• PCI Configuration—Use this setting to access the PCI Configuration submenu. Refer to
the PCI Configuration Submenu section for more information.

• USB Configuration—Use this setting to access the USB Configuration submenu. Refer
to the USB Configuration Submenu section for more information.

• Serial Port Configuration—Use this setting to access the Serial Port Configuration
submenu. Refer to the Serial Port Configuration Submenu section for more information.

SATA Configuration Submenu

Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to the hard disk drive (HDD) interfaces. Normally,
you do not need to modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most
compatible and optimal configuration possible.

• SATA Controller—This setting specifies whether or not the onboard SATA controller is
enabled or disabled. The default value is Enabled.

– SATA Mode Selection—This setting determines whether AHCI mode is enabled or

disabled for the SATA port. Some older operating systems do not support AHCI mode.
You can use this setting to disable AHCI mode and enable IDE mode so that
non-compatible OSes function correctly. The default value is AHCI.

• Internal Drive (SATA)—This item displays the onboard SATA drive detected in the
system.

CPU Configuration Submenu

Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to the CPU. Normally, you do not need to modify
these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most compatible and optimal
configuration possible.

• Hyper-Threading—This setting enables or disables Intel Hyper-Threading technology.
The default value is Enabled. Enabling Hyper-Threading increases performance for some
applications by adding virtual CPU cores. Hyper-Threading can increase application jitter,
so be careful when enabling this setting on a Real Time system. When the BIOS is
configured to boot LabVIEW Real-Time, Hyper-Threading is disabled automatically. To
manually enable Hyper-Threading performance when in LabVIEW Real-Time mode, refer
to the LabVIEW RT Configuration Overrides Submenu.

• Enabled CPU Cores—This setting selects the number of active CPU cores for the
processor. Valid values are 1 and All. The default value is All.

• Turbo Boost—This setting enables or disables Intel Turbo Boost technology. The default
value is Enabled. Enabling Turbo Boost allows CPU cores to run at higher than their base
frequency for short durations, while other cores are idle. Enabling Turbo Boost can also
increase application jitter, so be careful when enabling this setting on a Real Time system.

1

Available on the PXIe-8840 ExpressCard variant only.

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To achieve maximum possible Turbo Boost frequencies, also enable the C-States setting.
When the BIOS is configured to boot LabVIEW Real-time, Turbo Boost is disabled
automatically. To manually enable Turbo Boost performance when in LabVIEW Real-Time
mode, refer to the LabVIEW RT Configuration Overrides Submenu.

• C-States—This setting enables or disables CPU power management. The default value is
Enabled. Enabling C-States allows the processor to put idle CPU cores to sleep, allowing
active cores to run at higher than base frequencies when Turbo Boost is enabled. Enabling
C-States can increase application jitter, so be careful when enabling this setting on a Real
Time system. When the BIOS is configured to boot LabVIEW Real-time, C-States is
disabled automatically. To manually enable C-States when in LabVIEW Real-Time mode,
refer to the LabVIEW RT Configuration Overrides Submenu.

• Hardware Prefetcher—This setting enables or disables CPU cache hardware prefetching.
The default value is Disabled when booting LabVIEW Real-Time, enabled when booting
other OSs. Enabling hardware prefetching can increase system performance for some
applications, but can cause control algorithms to behave less deterministically.

• Adjacent Cache Line Prefetch—This setting enables or disables prefetching of adjacent
cache lines from memory to the CPU cache. The default value is Disabled when booting
LabVIEW Real-Time, enabled when booting other OSs. Enabling adjacent cache line
prefetching can increase system performance for some applications, but can cause control
algorithms to behave less deterministically.

Video Configuration Submenu

Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to the video configuration. Normally, you do not
need to modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most compatible and
optimal configuration possible.

• Primary Display—This setting specifies which video adapter the BIOS should use as the
primary adapter if more than one is present. To use an external video adapter as the primary
graphics adapter, choose Add-in Board Video. The default value is Onboard Video.

Power/Wake Configuration Submenu

Use this submenu to apply alternate configurations to the power and wake features of the chipset
and controller. Normally, you do not need to modify these settings, as the factory default settings
provide the most compatible and optimal configuration possible.

• Restore After Power Loss—This setting specifies the power state that the controller
should return to after AC power is lost. Valid values are Stay Off and Turn On. The default
is Stay Off. When set to Stay Off, the controller returns to the soft off power state after AC
power is restored. When set to Turn On, the controller powers on when AC power is
restored.

• Power Button Off Behavior—This setting specifies how the PXI Express power button
should behave. Valid options are Normal and Disabled. The default value is Normal.
When set to Normal, the OS controls the power button. When set to Disabled, pressing the
power button has no effect. The Disabled option should only be used in conjunction with
the PXI Express chassis’ inhibit mode switch.

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Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

• ExpressCard WAKE#1—This setting enables or disables an ExpressCard device’s ability
to wake a soft off system. The default value is Disabled.

• PXIe Backplane WAKE#—This setting enables or disables a PXI Express peripheral
module’s ability to wake a soft off system. The default value is Disabled.

• SMBus ALERT#—This setting enables or disables a System Management device’s ability
to wake a soft off system by asserting the ALERT# signal. The default value is Disabled.

ExpressCard Configuration Submenu

Note This submenu is available on the PXIe-8840 ExpressCard variant only.

Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to the ExpressCard configuration. These settings
determine how much memory space, I/O space, and PCI bus numbers is pre-allocated for the
ExpressCard port, allowing non-PCI Express-aware operating systems to support hot-plugging
ExpressCard devices. Normally, you do not need to modify these settings, as the factory default
settings provide the most compatible and optimal configuration possible.

• ExpressCard Resources—This setting enables or disables the setting of the Reserved

Buses, Reserved Memory, and Reserved I/O settings. The default value for this setting is
Enabled. If this setting is disabled, the bus, memory, and I/O options disappear from this

submenu. Disabling this setting effectively sets Reserved Buses to 0, Reserved Memory
to 0M, and Reserved I/O to 0K.

• Reserved Buses—This setting determines the number of PCI buses reserved by the BIOS
for ExpressCard PCI-PCI bridges that may be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot. The
default value for this setting is 8 PCI buses.

• Reserved Memory—This setting determines the amount of memory space, in bytes,
reserved by the BIOS for PCI-PCI bridges that may be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot.
The default value for this setting is 64M bytes of memory.

• Reserved I/O—This setting determines the amount of I/O space, in bytes, reserved by the
BIOS for PCI-PCI bridges that may be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot. The default
value for this setting is 4K bytes of I/O space.

PCI Configuration Submenu

Use this submenu to apply alternate settings to PCI devices. Normally, you do not need to
modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most compatible and optimal
configuration possible.

• PCIe Max Payload Size—This setting determines the maximum payload size of
PCI Express devices. Valid options are Auto and 128 Bytes. The default value is Auto,
which allows the BIOS to choose an optimal value based on which devices are present.

1

Available on the PXIe-8840 ExpressCard variant only.

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USB Configuration Submenu

Use this submenu to apply alternate configurations to the USB ports. Normally, you do not need
to modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most compatible and optimal
configuration possible.

• USB Devices—This item lists the total number of devices detected in the system,
categorized by device type.

• Legacy USB Support—This setting specifies whether or not legacy USB support is
enabled. Legacy USB support refers to the ability to use a USB. keyboard and mouse during
system boot or in a legacy operating system such as DOS. The default value is Enabled.
This option is automatically disabled when booting LabVIEW Real-Time in order to reduce
application jitter.

• Overcurrent Reporting—This setting allows the BIOS to notify the operating system of
any USB ports which source too much current. The default value for this setting is
Disabled.

• Transfer Timeout—This setting specifies the timeout value for Control, Bulk, and
Interrupt USB transfers. The default value for this setting is 20 seconds.

• Device Reset Timeout—This setting specifies the number of seconds the Power-On Self
Test waits for a USB mass storage device to start. The default is 20 seconds.

• Device Power-up Delay—This setting specifies the maximum time a device takes before
it properly reports itself to the host controller. When set to Auto, a root port is granted
100 ms, and for a hub port, the delay value is taken from the hub descriptor. When set to
Manual, you can set the delay manually. The default value for this setting is Auto.

• Device Power-Up Delay in Seconds—This setting specifies the number of seconds the
Power-On Self Test waits for a USB device or hub to power on. This setting is only visible
if Device Power-Up Delay is set to Manual. The default is 5 seconds.

In addition, the following option is available for each detected device if a USB mass storage
device is present:

• Emulation Type—This setting specifies how the BIOS presents the USB mass storage
device to the system. This option can be used to present a USB mass storage device as a
floppy, Zip, hard disk, or CD-ROM drive. The default is Auto, which allows the BIOS to
treat small USB flash disk drives as floppy drives and larger USB flash disk drives as hard
disk drives.

Serial Port Configuration Submenu

Use this submenu to apply alternate configurations to the serial port. Normally, you do not need
to modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most compatible and optimal
configuration possible.

• Serial Port Configuration—Use this setting to access the Serial Port Configuration
submenu. The submenu includes the following items:

– Base Address—This item displays the current base address for the onboard serial

port.

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Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

– Interrupt Request (IRQ)—This item displays the interrupt request (IRQ) for the

onboard serial port.

LabVIEW RT Setup Menu

Use this menu to configure boot options for LabVIEW RT if it is installed on the controller. If
you are not using LabVIEW RT, you should leave these settings at default.

Note The settings below override the behavior of the switches shown in Figure 2-4.

Refer to the LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches section for more information. To
use the settings from the switches, select Use Switch Setting for each option.

• Boot Configuration—This setting selects whether the controller should boot
LabVIEW RT, LabVIEW RT Safe Mode, or an installed OS such as Windows 7. The
default is Use Switch Setting.

• Reset IP Address—If the controller is deployed to a different subnet from which it was
originally configured, or if the current IP address is invalid, use this switch to reset the IP
address and other TCP/IP settings to their factory defaults during LabVIEW RT startup.
The default is Use Switch Setting.

Note By default, the target automatically attempts to connect to the network using

DHCP. If the target is unable to initiate a DHCP connection, the target connects to the
network with a link-local IP address or 169.254.x.x.

• Disable Startup VI—If the controller becomes inaccessible because of a startup VI, this
switch can prevent VIs from automatically running at startup. The default is Use Switch
Setting.

Current Hardware Switch Settings

This submenu displays the current values of the LabVIEW RT configuration switches,
indicating Boot Configuration, Reset IP Address, and Disable Startup VI switch status.

• LabVIEW RT Configuration Overrides—Use this setting to access the LabVIEW RT

Configuration Overrides submenu. Refer to the LabVIEW RT Configuration Overrides
Submenu section for more information.

LabVIEW RT Configuration Overrides Submenu

To minimize jitter when booting into LabVIEW Real-Time mode, the following features are
automatically disabled. You can manually enable these features. Refer to the CPU
Configuration Submenu for specific details on what each feature enables.

• CPU Hyper Threading—The default is Use RT Default.

• CPU C-States—The default is Use RT Default.

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Boot Setup Menu

Use this menu to configure settings related to the boot process and boot device priority.

• Boot Settings Configuration—Use this setting to access the Boot Settings Configuration
submenu. Refer to the Boot Settings Configuration Submenu section for more information.

• PXI Drive Boot—This setting specifies whether or not boot support is enabled for legacy
mass storage devices, such as SCSI drives. When enabled, legacy mass storage controllers
with boot support are displayed in the Boot Option Priorities menu. The default value is
Enabled.

• PXE Network Boot—This setting specifies whether or not the PXE network boot agent is
enabled. When enabled, the Intel Boot Agent is displayed in the Boot Option Priorities
menu, allowing you to boot from a PXE server on the local subnet. Note that the Intel Boot
Agent device names are preceded by IBA GE Slot in the Boot Option Priorities menu.
The system must be restarted for this setting to take effect. The default value is Disabled.

• Boot Option Priorities—These settings specify the order in which the BIOS checks for
bootable devices, including the local hard disk drive, removable devices such as USB flash
disk drives or USB CD-ROM drives, or the PXE network boot agent. The BIOS first
attempts to boot from the device associated with Boot Option #1, followed by Boot
Option #2, and Boot Option #3. If multiple boot devices are not present, the BIOS setup
utility does not display all of these configuration options. To select a boot device, press
<Enter> on the desired configuration option and select a boot device from the resulting
menu. You can also disable certain boot devices by selecting Disabled.

Note Only one device of a given type is shown in this list. If more than one device

of the same type exists, use the Device BBS Priorities submenus to re-order the
priority of devices of the same type.

The following submenus are displayed if one or more bootable devices of the corresponding type
is present:

• Hard Drive BBS Priorities—Use this setting to access the Hard Drive BBS Priorities
submenu to re-order or disable bootable hard drive devices. Refer to the Hard Drive BBS
Priorities Submenu section for more information.

• CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities—Use this setting to access the CD/DVD ROM
Drive BBS Priorities submenu to re-order or disable bootable CD/DVD ROM drive
devices. Refer to the CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities Submenu section for more
information.

• Floppy Drive BBS Priorities—Use this setting to access the Floppy Drive BBS Priorities
submenu to re-order or disable bootable floppy drive devices. Refer to the Floppy Drive
BBS Priorities Submenu section for more information.

• Network Device BBS Priorities—Use this setting to access the Network Device BBS

Priorities submenu to re-order or disable bootable network devices. Refer to the Network
Device BBS Priorities Submenu section for more information.

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Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Boot Settings Configuration Submenu

Use this submenu to apply alternate configurations to boot settings. Normally, you do not need
to modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most compatible and optimal
configuration.

• Setup Prompt Timeout—This setting specifies the number of seconds the system waits
for a BIOS Setup menu keypress (the <Delete> key). The default value is 2 seconds.

• Bootup NumLock State—This setting specifies the power-on state of the keyboard
NumLock setting. The default value is On.

Hard Drive BBS Priorities Submenu

• Boot Option #1, Boot Option #2, Boot Option #3—These settings specify the boot
priority of hard drive devices. The highest priority device is displayed on the main Boot
Option Priorities list. Optionally, each device can also be Disabled if the device should
never be used as a boot device.

CD/DVD ROM Drive BBS Priorities Submenu

• Boot Option #1, Boot Option #2, Boot Option #3—These settings specify the boot
priority of CD/DVD ROM drive devices. The highest priority device is displayed on the
main Boot Option Priorities list. Optionally, each device can also be Disabled if the
device should never be used as a boot device.

Floppy Drive BBS Priorities Submenu

• Boot Option #1, Boot Option #2, Boot Option #3—These settings specify the boot
priority of floppy drive devices. The highest priority device is displayed on the main Boot
Option Priorities list. Optionally, each device can also be Disabled if the device should
never be used as a boot device.

Network Device BBS Priorities Submenu

• Boot Option #1, Boot Option #2, Boot Option #3—These settings specify the boot
priority of network devices. The highest priority device is displayed on the main Boot
Option Priorities list. Optionally, each device can also be Disabled if the device should
never be used as a boot device.

Security Menu

Use this menu to enable BIOS security options.

• Administrator Password—This setting specifies a password that must be entered to
access the BIOS setup program. If only the Administrator’s password is set, this limits
access to only the BIOS setup program and is asked for only when entering the BIOS setup
program. By default, no password is specified.

• User Password—This setting specifies a password that must be entered to access the BIOS
setup program or to boot the system. If only the User’s password is set, this is a power on

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password and must be entered to boot or enter the BIOS setup program. In the BIOS setup
program, the User has Administrator rights. By default, no password is specified.

Save & Exit Menu

• The Save & Exit setup menu includes all available options for exiting, saving, and loading
the BIOS default configuration. As an alternative to this screen, press <F9> to load optimal
BIOS default settings and <F10> to save changes and exit setup.

This setup menu includes the following settings:

• Save Changes and Reset—Any changes made to BIOS settings are stored in NVRAM.
The setup program then exits and reboots the controller. The <F10> key can also be used
to select this option.

• Discard Changes and Reset—Any changes made to BIOS settings during this session of
the BIOS setup program are discarded. The setup program then exits and reboots the
controller. The <Esc> key can also be used to select this option.

• Save Changes—Changes made to BIOS settings during this session are committed to
NVRAM. The setup program remains active, allowing further changes.

• Discard Changes—Any changes made to BIOS settings during this session of the BIOS
setup program are discarded. The BIOS setup continues to be active.

• Restore Factory Defaults—This option restores all BIOS settings to the factory default.
This option is useful if the controller exhibits unpredictable behavior due to an incorrect or
inappropriate BIOS setting. Notice that any nondefault settings such as boot order,
passwords, and so on, are also restored to their factory defaults. The <F9> key can also be
used to select this option.

• Save As User Defaults—This option saves a copy of the current BIOS settings as the User
Defaults. This option is useful for preserving custom BIOS setup configurations.

• Restore User Defaults—This option restores all BIOS settings to the user defaults. This
option is useful for restoring previously preserved custom BIOS setup configurations.

• Boot Override—This option lists all possible bootable devices and allows the user to
override the Boot Option Priorities list for the current boot. If no changes have been made
to the BIOS setup options, the system continues booting to the selected device without
first rebooting. If BIOS setup options have been changed and saved, a reboot is required
and the boot override selection is not valid.

BIOS Diagnostic Utilities

You can test the hard drive and memory of your controller with the included BIOS diagnostic
utilities.

Accessing BIOS Diagnostic Utilities

Complete the following steps to start the BIOS Diagnostic Utility.

1. Power on or reboot your controller.

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Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

2. When the message <F2> to run diagnostics appears, press the <F2> key. The first
diagnostic utility loads after a short delay.

Hard Drive Diagnostic Utility

The hard drive is tested first upon entry into the BIOS Diagnostic Utilities. A quick test is
performed initially, and a more comprehensive test is performed afterwards. The user may abort
and skip any test by pressing the <Esc> key at any time during that test. After both tests have
finished or been skipped, the user is presented with the testing results. If both tests have
succeeded or been skipped, Press any key to continue is displayed. In order to continue with
testing, user interaction is required to press a key on the keyboard.

Note If either hard drive test fails, the controller is not permitted to boot, and the

user is instructed to turn off the controller and replace the hard drive.

Memory Diagnostic Utility

The memory diagnostic utility is started immediately after the user presses a key to exit the hard
drive diagnostic utility. The user may abort and skip the memory test by pressing the <Esc> key
at any time during this test. After the memory utility has finished or been skipped, the user is
presented with the testing result. If the memory test was successful or skipped, Press any key
to continue is displayed. In order to continue to boot the controller, user interaction is required
to press a key on the keyboard.

Note If the memory test fails, the controller is not permitted to boot, and the user is

instructed to turn off the controller and replace the memory.

System CMOS

The PXIe-8840 contains memory backed up by a battery to store BIOS configuration
information.

Complete the following steps to clear the CMOS contents:

1. Power off the chassis.

2. Remove the controller from the chassis.

3. Press the push-button switch, as shown in Figure 2-3.

4. Wait 10 seconds.

5. Reinstall the controller in the chassis.

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Figure 2-3. Clearing the CMOS Contents

PXIe-8840 User Manual

1

1 Push-Button Switch SW1

LabVIEW RT Installation

This section explains software installation and switch configuration for LabVIEW RT on your
PXI Express controller.

LabVIEW RT Software Installation

The following section describes the necessary steps to get your PXI Express embedded
controller setup to run LabVIEW Real-Time. In this section you will configure the boot mode
of the controller, verify or change IP settings, and install LabVIEW Real-Time software.

Complete the following steps to install the LabVIEW RT software.

1. Boot the NI PXI Express embedded controller into the real-time operating system. Refer to
the LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches section or the LabVIEW RT Setup Menu section
in this manual to configure the controller for booting into LabVIEW RT.

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The PXI Express controller automatically boots into LabVIEW RT Safe Mode when no
software is installed. LabVIEW RT Safe Mode loads with the basic real-time operating
system and automatically attempts to connect to the network using DHCP. If DHCP is not
available, it then connects to the network with a link-local IP address.

Tip You can connect a monitor to the desktop PC to display startup messages such

as the IP address and MAC address.

2. Open Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) on another computer in the same
subnet and expand the Remote Systems branch. MAX lists the PXI Express controller as
the model name of the controller followed by the MAC address (for example,
NI-PXIe-8840 00802f108562).

Note The other computer must have LabVIEW, LabVIEW RT, and any desired

drivers installed.

Tip Record the PXI Express controller MAC address, located on the side of the

controller, for use in identifying the controller. The label also can be removed and
placed on the front of the controller for easier access.

3. Click on the appropriate PXI Express controller entry to access the Network Settings tab
in the right pane view.

4. (Optional) Enter a name for the RT target in the Name text box.

5. (Optional) Set the network configuration options of the RT target in the IP Settings section
and click the Apply button.

For information about configuring network settings, refer to the Configuring Network Settings
book, accessible by browsing to MAX Remote Systems Help»LabVIEW Real-Time Target
Configuration»Configuring Network Settings from the Contents tab of MAX Help.

Note When any IP or identification settings are changed, you are prompted to

reboot the controller for the changes to take effect. Click Yes to automatically reboot
the RT target. You may also reboot the controller by right-clicking on the target name
under Remote Systems and selecting Reboot.

After rebooting the PXI Express controller, it appears in the Remote Systems category with the
assigned name.

6. Expand the PXI Express controller view in the Remote Systems branch and select
Software.

7. Click the Add/Remove Software button in the toolbar to launch the LabVIEW Real-Time
Software Wizard.

8. Install the LabVIEW Real-Time software and device drivers that you require on the RT
target. Refer to the NI Web site at ni.com/info and enter the Info Code etspc for the
latest information about supported software.

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After installation of the software, the controller automatically reboots, and you now can program
it using LabVIEW Real-Time.

Note Refer to the RT Getting Started Guide available on your host computer for

more information about setting up your RT target.

LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches

Use the LabVIEW RT configuration switches to configure LabVIEW RT if it is installed on the
controller. If you are not using LabVIEW RT, these switches should remain in the OFF position.
The controller reads these switches only after a system reset.

The PXIe-8840 controller includes the following LabVIEW RT configuration switches:

• Switch 1—Boot LabVIEW RT: Set this switch to ON to boot LabVIEW RT.

• Switch 2—Boot Safe Mode: Set this switch to ON to boot LabVIEW RT into safe mode to
reconfigure TCP/IP settings and to download or update software from a host computer. This
switch overrides the behavior of Switch 1. Booting the controller into safe mode does not
start the embedded LabVIEW RT engine. After changing the settings or software, reboot
the controller with this switch OFF to resume normal operation.

• Switch 3—Disable Startup VI: Set this switch to ON to prevent VIs from automatically
running at startup if the controller becomes inaccessible because of a startup VI.

• Switch 4—Reset IP Address: Set this switch to ON to reset the IP address and other
TCP/IP settings to their factory defaults. Use this switch if moving the controller to a
different subnet or if the current TCP/IP settings are valid.

Note By default, the target automatically attempts to connect to the network using

DHCP. If the target is unable to initiate a DHCP connection, the target connects to the
network with a link-local IP address or 169.254.x.x.

© National Instruments | 2-17

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Figure 2-4 shows the location of the LabVIEW RT configuration switches. The switches are
shown in the OFF position.

Figure 2-4. LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches

4

3

2

1 Switch 1—Boot LabVIEW RT
2 Switch 2—Boot Safe Mode

1

3 Switch 3—Disable Startup VI
4 Switch 4—Reset IP Address

Drivers and Software

If you purchased a system preinstalled with Windows, your hard drive includes a directory called

images in its root that contains software and soft copies of manuals for the peripherals. The

directory structure under the images directory is logically organized into several levels.

In the images directory are drivers and NIDRIVERS directories. The drivers directory
contains driver installers for the system peripherals. These files and directories are copied
exactly from the manufacturer distribution disks, so the naming conventions vary from
peripheral to peripheral. The
Services drivers preinstalled on the controller.

NIDRIVERS directory contains the GPIB and PXI Platform

2-18 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

PXI Express Features

PXI Express Trigger Connectivity

The SMB connector on the PXIe-8840 front panel can connect to or from any PXI Express
backplane trigger line. A trigger allocation process is needed to prevent two resources from
connecting to the same trigger line, resulting in the trigger being double-driven and possibly
damaging the hardware. At the time of this manual’s publication, this software is not
yet available for Windows. Contact National Instruments for more information.

PXI Express Chassis Configuration

The PXI Express Platform Services software installed on your controller and available on the
National Instruments Driver DVD or PXI Platform Services CD included with your kit
automatically identifies your PXI Express system components to generate a pxiesys.ini and

pxisys.ini file. You can configure your entire PXI Express system through Measurement &

Automation Explorer (MAX), included with your controller. MAX creates the pxiesys.ini
and pxisys.ini file, which define your PXI Express system parameters. MAX also provides
an interface to route and reserve triggers so dynamic routing, through drivers such as DAQmx,
avoids double-driving and potentially damaging trigger lines. For more information about
routing and reserving PXI Express triggers, refer to KnowledgeBase 3TJDOND8, Using PXI
Timing and Triggering Functionality, at

ni.com/support.

The configuration steps for single or multiple-chassis systems are the same.

PXI Express System Configuration

1. Launch Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX).

2. In the Configuration tree, expand Devices and Interfaces.

3. In the Devices and Interfaces tree, expand PXI System. Your PXI Express chassis is
already identified and appears in the PXI System tree.

4. For each unidentified PXI Express chassis in the PXI System tree, right-click on the chassis
and select the appropriate chassis model through the Identify As submenu. Further
expanding the PXI System branch shows all devices in the system that NI-VISA can
recognize.

The PXI Express specification allows for many combinations of PXI Express chassis and system
modules. To assist system integrators, PXI Express chassis and system module manufacturers
must document their products’ capabilities. PXI Express devices must provide a driver and/or

.ini file for identification. For NI PXI Express chassis and controllers, these files are provided

as part of the NI PXI Platform Services software included with your controller. System
integrators, configuration utilities, and device drivers can use these

.ini files.

The NI PXI Platform Services software uses the system module driver, chassis driver, and

chassis.ini files to generate the PXI/PXI Express system description files (pxisys.ini

© National Instruments | 2-19

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

and pxiesys.ini). Device drivers and other utility software read the pxiesys.ini and

pxisys.ini files to obtain system information. For detailed information about initialization

files, refer to the PXI Express specification at www.pxisa.org.

Upgrading RAM

You can change the amount of installed RAM on the PXIe-8840 by upgrading the SO-DIMM.

National Instruments offers the following SO-DIMMs for use with the PXIe-8840 controller.

• 1600 MHz DDR3L PC3-12800 4 GB, 512 MB × 64, 1.18 in. max
(NI part number 782341-4096)

• 1600 MHz DDR3L PC3-12800 8 GB, 1024 MB × 64, 1.18 in. max
(NI part number 783001-8192)

Note National Instruments has tested and verified that the DDR3L SO-DIMMs we

sell work with the PXIe-8840. We recommend you purchase your DDR3L
SO-DIMM modules from National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf DDR3L
SO-DIMM modules are not guaranteed to work properly.

Figure 2-5. Installing a DDR3L SO-DIMM in an PXIe-8840 Controller

2

1

1 DDR3L SO-DIMM Socket 2 DDR3L SO-DIMM Module

2-20 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

Hard Drive Recovery

PXIe-8840 controllers preinstalled with Windows include two methods of restoring the original
factory operating system of your hard drive. Hard drive-based recovery stores a factory backup
on a separate portion of your hard drive allowing you to restore your controller without
additional media. The PXIe-8840 controller also ships with an OS Recovery DVD that
allows you to reinstall your operating system onto your hard drive through an external USB
CD/DVD-ROM. For more information about these tools, refer to KnowledgeBase 2ZKC02OK,
Hard Drive Recovery and OS Installation for PXI and VXI Controllers, at

Note The hard drive recovery hot key is <F4>. To access the hard drive-based

recovery tool, press and hold <F4> when video first appears during the boot process.

If you need to recover your factory-installed operating system from a DVD, you can use the
included OS re-installation DVD with an external USB CD/DVD-ROM drive. Boot the
PXI Express controller using the OS re-installation DVD to recover the OS. You also may need
to reinstall other software after using the DVD to recover the OS.

ni.com/support.

Note Recovering the OS erases the contents of your hard disk. Back up any files

you want to keep.

Installing an OS

PXIe-8840 controllers may include a preinstalled OS. In some cases, you may want to install a
different OS. When doing so, consider the following guidelines.

Installing from a USB CD/DVD-ROM

The PXIe-8840 supports the installation of Windows 7 from a USB CD/DVD-ROM. As an
alternative to a USB CD/DVD-ROM drive, you can use an external SCSI CD/DVD-ROM with
a PXI-SCSI adapter.

Note For additional assistance with installing or changing an operating system,

refer to KnowledgeBase 2ZKC02OK, Hard Drive Recovery and OS Installation for
PXI and VXI Controllers, at ni.com/support.

ExpressCard

Note This submenu is available on the PXIe-8840 ExpressCard variant only.

This section provides information about the installation and removal of ExpressCard

™

modules.

© National Instruments | 2-21

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Installing an ExpressCard

You can install an ExpressCard module while the PXIe-8840 is running. The PXIe-8840
automatically detects the card. ExpressCards are generally marked with a symbol or a label to
indicate which end to insert into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion.

To install an ExpressCard, complete the following steps.

1. Hold the card so the top side is facing left.

2. Insert the card until it is completely seated in its connector. The connector has an automatic
eject mechanism. If you insert the card and it is ejected, re-insert the card until it is seated.

If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card orientation and try
again.

The PXIe-8840 automatically recognizes the ExpressCard and load the appropriate driver(s).
Third-party cards may require that you install additional drivers. Contact your ExpressCard
vendor for more information.

Removing an ExpressCard

To remove the ExpressCard module push in the module and then release to eject the card. Slide
the card out of the slot.

Caution To avoid data loss and other potential issues, stop communication with

your ExpressCard device before removing it from the PXIe-8840. In Windows, use
the Safely Remove Hardware tool to stop the ExpressCard safely.

2-22 | ni.com

3

I/0 Information

Front Panel Connectors

Table 3-1 lists various peripherals and their corresponding PXIe-8840 external connectors, bus
interfaces, and functions.

Table 3-1. PXIe-8840 Peripherals Overview

Peripheral External Connector Description

Video DisplayPort Intel® HD Graphics

controller

Serial COM1 (9-pin DSUB) 16550 RS-232 serial port

Ethernet LAN

(RJ45)

USB USB 4-pin Series A

stacked receptacle (4 ports)

USB 9-pin Series A
stacked receptacle (2 ports)

PXI trigger Trigger (SMB) Routing PXI triggers to or

GPIB device GPIB (25-pin Micro D) General-Purpose Interface

ExpressCard/34 module ExpressCard/34 slot

(available on the PXIe-8840
ExpressCard variant only)

10/100/1000 Ethernet
connection

Hi-Speed USB

SuperSpeed USB,
backwards compatible with
USB 2.0

from the backplane trigger
bus

Bus, IEEE 488.1

ExpressCard/34 Expansion

© National Instruments | 3-1

Chapter 3 I/0 Information

1.064 in. (27.02 mm)

1.573 in. (39.95 mm)

2.345 in. (59.56 mm)

3.087 in. (78.41 mm)

3.554 in. (90.27 mm)

4.393 in. (111.58 mm)

0.000 in. (0.00 mm)

1.948 in. (49.47 mm)

3.289 in. (83.54 mm)

3.750 in. (95.25 mm)

1.185 in. (30.10 mm)

2.814 in. (71.48 mm)

1.970 in. (50.04 mm)

2.850 in. (72.39 mm)

0.500 in. (12.70 mm)

1.636 in. (41.55 mm)

1.301 in. (33.05 mm)

2.306 in. (58.57 mm)

0.00 in. (0.00 mm)

2.259 in. (57.38 mm)

0.996 in. (25.29 mm)

2.189 in. (55.59 mm)

2.332 in. (59.22 mm)

0.852 in. (21.65 mm)

Front Panel

Figure 3-1 shows the front panel layout and dimensions of the PXIe-8840. Dimensions are in
inches (millimeters).

Figure 3-1. PXIe-8840 Front Panel Layout and Dimensions

3-2 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

DisplayPort

Figure 3-2 shows the location and pinouts for the DisplayPort connector on the PXIe-8840.
Table 3-2 lists and describes the DisplayPort connector signals.

Figure 3-2. DisplayPort Connector Location and Pinout

1

19

NI PXIe-8840

Embedded Controller

Table 3-2. DisplayPort Connector Signals

Pin Signal Name

1 ML_Lane0(p)

2 GND

3 ML_Lane0(n)

4 ML_Lane1(p)

2

20

5 GND

6 ML_Lane1(n)

7 ML_Lane2(p)

8 GND

9 ML_Lane2(n)

10 ML_Lane3(p)

11 GND

12 ML_Lane3(n)

© National Instruments | 3-3

Chapter 3 I/0 Information

5

1

6

9

COM1

NI PXIe-8840

Embedded Controller

Table 3-2. DisplayPort Connector Signals (Continued)

Pin Signal Name

13 CONFIG1

14 CONFIG2

15 AUX CH (p)

16 GND

17 AUX CH (n)

18 Hot Plug Detect

19 Return

20 DP_PWR

COM1

Figure 3-3 shows the location and pinouts for the COM1 connector on the PXIe-8840. Table 3-3
lists and describes the COM1 connector signal.

Figure 3-3. COM1 Connector Location and Pinout

3-4 | ni.com

Table 3-3. COM1 Connector Signals

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

1 DCD# Data Carrier Detect

2 RXD# Receive Data

3 TXD# Transmit Data

4 DTR# Data Terminal Ready

5 GND Ground

6 DSR# Data Set Ready

7 RTS# Ready to Send

8 CTS# Clear to Send

9 RI# Ring Indicator

Note: The pound symbol (#) indicates an active low signal.

PXIe-8840 User Manual

© National Instruments | 3-5

Chapter 3 I/0 Information

Ethernet

Figure 3-4 shows the location and pinouts for the Ethernet connector on the PXIe-8840.
Table 3-4 lists and describes the Ethernet connector signals. Table 3-5 lists and describes the
10/100/1000 LAN connector LED states.

Note The Wake On LAN feature is only supported by Ethernet Port 1.

Figure 3-4. Ethernet Connector Location and Pinout

8

Ethernet

1

NI PXIe-8840

Embedded Controller

Table 3-4. Ethernet Connector Signals

Pin Fast Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet

1 TX+ TX_A+

2 TX- TX_A-

3 RX+ RX_B+

4 NC TX_C+

5 NC TX_C-

6 RX- RX_B-

7 NC RX_D+

8 NC RX_D-

Note The Ethernet controller can perform an automatic crossover, thus eliminating

the need for crossover cables.

3-6 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

Table 3-5. 10/100/1000 LAN Connector LED States

LED Color LED State Condition

Off LAN link is not established.

Top Green

Unlit Off 10 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.

Bottom

Green On 100 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.

Amber On 1000 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.

On (steady state) LAN link is established.

On (brighter and

pulsing)

The controller is communicating with
another computer on the LAN.

© National Instruments | 3-7

Chapter 3 I/0 Information

Universal Serial Bus

Figure 3-5 shows the location and pinouts for the Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors on the
PXIe-8840. Each controller has four USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports on the front panel.
Table 3-6 lists and describes the USB 2.0 connector signals. Table 3-7 lists and describes the
USB 3.0 connector signals.

Figure 3-5. USB Connector Location and Pinout

4

USB 2.0

1

1

USB 3.0

4

NI PXIe-8840

Embedded Controller

9

5

Table 3-6. USB 2.0 Connector Signals

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

1 VCC Cable Power (+5 V)

2 -Data USB Data -

3 +Data USB Data +

4 GND Ground

Table 3-7. USB 3.0 Connector Signals

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

1 VCC Cable Power (+5 V)

2 -Data USB Data -

3 +Data USB Data +

4 GND Ground

3-8 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

Table 3-7. USB 3.0 Connector Signals (Continued)

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

5 StdA_SSRX- USB Data Receive-

6 StdA_SSRX+ USB Data Receive+

7 GND_DRAIN Ground

8 StdA_SSTX- USB Data Transmit-

9 StdA_SSTX+ USB Data Transmit+

© National Instruments | 3-9

Chapter 3 I/0 Information

NI PXIe-8840

Embedded Controller

1

2

Trigger

The TRIG connector is the software-controlled trigger connection for routing PXI triggers to or
from the backplane trigger bus.

Figure 3-6 shows the TRIG connector location on the PXIe-8840. Table 3-8 lists and describes
the trigger connector signals.

Note Refer to PXI Express Trigger Connectivity in Chapter 2, Installation and

Configuration, for more information about the SMB trigger.

Figure 3-6. TRIG Connector Location and Pinout

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

1 TRIG Trigger

2 (Shield) GND Ground

3-10 | ni.com

Table 3-8. TRIG Connector Signals

PXIe-8840 User Manual

GPIB (IEEE 488.2)

Figure 3-7 shows the location and pinouts for the GPIB connector on the PXIe-8840. Table 3-9
lists and describes the GPIB connector signals.

National Instruments provides a GPIB mating connector, part number 183285-0R2.

Figure 3-7. GPIB Connector Location and Pinout

13

GPIB

1

25

14

NI PXIe-8840

Embedded Controller

Table 3-9. GPIB Connector Signals

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

1 DIO1# Data Bit 1

2 DIO2# Data Bit 2

3 DIO3# Data Bit 3

4 DIO4# Data Bit 4

5 EOI# End or Identify

6 DAV# Data Valid

7 NRFD# Not Ready for Data

8 NDAC# Not Data Accepted

9 IFC# Interface Clear

10 SRQ# Service Request

© National Instruments | 3-11

Chapter 3 I/0 Information

Table 3-9. GPIB Connector Signals (Continued)

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

11 AT N# Attention

12 SHIELD Chassis ground

13 DIO5# Data Bit 5

14 DIO6# Data Bit 6

15 DIO7# Data Bit 7

16 DIO8# Data Bit 8

17 REN# Remote Enable

18 to 25 GND Logic Ground

Note: The pound symbol (#) indicates an active low signal.

3-12 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

ExpressCard/34

Slot

1

26

NI PXIe-8840

Embedded Controller

ExpressCard/34 Slot

The PXIe-8840 controller ExpressCard variant is equipped with an ExpressCard/34 slot on the
front panel, providing I/O expansion and options for removable storage, Ethernet, and a variety
of other I/O.

Figure 3-8 shows the location and pinouts for the ExpressCard/34 slot on the PXIe-8840.
Table 3-10 lists and describes the ExpressCard connector signals.

Figure 3-8. ExpressCard/34 Slot Location and Pinout

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

1 GND Ground

2 USBD- USB Data -

3 USBD+ USB Data +

4 CPUSB# USB Presence

5 RESERVED Reserved by spec for future use

6 RESERVED Reserved by spec for future use

7 SMBCLK SMBus Clock

8 SMBDATA SMBus Data

9 +1.5V Power

Table 3-10. ExpressCard Connector Signals

© National Instruments | 3-13

Chapter 3 I/0 Information

Table 3-10. ExpressCard Connector Signals (Continued)

Pin Signal Name Signal Description

10 +1.5V Power

11 WAKE# PE Wake

12 +3.3VAUX Power

13 PERST# PE Reset

14 +3.3V Power

15 +3.3V Power

16 CLKREQ# Clock Request

17 CPPE# PE Presence

18 REFCLK- Reference Clock -

19 REFCLK+ Reference Clock +

20 GND Ground

21 PERn0 PE Data Receive -

22 PERp0 PE Data Receive +

23 GND Ground

24 PETn0 PE Data Transmit -

25 PETp0 PE Data Transmit +

26 GND Ground

Note: The pound symbol (#) indicates an active low signal.

3-14 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

Front Panel Features

The PXIe-8840 has the following front-panel features:

• A controller reset push button (press the button to generate a reset to the controller)

• Two front panel LEDs that show PC status

– The DRIVE LED indicates when an access to the internal hard disk is occurring.

– The PWR OK/FAULT LED indicates the status of the controller. The LED indicates

one of the following states:

• Green ON steady—PXI Express and onboard power is on and within regulation
limits.

• Green BLINKING—One of the onboard power supplies is operating outside of
the normal limits or the system power supply is out of regulation.

• OFF—The controller is powered off.

• Red BLINKING—The controller detected a power rail fault when trying to boot.

– The USER1 LED is a bi-color green/yellow LED. You can define the USER1 LED to

meet the needs of your LabVIEW application.

– The USER2 LED is a bi-color green/yellow LED. You can define the USER2 LED to

meet the needs of your LabVIEW application.

Data Storage

The PXIe-8840 has the following data storage features:

• 2.5 in. SATA notebook internal hard drive

• USB storage support—USB CD/DVD-ROM, mass storage device, or floppy drive

© National Instruments | 3-15

4

Common Configuration
Questions

This chapter answers common configuration questions you may have when using an PXIe-8840
embedded controller.

General Questions

What do the LEDs on the PXIe-8840 front panel mean?

Refer to the LED status descriptions in the Front Panel Features section of Chapter 3,
I/0 Information.

After shutting down my PXIe-8840 controller, the Ethernet LEDs continue to blink. Is it
safe to remove my controller or disconnect power?

The PXIe-8840 controller Ethernet device remains powered even after shutdown to support the
Wake On LAN feature. It is safe to remove your controller or disconnect power.

Note The Wake On LAN feature is only supported by Ethernet Port 1.

How do I check the configuration of the memory, hard drive, time/date, and so on?

You can view these parameters in the BIOS setup. To enter the BIOS setup, reboot the
PXIe-8840 and press <Delete> during the memory tests. Refer to the Accessing BIOS Setup
Utility section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration, for more information.

Can I use the internal Serial ATA drive and an external hard drive at the same time?

Yes. Refer to the Accessing BIOS Setup Utility section of Chapter 2, Installation and
Configuration, for more information.

Boot Options

What devices can I boot from?

The PXIe-8840 can boot from the following devices:

• The internal Serial ATA hard drive

• An external SCSI hard drive or CD/DVD-ROM if an SCSI adapter, such as the PXI-8214,
is used

© National Instruments | 4-1

Chapter 4 Common Configuration Questions

• A network PXE server on the same subnet

• An external USB mass storage device such as a USB hard drive, USB CD/DVD-ROM, or
USB key

• An external USB floppy drive

• Most PCI or PCIe-based devices that provide an Option ROM

Note There are limitations when booting from a USB device. You can install

Windows 7 and later versions from a USB CD/DVD-ROM, but not earlier versions.
PXIe-8840 BIOS configures the USB devices so that they work in a DOS
environment.

How do I configure the controller to boot from these devices?

There are two methods.

• Enter Setup and select the Boot menu. You will see a list of all bootable devices, ordered
by device type. You can set the boot order using <+> and <->. Set the order by device type
and set the order for the devices listed within the device type.

• To boot from a different device without changing the boot order in the BIOS, press <F10>
continuously while booting. After the BIOS completes the POST and just before the
controller boots the OS, the Boot menu is displayed. You can select the device type you
want to boot from.

Cables and Connections

How do I plug both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard into the controller?

The PXIe-8840 has no PS/2 connector, and you need to use a USB Y-splitter cable as shown in
Figure 4-1, or a similar device, to connect both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard. National
Instruments part number 778713-01 is such a cable and is available through the online catalog

ni.com/products.

at

Figure 4-1. Y- S pl i tt e r C a bl e

What if I don’t have a Y-splitter cable? Can I still use a mouse and keyboard?

If you do not have a Y-splitter cable, plug a USB keyboard into any USB connector. You can also
plug a USB mouse into any USB connector.

4-2 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

How do I connect a VGA monitor to the PXIe-8840?

A DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter (part number 782271-01) is included with your kit. You can use
this adapter to connect a VGA monitor to a DisplayPort connector.

How do I connect two monitors to the PXIe-8840?

The PXIe-8840 offers two DisplayPort connectors that can each be connected to separate
monitors for dual monitor support.

Software Driver Installation

How do I install or reinstall the video driver?

The driver is in the c:\images\drivers directory and on the OS recovery DVD included
with your controller.

How do I install or reinstall the Ethernet driver?

The driver is in the c:\images\drivers directory and on the OS recovery DVD included
with your controller.

How do I install or reinstall the GPIB driver?

The NI-488.2 driver for your GPIB port is installed by default when your controller is first
shipped from the factory. To change the default installed driver, complete the following steps:

1. Download the latest GPIB driver from

ni.com/downloads.

2. Install the driver and verify that the driver has properly detected the GPIB driver in the
Device Manager. If you need more assistance, refer to

ni.com/support/install.

How do I install software from a CD?

The compact size of the PXIe-8840 does not allow for an integrated USB CD/DVD-ROM drive.
You have the following options:

• USB CD/DVD-ROM—You can install from a USB CD/DVD-ROM using a bootable
installation CD.

• SCSI CD-ROM—Other types of CD-ROM drives are available. Check with the vendor to
make sure Windows 7 supports the drive.

• Mapped network drive—You can use the Ethernet to connect to another computer. If you
share the USB CD/DVD-ROM drive on the other computer, you can map the shared USB
CD/DVD-ROM drive to a drive letter on the PXIe-8840.

A USB CD/DVD-ROM drive is available from National Instruments, part number 778492-01.

© National Instruments | 4-3

Chapter 4 Common Configuration Questions

Upgrade Information

How do I upgrade system memory?

You can change the amount of installed RAM on the PXIe-8840 by upgrading the DDR3L
SO-DIMM.

To upgrade the RAM, remove the PXIe-8840 from the PXI chassis.

National Instruments offers the following types of SO-DIMMs for use with the PXIe-8840
controller.

• 1600 MHz DDR3L PC3-12800 4 GB, 512 MB × 64, 1.18 in. max
(NI part number 782341-4096)

• 1600 MHz DDR3L PC3-12800 8 GB, 1024 MB × 64, 1.18 in. max
(NI part number 783001-8192)

Note National Instruments has tested and verified that the DDR3L SO-DIMMs we

sell work with the PXIe-8840. We recommend you purchase your DDR3L
SO-DIMM modules from National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf DDR3L
SO-DIMM modules are not guaranteed to work properly.

Figure 4-2. Installing a DDR3L SO-DIMM in an PXIe-8840 Controller

1

1 DDR3L SO-DIMM Socket 2 DDR3L SO-DIMM Module

How do I flash a new BIOS?

2

You can download the new BIOS from
refer to KnowledgeBase 2GIGKD0Z, Determining and Upgrading PXI and VXI Embedded
Controller BIOS Versions.

4-4 | ni.com

ftp.ni.com/support/pxi. For more information,

PXIe-8840 User Manual

Where do I get the latest software drivers?

The latest National Instruments software is available from ni.com/downloads.

PXI Express Configuration

How do I use the SMB trigger on the front panel?

For details, refer to the PXI Express Features section of Chapter 2, Installation and
Configuration.

© National Instruments | 4-5

5

Troubleshooting

This chapter answers common troubleshooting questions you may have when using the
PXIe-8840 embedded computer.

What if the PXIe-8840 does not boot?

Several problems can cause a controller not to boot. Here are some things to look for and
possible solutions.

Things to Notice:

• Which LEDs come on? The Power OK LED should stay lit. The Drive LED should blink
during boot as the disk is accessed.

• What appears on the display? Does it hang at some particular point (BIOS, Operating
System, and so on)? If nothing appears on the screen, try a different monitor. Does your
monitor work with a different PC? If it hangs, note the last screen output that you saw for
reference when consulting National Instruments technical support.

• What has changed about the system? Did you recently move the system? Was there
electrical storm activity? Did you recently add a new module, memory chip, or piece of
software?

• Refer to your chassis user manual for additional troubleshooting steps.

Things to Try:

• Make sure the chassis is plugged in to a working power source.

• Check any fuses or circuit breakers in the chassis or other power supply (possibly a UPS).

• Make sure the controller module is firmly seated in the chassis.

• Remove all other modules from the chassis.

• Remove any nonessential cables or devices.

• Try the controller in a different chassis.

• Try a similar controller in this same chassis.

• Clear the CMOS. (Refer to the System CMOS section of Chapter 2, Installation and
Configuration.)

• Recover the hard drive on the controller. (Refer to the Hard Drive Recovery section of
Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration.)

• Make sure the RAM is properly seated.

© National Instruments | 5-1

Chapter 5 Troubleshooting

My controller boots fine until I get to Windows, at which point I cannot read the screen.
This may include garbled output, white screen, black screen, or an out of synch message
from the monitor.

This problem usually results from having the video card output set past the limits of the monitor.
You will need to boot Windows in Safe Mode. To do this, reboot the controller. As Windows
begins to boot, hold down <F8>. You should now be able to reset the video driver to lower
settings. Try setting the resolution to 640 × 480 and the refresh rate to 60 Hz. Once you reboot,
you can raise these values again, using the test option in Windows. These settings are accessible
through the Advanced tab of the Display item in the Control Panel. Alternately, you can try a
different monitor, preferably a newer and larger one.

My system boots fine as long as a particular module is not in my chassis.

The most common cause of this is a damaged module. Try the module in a different chassis or
with a different controller. Also, remove any external cables or terminal blocks connected to the
system. If the module does not work in these cases, it is likely damaged. Contact the module
manufacturer for further troubleshooting.

Refer to the KnowledgeBase or product manuals section at

ni.com for more information

specific to the chassis and controller with which you are having difficulties.

My CMOS is corrupted. How do I set it back to default?

1. Enter the BIOS setup program as described in the BIOS Setup Utility section of Chapter 2,
Installation and Configuration.

2. Check the battery utility.

3. Press <F9> to load BIOS defaults.

4. Answer Y (Yes) to the verification prompt.

5. Select Save and Exit Setup.

As an alternative method, complete the following steps:

1. Power off the chassis.

2. Remove the controller from the chassis.

3. Press and hold down the push button switch SW1 for 2 to 3 seconds. The SW1 switch
location is shown in Figure 5-1.

4. Reinstall the controller in the chassis.

5-2 | ni.com

Figure 5-1. Clearing the CMOS Contents

PXIe-8840 User Manual

1 Push-Button Switch S1

1

© National Instruments | 5-3

A

Specifications

This appendix lists the electrical, mechanical, and environmental specifications of the
PXIe-8840 embedded controller.

Features

PXIe-8840

CPU Intel® Core™ i5 4400E (2.70 GHz dual core processor)

On-die L2 cache 3 MB

Single-Channel 1600 MHz
DDR3L RAM, PC3 12800

Hard Drive 250 GB Serial ATA, minimum

Ethernet Two 10/100/1000 BaseT ports

PXI Express 4 Link Configuration x4, x4, x4, x4

PXI Express 2 Link Configuration x8, x8

GPIB (IEEE 488 Controller) Ye s

Serial Ports (RS-232) Ye s ( 1)

Parallel Port No

Hi-Speed USB (2.0) Ports Yes (4 )

SuperSpeed USB (3.0) Ports Yes (2 )

ExpressCard/34 Slot (available on
the PXIe-8840 Duo-Core
ExpressCard variant only)

4 GB Standard
8 GB Maximum

Ye s

*

PS/2 Keyboard/Mouse Connector No

PXI Trigger Bus Input/Output Ye s

Installed Operating System Windows 7 Professional

*

Extended-temperature 24/7 option provides 80 GB minimum SATA solid-state drive.

© National Instruments | A-1

Appendix A Specifications

Electrical

Current (Amps)

Volt ag e ( V)

+3.3 V 1.03 A 1.65 A

+5 V 1.33 A 2.48 A

+12 V 2.87 A 5.16 A

-12 V 0 A 0 A

+5 V

Aux

Note: Does not include any attached USB devices or ExpressCard.

Typi cal Maximum

0.20 A 0.41 A

Physical

Board dimensions .............................................Four-wide 3U PXI Express module

Slot requirements ..............................................One system slot plus three controller

expansion slots

Compatibility .................................................... Fully compatible with PXI Express

Specification 1.0

Weight ...............................................................1.32 kg (2.91 lb) typical

Environment

Maximum altitude.............................................2,000 m (800 mbar)

(at 25 °C ambient temperature)

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

Indoor use only.

Caution Clean the PXIe-8840 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the

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

Operating Environment

Ambient temperature range ..............................5 to 50 °C

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2. Meets MIL-PRF-28800F
Class 3 high temperature limit.)

Extended temperature option...............................0 to 55 °C

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2. Meets MIL-PRF-28800F Class 3
low temperature limit and MIL-PRF-28800F
Class 2 high temperature limit.)

A-2 | ni.com

Relative humidity range.................................... 10% to 90%, noncondensing

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-56.)

Caution The operating temperature must not be exceeded, even when used in a

chassis with a higher temperature range.

Storage Environment

Ambient temperature range .............................. -40 to 65 °C

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2. Meets MIL-PRF-28800F
Class 3 low temperature limit.)

Extended temperature option............................ -40 to 71 °C

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2. Meets MIL-PRF-28800F
Class 3 limits.)

Relative humidity range.................................... 5% to 95%, noncondensing

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-56.)

PXIe-8840 User Manual

Shock and Vibration

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

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-27.
Meets MIL-PRF-28800F Class 2 limits.)

Random vibration

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

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

(with solid-state hard drive)

rms

rms

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

Note Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Safety

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, CSA 61010-1

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

Product Certification section.

© National Instruments | A-3

Appendix A Specifications

Electromagnetic Compatibility

This product meets the requirements of the following EMC standards for electrical equipment
for measurement, control, and laboratory use:

• EN 61326-1 (IEC 61326-1): Class A emissions; Basic immunity

• EN 55011 (CISPR 11): Group 1, Class A emissions

• EN 55022 (CISPR 22): Class A emissions

• EN 55024 (CISPR 24): Immunity

• AS/NZS CISPR 11: Group 1, Class A emissions

• AS/NZS CISPR 22: Class A emissions

• FCC 47 CFR Part 15B: Class A emissions

• ICES-001: Class A emissions

Note In the United States (per FCC 47 CFR), Class A equipment is intended for use

in commercial, light-industrial, and heavy-industrial locations. In Europe, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand (per CISPR 11) Class A equipment is intended for use
only in heavy-industrial locations.

Note Group 1 equipment (per CISPR 11) is any industrial, scientific, or medical

equipment that does not intentionally generate radio frequency energy for the
treatment of material or inspection/analysis purposes.

Note For EMC declarations and certifications, and additional information, refer to

the Online Product Certification section.

CE Compliance

This product meets the essential requirements of applicable European Directives as follows:

• 2006/95/EC; Low-Voltage Directive (safety)

• 2004/108/EC; Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC)

Online Product Certification

Refer to the product Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for additional regulatory compliance
information. To obtain product certifications and 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.

Environmental Management

NI is committed to designing and manufacturing products in an environmentally responsible
manner. NI recognizes that eliminating certain hazardous substances from our products is
beneficial to the environment and to NI customers.

A-4 | ni.com

PXIe-8840 User Manual

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(RoHS)

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RoHS

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ni.com/

environment/rohs_china

DŽ

(For information about China RoHS compliance,

go to

ni.com/environment/rohs_china

.)

For additional environmental information, refer to the Minimize Our Environmental Impact web
page at

ni.com/environment. This page contains the environmental regulations and

directives with which NI complies, as well as other environmental information not included in
this document.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

EU Customers At the end of the product life cycle, all products must be sent to

a WEEE recycling center. For more information about WEEE recycling centers,
National Instruments WEEE initiatives, and compliance with WEEE Directive
2002/96/EC on Waste and Electronic Equipment, visit

.

weee

ni.com/environment/

Battery Replacement and Disposal

Battery Directive This device contains a long-life coin cell battery. If you need

Cd/Hg/Pb

to replace it, use the Return Material Authorization (RMA) process or contact an
authorized National Instruments service representative. For more information
about compliance with the EU Battery Directives 2006/66/EC about Batteries
and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators, visit

environment/batterydirective

.

ni.com/

© National Instruments | A-5

B

NI Services

NI provides global services and support as part of our commitment to your success. Take
advantage of product services in addition to training and certification programs that meet your
needs during each phase of the application life cycle; from planning and development through
deployment and ongoing maintenance.

To get started, register your product at

As a registered NI product user, you are entitled to the following benefits:

• Access to applicable product services.

• Easier product management with an online account.

• Receive critical part notifications, software updates, and service expirations.

Log in to your MyNI user profile to get personalized access to your services.

ni.com/myproducts.

Services and Resources

• Maintenance and Hardware Services—NI helps you identify your systems’ accuracy and
reliability requirements and provides warranty, sparing, and calibration services to help you
maintain accuracy and minimize downtime over the life of your system. Vis it

services

– Warranty and Repair—All NI hardware features a one-year standard warranty that

is extendable up to five years. NI offers repair services performed in a timely manner
by highly trained factory technicians using only original parts at an NI service center.

– Calibration—Through regular calibration, you can quantify and improve the

measurement performance of an instrument. NI provides state-of-the-art calibration
services. If your product supports calibration, you can obtain the calibration certificate
for your product at ni.com/calibration.

for more information.

ni.com/

• 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 ni.com/alliance.

© National Instruments | B-1

Appendix B NI Services

• Training and Certification—The NI training and certification program is the most
effective way to increase application development proficiency and productivity. Visit

ni.com/training for more information.

– The Skills Guide assists you in identifying the proficiency requirements of your

current application and gives you options for obtaining those skills consistent with
your time and budget constraints and personal learning preferences. Visit ni.com/

skills-guide

to see these custom paths.

– NI offers courses in several languages and formats including instructor-led classes at

facilities worldwide, courses on-site at your facility, and online courses to serve your
individual needs.

• Technical Support—Support at ni.com/support includes the following resources:

– Self-Help Technical Resources—Visit

ni.com/support 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. Registered users also receive access to the NI Discussion Forums

ni.com/forums. NI Applications Engineers make sure every question submitted

at
online receives an answer.

– Software Support Service Membership—The Standard Service Program (SSP) is a

renewable one-year subscription included with almost every NI software product,
including NI Developer Suite. This program entitles members to direct access to
NI Applications Engineers through phone and email for one-to-one technical support,
as well as exclusive access to online training modules at

self-paced-training

. NI also offers flexible extended contract options that

ni.com/

guarantee your SSP benefits are available without interruption for as long as you need
them. Visit ni.com/ssp for more information.

• 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 electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and product
safety. You can obtain the DoC for your product by visiting

ni.com/certification.

For information about other technical support options in your area, visit ni.com/services,
or contact your local office at ni.com/contact.

You also can visit the Worldwide Offices section of
office websites, which provide up-to-date contact information, support phone numbers, email
addresses, and current events.

B-2 | ni.com

ni.com/niglobal to access the branch