NI MXI-Express Gen II x8, MXI-Express Gen II PCIe-8381, MXI-Express Gen II PXIe-8381, MXI-Express Gen II PXIe-8384 User Manual

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MXITM-Express Gen II x8

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Multisystem eXtension Interface for PCI Express, CompactPCI Express, and PXI Express Bus Systems

NI PCIe-8381 NI PXIe-8381 NI PXIe-8384

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual

August 2012 373681A-01

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About This Manual

Products Covered...........................................................................................................ix

Related Documentation..................................................................................................ix

Conventions ...................................................................................................................x

Chapter 1 Introduction

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

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

Functional Block Diagrams.............................................................................1-2

Basic MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems...........................................................1-4

Larger MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems.........................................................1-5

Compatibility with Host PCs...........................................................................1-6

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Equipment Needed.........................................................................................................2-1

Connecting a PC to an Expansion Chassis......................................................2-1

Connecting Additional Expansion Chassis to a System..................................2-1

Unpacking......................................................................................................................2-2

Hardware Installation.....................................................................................................2-3

Installing an NI PCIe-8381..............................................................................2-3

Installing the Low-Profile Bracket on the NI PCIe-8381 (Optional) ..............2-4

Installing an NI PXIe-8381 or NI PXIe-8384 .................................................2-6

Cabling ............................................................................................................2-8

Powering On the MXI-Express Gen II x8 System ..........................................2-8

Powering Off the MXI-Express Gen II x8 System .........................................2-9

LED Indicators...............................................................................................................2-9

Software Installation and Configuration ........................................................................2-13

Installation .......................................................................................................2-13

Configuring Your System................................................................................2-13

Contents

Appendix A Specifications

Appendix B Common Questions

Appendix C Technical Support and Professional Services

Glossary

Index

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual viii ni.com

About This Manual

This manual describes the features, functions, and operation of the NI PCIe-8381, NI PXIe-8381, and NI PXIe-8384 MXI-Express Gen II x8 series of products.

Products Covered

Note The model numbers listed below are followed by their specific NI assembly numbers

in parentheses. Ensure the specifications of interest match the NI assembly number that is printed on either the front or back side of the board.

• NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L)

• NI PXIe-8381 (153097x-01L)

• NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L)

Note x denotes all letter revisions of the assembly.

Conventions

The following conventions appear in this manual:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CompactPCI Express/ The terms CompactPCI Express and CPCIe are interchangeable in this CPCIe manual.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 A NI PCIe-8381, NI PXIe-8381, or NI PXIe-8384 board. product

PCI Express/PCIe The terms PCI Express and PCIe are interchangeable in this manual.

PXI Express chassis In this manual, whenever a PXI Express chassis is referenced,

a CompactPCI Express chassis could be used instead.

PXI Express/PXIe The terms PXI Express and PXIe are interchangeable in this manual.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual x ni.com

Introduction

Description and Features

MXI-Express Gen II x8 extends PCI Express communication over a cable of up to 5 m. With MXI-Express Gen II x8, you can do the following:

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

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

• Control multiple PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis with a single PCI Express-based PC or PXI Express embedded controller.

Table 1-1 lists the products and lists their features for comparison.

Table 1-1. Feature Comparison of Available MXI-Express Gen II x8 Interfaces

Model Slot Type Number of Ports Cable Support

NI PCIe-8381 PCI Express Gen II x8 or wider 1 MXI-Express x8 Copper

NI PXIe-8381 PXI Express Controller 1 MXI-Express x8 Copper

NI PXIe-8384 PXI Express Peripheral 1 MXI-Express x8 Copper

Tip For optimum link widths and performance, use the NI PXIe-8381 and NI PXIe-8384

in chassis that support a Gen II x8 backplane link.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Functional Overview

MXI-Express Gen II x8 is based on PCI Express technology. A MXI-Express Gen II x8 kit uses PCI Express switches to enable control of a PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis from a PC with an available PCI Express slot, or from a PXI Express chassis with an available PXI Express slot. The switch architecture is transparent to device drivers, so no additional software is needed for CompactPCI Express level support for PXI Express devices in connected chassis.

Note For full PXI/PXI Express functionality such as chassis and controller identification,

trigger routing, and slot detection, install the PXI Platform Services software included with your kit. This software also can be found at PXI Platform Services.

The link between the PC and the chassis is a Gen II x8 cabled PCI Express link. This link is a dual-simplex communication channel comprised of eight low-voltage, differentially driven signal pairs. The link can transmit at a rate of 40 Gbps in each direction simultaneously.

Note This link is compatible with the cabled PCI Express specification developed by the

PCI-SIG.

ni.com/updates by searching for

Functional Block Diagrams

SW1

R1026

BIOS COMPAT

OFF

R1025

Reserved

DFLT

R1024

CLOCK MODE

4 6

OFF

R1023

Reserved

OFF

R1098

Reserved

R1099

Reserved

OFF

MXI-Express

Gen II x8

PCIe Gen II x8

PWR/LNK

Status LED

Figure 1-1. NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L) Block Diagram

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 1-2 ni.com

PCIe

Switch

PCIe Gen II x8

Chapter 1 Introduction

MXI-Express

Gen II x8

PCIe-to-

PCI Bridge

PCIe

Switch

PCIe Gen II x8

Figure 1-2. NI PXIe-8381 (153097x-01L) Block Diagram

SMBus Master

PCIe Gen II x4

The NI PXIe-8381 supports dual link mode, which will merge the four x4 links to the chassis backplane into two x8 links if the chassis supports it.

National Instruments offers Gen II PXI Express chassis that allow the NI PXIe-8381 to establish Gen II backplane links.

The width and speed of the backplane links are chassis dependent.

Chapter 1 Introduction

MXI-Express

Gen II x8

PCIe Gen II x8

Figure 1-3. NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L) Block Diagram

National Instruments offers Gen II PXI Express chassis that allow the NI PXIe-8384 to establish Gen II backplane links.

Basic MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems

The simplest MXI-Express Gen II x8 system consists of an NI PCIe-8381 in a PC connected to an NI PXIe-8381 in the controller slot of a PXI Express chassis, as shown in Figure 1-5.

PCIe

Switch

PCIe Gen II x8

Host PC to Target PXI Express Chassis

Figure 1-4. Example of a Basic MXI-Express Gen II x8 Link Topology

The width and speed of the backplane links are chassis dependent.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 1-4 ni.com

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

Express chassis could be used instead.

Larger MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems

If multiple PCI Express slots are available in the host PC, additional PXI Express chassis can be connected by installing an additional NI PCIe-8381 in any available Gen II x8 or wider PCI Express slot.

You can also daisy-chain from a PXI Express chassis that is already controlled by an embedded controller, host PC, or laptop to additional PXI Express chassis using MXI-Express Gen II x8 products. Figure 1-6 shows how you can use MXI-Express Gen II x8 cards to connect multiple PXI Express expansion chassis to a PC in a star or daisy-chain topology.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Star Topology

Daisy-Chain Topology

Figure 1-5. Example of MXI-Express Gen II x8 System Expansion Topologies

Chapter 1 Introduction

Compatibility with Host PCs

The BIOS of some host machines may not support the extension of the PCI-Express fabric. Since this is the primary function of MXI-Express Gen II x8 products, those systems may not boot or function correctly. To address this issue, National Instruments offers NI MXI-Express BIOS Compatibility Software. This software can be found at searching for MXI-Express BIOS Compatibility Software. Review the documentation for information about using this software.

In the cases where this software is required, there may be a dip switch on the board that needs to be toggled as instructed by the documentation for the software. The functional block diagrams in this chapter illustrate the locations and availability of the dip switch package. Only the first dip switch in the package is used for this purpose. The other switches should be left in their default position.

Note Unless NI MXI-Express BIOS Compatibility Software is installed on the host

machine for use, the BIOS Compat Mode dip switch (switch 1) should remain in the off position. If this mode is enabled on a MXI-Express Gen II x8 product in a host machine that does not have the software installed, the connected devices will not be detected by the operating system.

ni.com by

For more information on host system compatibility with MXI-Express Gen II x8 products, refer to the NI Developer Zone document Tips to Help You Successfully Use MXI-Express Controllers at

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 1-6 ni.com

ni.com/zone.

Installation and Configuration

This chapter explains how to unpack, install, and configure the MXI-Express Gen II x8 hardware and software.

Equipment Needed

Connecting a PC to an Expansion Chassis

❑ Host PC with an available PCI Express Gen II x8 slot or wider

❑ Expansion PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis

❑ MXI-Express x8 cable

❑ One NI PCIe-8381

❑ One NI PXIe-8381

Connecting Additional Expansion Chassis to a System

❑ Chassis to daisy-chain from

❑ Expansion chassis to daisy-chain to

❑ MXI-Express x8 cable

❑ One NI PXIe-8381

❑ One NI PXIe-8384

Note Using a PCI Express slot wider than x8 may result in negotiation down to x1 width,

and therefore limiting bandwidth. This is uncommon in newer PCs.

Note The BIOS or motherboard may not support the NI PCIe-8381 in a slot intended for

a graphics card.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Note Not all PCI Express expansion slots that have x8 or wider physical connectors are

electrically capable of x8 PCI Express operation. Check with the motherboard manufacturer to verify that the slot is capable of x8 PCI Express operation.

Unpacking

Your MXI-Express Gen II x8 products are shipped in antistatic packages to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) to the devices. ESD can damage several components on the device.

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

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

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

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

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

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

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 2-2 ni.com

Hardware Installation

The following are general instructions for installing the MXI-Express Gen II x8 products. Consult your computer user manual or technical reference manual for further instructions and warnings.

Caution The protection provided by the MXI-Express Gen II x8 products can be impaired

if it is used in a manner not described in this document.

Installing an NI PCIe-8381

Complete the following steps to install the NI PCIe-8381 in your computer.

1. Power off your computer.

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

should remain off until you finish installing all hardware as instructed.

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

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

4. Unplug the computer and wait 30 seconds to allow the energy stored in the computer’s power supply to fully dissipate.

5. Select any available PCI Express expansion slot (Gen II x8 or wider).

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

7. Line up the NI PCIe-8381 with the slot on the back panel. Slowly lower the NI PCIe-8381 until its card-edge connector is resting on the expansion slot receptacle. Using slow, evenly distributed pressure, press the NI PCIe-8381 straight down until it seats in the expansion slot, as shown in Figure 2-1.

8. Secure the NI PCIe-8381 to the back panel rail using a bracket retaining screw.

9. Replace the computer cover.

10. Plug the computer back in.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

1 NI PCIe-8381 2PCI Express x8 Card-Edge Connector

Figure 2-1. Installing the NI PCIe-8381

3PCI Express Slot (x8 or wider)

Installing the Low-Profile Bracket on the NI PCIe-8381 (Optional)

To install the NI PCIe-8381 in a host computer that requires a low-profile height card, the front bracket must be replaced with the low-profile bracket included with your kit. Complete the following steps to replace the bracket.

1. Remove the standard height front bracket already installed on your NI PCIe-8381 card by removing the two 4-40 × 3/16 in. Phillips head screws that attach the bracket to the card. Note that the two mounting tabs for the standard height bracket rest against the back side of the card. Set the two screws aside to re-use when installing the low-profile bracket.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 2-4 ni.com

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

1 Standard Height Bracket 2EMI Gasket

3 4-40 × 3/16 in. Phillips Head Screws (x2) 4 Front Side of Card

Figure 2-2. Removing the Standard Bracket from the NI PCIe-8381

Caution

When removing the bracket, be careful not to remove or lose the EMI gasket on

the cable receptacle connector housing.

2. Fit the low-profile bracket onto the NI PCIe-8381. Note that the two mounting tabs that the screws thread into rest against the back side of the card for the low-profile bracket. Ensure that the front bracket LED bulb is situated in the display hole correctly.

3. Align the mounting holes on the card with the threaded holes on the mounting tabs of the bracket, and insert the screws from the front side.

4. Tighten each screw to a maximum torque of 3.6 lb · in. (0.407 N · m).

5 Connector Shield 6LEDs 7Bracket Holes for LEDs

8 Bracket Hole for Connector Shield

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Installing an NI PXIe-8381 or NI PXIe-8384

Table 2-1 provides information on which PXI Express MXI-Express Gen II x8 boards are compatible with which chassis slot types.

Table 2-1. NI MXI-Express Gen II x8 PXI Express Board Slot Type Compatibility

PXI Express Chassis

Controller

Peripheral

Hybrid

NI PXI Express Board

NI PXIe-8381  — —

NI PXIe-8384 —  

Note For this section, all of the above products will be referred to as an “NI PXI Express

board”.

Complete the following steps to install the NI PXI Express board in your PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis.

1. Power off your PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis, but leave it plugged in while installing the NI PXI Express board. 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

off until you finish installing the NI PXI Express board.

2. Remove or open any doors or covers blocking access to the slot in which you intend to install the NI PXI Express board.

3. Touch a metal part of the chassis to discharge any static electricity that might be on your clothes or body.

4. Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position. Be sure to remove all connector packaging and protective caps from retaining screws on the module. Align the NI PXI Express board 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 NI PXI Express board.

It will not insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so that it does not interfere with the injector/ejector rail on the chassis, as shown in Figure 2-3.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 2-6 ni.com

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

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

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

Note LEDs on the back side of the NI PXIe-8381 will light, indicating the presence of 5 V

auxiliary power. Refer to the LED Indicators section for details.

7. Tighten the bracket-retaining screws on the top and bottom of the front panel to secure the NI PXI Express board to the chassis.

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

Figure 2-3 shows an NI PXI Express board just before installation in the system controller slot of a National Instruments PXI Express chassis.

1 PXI Express/CompactPCI Express Chassis 2 NI PXI Express board

Figure 2-3. Example NI PXI Express Board Installation Into a PXI Express Chassis

3Ejector Handle in Down Position 4 Injector/Ejector Rail

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Cabling

Table 2-2 shows the various MXI-Express x8 copper cables available from National Instruments.

Table 2-2. National Instruments MXI-Express x8 Copper Cables

Cable Length

(Meters)

3 m MXI-Express x8 copper cable 782317-03

5 m MXI-Express x8 copper cable 782317-05

Connect the MXI-Express x8 cable to both MXI-Express Gen II x8 cards. The cables have no polarity, so either end may be connected to either card.

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

or cause errors in applications communicating with devices behind MXI-Express Gen II x8. If a cable becomes unplugged, plug it back into the system. You will need to restart your computer.

Description Part Number

Powering On the MXI-Express Gen II x8 System

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

2. Power on the host.

Connected chassis that are controlled by a NI PXIe-8381 will automatically power on.

The NI PXIe-8381 has a built in feature that powers on/off the chassis that it is controlling when the host system is powered on/off. This feature can be avoided by manually powering on the downstream chassis prior to the host system.

Note There are no requirements for how expansion chassis are powered up relative to each

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

Observe the LED status on the NI PCIe-8381, NI PXIe-8381, and NI PXIe-8384 where applicable. A properly connected and powered up system should report a valid link and power status on all of these boards once the host PC is powered on. Refer to the LED Indicators section for more information.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 2-8 ni.com

Typical PCI Express switches are used to add PCI devices to a PCI hierarchy in which all the bridges and devices are contained within a single chassis. Because of this, BIOSes and operating systems make the assumption that all PCI devices in the entire hierarchy will be available as soon as code execution begins at power-up time. This assumption means that all of the expansion chassis must be turned on before the host PC for the BIOS and OS to correctly configure a MXI-Express Gen II x8 system.

Powering Off the MXI-Express Gen II x8 System

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

Note To power off the chassis while the host computer or host chassis is on, you may need

to hold the power button for at least four seconds. However, this behavior cannot be guaranteed.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

LED Indicators

The LEDs on MXI-Express Gen II x8 cards give status information about power supplies and link state. The NI PCIe-8381, NI PXIe-8381 and NI PXIe-8384 have one tri-color LED on the panel, indicating power and link status.

Table 2-3. LED Status Descriptions of MXI-Express Gen II x8 Products

Board LED Color Meaning

NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L)

NI PXIe-8381 (153097x-01L)

NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L)

PWR/LINK Off Power is off

Blinking Red Power is out of spec

Solid Amber Power is within spec;

no link to chassis

Solid Green Power is within spec;

link established

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

MXI-Express

Gen II x8

PCIe Switch

PCIe Gen II x8

Link Good

Link Activity

Por t 0

Por t 4

PCIe Gen II x8

Refer to Figure 2-4 for onboard LED locations.

Figure 2-4. NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L) Onboard LED Locations

Link Good LEDs—LEDs that indicate a successful cable link (LED FP) and backplane link (LED BP).

Link Activity LEDs—LEDs that indicate link activity on the cable link (LED FP) and the backplane link (LED BP).

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 2-10 ni.com

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

The NI PXIe-8381 also has a vertical column of 6 LEDs on the back panel of the card near the front connector, as shown in Figure 2-5. These LEDs provide additional information about the link status of the PCI Express lanes on the module. The lower four correspond to links to the backplane, the middle LED corresponds to the cable port, and the top-most LED corresponds to the SMBus controller.

1 SMBus Controller Link Status LED 2Cable Port Link Status LED

Figure 2-5. NI PXIe-8381 Back Side LED Locations

3Backplane Link Status LED

The SMBus Controller Link Status LED reports if the PCIe switch of the NI PXIe-8381 has successfully linked to the onboard PCIe-to-PCI bridge responsible for the SMBus controller. During normal operation, the SMBus Controller Link Status LED should blink green with a 25% active duty cycle.

The Cable Port Link Status LED reports a solid green status if the NI PXIe-8381 has successfully established a Gen II x8 cable link.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

The Backplane Link Status LEDs report the status of the PCIe links established between any PCIe switches that reside on the backplane of the chassis that the NI PXIe-8381 is controlling, and in some cases the peripheral boards that are installed in any passive slots of the chassis. These LEDs are useful for determining the width of the PCIe links between the NI PXIe-8381 and the PCIe switches on the chassis backplane.

The backplane architecture of the chassis determines the link configuration of the NI PXIe-8381. Refer to the chassis documentation for more information about its backplane PCIe link topology to the controller slot, as well as identifying any PXI Express slots that are passive. A “passive slot” has a direct copper path to the controller slot instead of being routed through a backplane PCIe switch. Peripheral products installed in these slots determine the actual link established to the NI PXIe-8381, and set the corresponding Backplane Link Status LED appropriately. Table 2-4 shows example scenarios of how the Backplane Link Status LEDs behave in different chassis configurations.

Table 2-4. Backplane Link Status LED Behavior for Example Chassis Controlled by a NI PXIe-8381

BP Port

Chassis

NI PXIe-1075 Blink 75%

NI PXIe-1082 Depends

NI PXIe-1085 Off Off Solid

Good 0

Green

on Slot 2 peripheral

BP Port

Good 1

Blink 75%

Green

Solid

Green

BP Port

Good 2

Blink 75%

Green

Solid

Green

Note The LED behavior and correlation between each BP Port Good LED and the actual

backplane link varies by chassis due to the port configuration and capability of the PCIe switches involved.

BP Port

Good 3

Blink 75%

Green

Solid

Green

Solid

Green

Description

Four Gen 1 x4 links have been established to the four backplane PCIe switches for all slots

The first backplane link is passive to slot 2. Three Gen I1 x4 links have been established to the three backplane PCIe switches for the remaining slots

Two Gen II x8 links have been established to the two backplane PCIe switches for all slots

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 2-12 ni.com

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Software Installation and Configuration

Installation

MXI-Express Gen II x8 is based on PCI Express technology, using PCI Express switches and/or bridges to enable control of a PXI Express chassis from a PC or another PXI Express chassis with an available PCI Express or PXI Express slot. This technology will be recognized as a collection of PCI-to-PCI bridges to the operating system, and should automatically have CompactPCI Express level support without any additional software.

Note For full PXI/PXI Express functionality such as chassis and controller identification,

trigger routing, and slot detection, install the PXI Platform Services software included with your kit. This software also can be found at PXI Platform Services.

For operating system support, refer to the KnowledgeBase 53399AQ7, PXI Platform Services Operating System Support, at

Configuring Your System

ni.com/updates by searching for

ni.com/kb.

Note The following requires the PXI Platform Services software and

Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX), included on your PXI Platform Services CD or your driver CD.

For information on configuring your system in MAX, open MAX and navigate to Help»Help Topics»PXI.

Specifications

This appendix lists the system specifications for the following products only:

• NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L)

• NI PXIe-8381 (153097x-01L)

• NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L)

Note The model numbers listed are followed by their specific NI assembly numbers in

parentheses. Ensure the specifications of interest match the NI assembly number that is printed on either the front or back side of the board.

Note x denotes all letter revisions of the assembly.

Appendix A Specifications

NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L)

Note These specifications are typical at 25 °C, unless otherwise stated, and are subject to

change without notice.

Physical

Dimensions .............................................6.89 × 12.70 cm

Maximum cable length ...........................5 m

Slot requirements....................................One slot (PCI Express, x8 or

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

Weight ....................................................0.06 kg (0.14 lb) typical

(2.71 × 5.00 in.)

wider)

PCI Express Specification, Revision 1.0a, 1.1, and 2.0

Power Requirements

Power Rail Typical Current Maximum Current

+3.3 V 500 mA 800 mA

+3.3 V

Aux

+12 V 350 mA 500 mA

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual A-2 ni.com

0 A 0 A

Environment

Appendix A Specifications

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

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

Indoor use only.

Operating Environment

Ambient temperature range.................... 0 to 55 °C

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2.)

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

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

Storage Environment

Ambient temperature range.................... –20 to 70 °C

(Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2.)

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

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

Caution Clean the NI PCIe-8381 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device

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

Safety

This product meets 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.

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

• AS/NZS CISPR 11: Group 1, 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 generates 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

To obtain product certifications and the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product, visit or product line, and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual A-4 ni.com

ni.com/certification, search by model number

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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.

For additional environmental information, refer to the NI and the Environment Web page at 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 Electrical and Electronic Equipment, visit

Appendix A Specifications

ni.com/environment. This page contains the

ni.com/environment/weee.

Appendix A Specifications

NI PXIe-8381 (153097x-01L)

Note These specifications are typical at 25 °C, unless otherwise stated, and are subject to

change without notice.

Physical

Dimensions .............................................10.7 × 17.5 cm

Maximum cable length ...........................5 m

Slot requirements....................................One system slot (PXI Express, or

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

(4.4 × 6.9 in.)

CompactPCI Express)

PXI Express Hardware Specification, Revision 2.0, PICMG CompactPCI Express EXP.0 R2.0 Specification, and the PCIe External Cable Specification

Weight ....................................................0.19 kg (0.42 lb) typical

Power Requirements

Power Rail Typical Current Maximum Current

+3.3 V

+5 V 1 mA 25 mA

+12 V 300 mA 500 mA

+5 V

Aux

Not including the power consumed by an active cable. NI copper cables (782317-0x) are

passive.

750 mA 1.2 A

110 mA 300 mA

Environment

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

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

Indoor use only.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual A-6 ni.com

Appendix A Specifications

Operating Environment

Ambient temperature range.................... 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.)

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

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

Storage Environment

Ambient temperature range.................... –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.)

Shock and Vibration

Operational 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

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

rms

Appendix A Specifications

Caution Clean the NI PXIe-8381 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device

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

Safety

This product meets 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.

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

• AS/NZS CISPR 11: Group 1, 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 generates 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.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual A-8 ni.com

CE Compliance

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RoHS

Ё೑ᅶ᠋

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ড়㾘ᗻֵᙃˈ䇋ⱏᔩ

ni.com/environment/rohs_china

(For information about China RoHS compliance, go to

ni.com/environment/rohs_china

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

To obtain product certifications and the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product, visit or product line, and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.

Environmental Management

Appendix A Specifications

ni.com/certification, search by model number

ni.com/environment. This page contains the

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

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

ni.com/environment/weee.

Appendix A Specifications

NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L)

Note These specifications are typical at 25 °C, unless otherwise stated, and are subject to

change without notice.

Physical

Dimensions .............................................10.0 × 16.0 cm

Maximum cable length ...........................5 m

Slot requirements....................................One peripheral slot (PXI Express

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

(3.9 × 6.3 in.)

or CompactPCI Express)

PXI Express Hardware Specification, Revision 2.0, PICMG CompactPCI Express EXP.0 R2.0 Specification, and the PCIe External Cable Specification

Weight ....................................................0.17 kg (0.37 lb) typical

Power Requirements

Power Rail Typical Current Maximum Current

+3.3 V 500 mA 800 mA

+12 V 450 mA 750 mA

+5 V

Aux

Not including the power consumed by an active cable. NI copper cables (782317-0x) are

passive.

5 mA 20 mA

Environment

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

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

Indoor use only.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual A-10 ni.com

Appendix A Specifications

Operating Environment

Ambient temperature range.................... 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.)

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

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

Storage Environment

Ambient temperature range.................... –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.)

Shock and Vibration

Operational 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

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

rms

Appendix A Specifications

Caution Clean the NI PXIe-8384 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device

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

Safety

This product meets 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.

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

• AS/NZS CISPR 11: Group 1, 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 generates 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.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual A-12 ni.com

CE Compliance

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ni.com/environment/rohs_china

(For information about China RoHS compliance, go to

ni.com/environment/rohs_china

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

To obtain product certifications and the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product, visit or product line, and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.

Environmental Management

Appendix A Specifications

ni.com/certification, search by model number

ni.com/environment. This page contains the

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)

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

ni.com/environment/weee.

Common Questions

This appendix lists common questions related to the use of the MXI-Express Gen II x8 controllers.

General Hardware

What connectors do the NI MXI-Express x8 copper cables use?

The NI MXI-Express x8 copper cables use Molex x8 PCIe connectors. For more information about these connectors visit Molex at and search for x8 PCIe iPass.

How many PXI bus segments can I connect together with MXI-Express Gen II x8?

The PCI specification allows up to 255 bus segments. MXI-Express Gen II x8 does not limit this number, but the maximum number of bus segments allowed can be BIOS or operating system dependent. Also, a computer may already have several PCI bus segments internally, and the MXI-Express Gen II x8 link also has multiple PCI buses internally. Every PCI Express device has at least 1 bus segment, though it will have more if it includes a bridge or switch.

www.molex.com

Appendix B Common Questions

Will my PC work with MXI-Express Gen II x8 products?

It will depend on the robustness of the BIOS in your PC. In most cases, the BIOS should be able to enumerate the bridge resources that the MXI products require for operation, especially for smaller MXI system configurations. For more information, refer to the NI Developer Zone article, Tips to Help You Successfully Use NI MXI-Express Controllers,

ni.com/zone.

What is the maximum length of a MXI-Express x8 copper cable?

The maximum length for a MXI-Express x8 copper cable is 5 m. National Instruments offers 3 m and 5 m copper cables. Refer to the Cabling section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration, for more information.

MXI-4 to MXI-Express Gen II x8 Upgrade Questions

What are some of the improvements from MXI-4 to MXI-Express Gen II x8?

MXI-Express Gen II x8 incorporates the latest technology to include:

• Support for PCI Express slots.

• Support for PXI Express and CompactPCI Express chassis.

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

• Improved mechanical connectivity.

• Improved performance.

Can I use a MXI-4, and MXI-Express Gen II x8 kit in the same multichassis PXI system?

Yes. Different MXI kits can be intermixed to connect multiple PXI and PXI Express chassis together.

MXI-4 systems required the use of a specific boot ordering. Is this a requirement with MXI-Express Gen II x8?

Yes. The requirements of the PCI bus still mandate that you must power on secondary PXI/PXI Express chassis before powering on the host PC when using MXI-Express Gen II x8. However, a MXI-Express Gen II x8 controlled chassis will power on with the host.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual B-2 ni.com

Now with MXI-Express Gen II x8, multiple chassis are connected in parallel and can be powered on in any order, except that you need to ensure that the last component powered on is the host PC.

For more details, refer to the Powering On the MXI-Express Gen II x8

System section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration.

General Software

Under which operating systems will MXI-Express Gen II x8 products work?

MXI-Express Gen II x8 will be recognized as a collection of PCI-to-PCI bridges to the majority of operating systems. It should automatically have CompactPCI Express support with most systems like Windows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, and Solaris. For full PXI Express functionality, PXI Platform Services software is required. Refer to the Software Installation and

Configuration section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration, for

more information.

What software is required to use my MXI-Express Gen II x8 kit?

For Windows and LabVIEW RT, the required software is included as part of the latest version of NI PXI Platform Services included with your kit. The software for your MXI-Express Gen II x8 controller enhances the product, allowing you to view information about the organization of your PXI Express system, gain access to the trigger routing capabilities of the PXI Express chassis, and programmatically retrieve data about the chassis and modules you have installed.

Appendix B Common Questions

Please refer to the following KnowledgeBase for the current supported operating systems for NI PXI Platform Services:

KB 53399AQ7: PXI Platform Services Operating System Support

If your operating system is not supported by PXI Platform Services, you can still use MXI-Express Gen II x8 as a PCI Express expansion solution. However, access to features such as chassis and controller identification, trigger routing, and slot detection will be lost.

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• Training and Certification—Visit

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Appendix C Technical Support and Professional Services

Alliance Partner members can help. To learn more, call your local NI office or visit

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

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• Calibration Certificate—If your product supports calibration, you can obtain the calibration certificate for your product at

ni.com/calibration.

ni.com/alliance.

You also can visit the Worldwide Offices section of

ni.com/niglobal

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

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual C-2 ni.com

Glossary

Symbol Prefix Value

ppico10

nnano10

μ micro 10

m milli 10

k kilo 10

Mmega10

Ggiga10

Ttera10

Symbols

° Degrees.

≥ Equal or greater than.

–12

–9

–6

–3

≤ Equal or less than.

% Percent.

Ω Ohms.

A Amperes.

ANSI American National Standards Institute.

API Application Programming Interface—the direct interface that an end user

sees when creating an application.

Glossary

B Byte—eight related bits of data, an 8-bit binary number. Also used to

denote the amount of memory required to store one byte of data.

BIOS Basic Input/Output System. BIOS functions are the fundamental level

of any PC or compatible computer. BIOS functions embody the basic operations needed for successful use of the computer’s hardware resources.

bus The group of conductors that interconnect individual circuitry in a

computer. Typically, a bus is the expansion vehicle to which I/O or other devices are connected. Examples of buses include the ISA bus, PCI bus, PXI bus, VXI bus, and VME bus.

CCelsius.

cabled pair Two MXI-Express Gen II x8 boards that are connected with a single cable.

cabled PCI Express connector

CFR Code of Federal Regulations.

cm Centimeters.

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

CompactPCI An adaptation of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

CSA Canadian Standards Association.

The cabled PCI Express connector provides all necessary signals to connect the MXI-Express Gen II x8 family of products. These signals include the PCI Express transmit and receive pair, the system clock, and a presence detect signal.

groups.

Specification 2.1 or later for industrial and/or embedded applications requiring a more robust mechanical form factor than desktop PCI. It uses industry standard mechanical components and high-performance connector technologies to provide an optimized system intended for rugged applications. It is electrically compatible with the PCI Specification, which enables low-cost PCI components to be utilized in a mechanical form factor suited for rugged environments.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual G-2 ni.com

Glossary

daisy-chain A method of propagating signals along a bus, in which the devices are

prioritized on the basis of their position on the bus.

DC Direct current.

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

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

DoC Declaration of Conformity.

EEPROM Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory—ROM that

can be erased with an electrical signal and reprogrammed.

EIA Electronic Industries Association.

EMC Electromagnetic compliance.

EMI Electromagnetic interference.

expansion chassis Any CompactPCI, CompactPCI Express, or PXI Express chassis.

FCC Federal Communications Commission.

filler panel A blank module front panel used to fill empty slots in the chassis.

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

defined after it is manufactured.

g(1) Grams.

(2) A measure of acceleration equal to 9.8 m/s

RMS

A measure of random vibration. The root mean square of acceleration levels in a random vibration test profile.

Glossary

host board The MXI-Express Gen II x8 board of a cabled pair of boards that is closer

to the CPU.

host PC A host computer with at least one PCI Express x8 or wider slot available.

hr Hours.

Hz Hertz; cycles per second.

I/O Input/output—the techniques, media, and devices used to achieve

communication between machines and users.

IEC International Electrotechnical Commission. The IEC publishes

internationally recognized standards. IEC 60068 contains information on environmental testing procedures and severities.

IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

in. Inches.

instrument driver A set of routines designed to control a specific instrument or family of

instruments.

K Kilo—(1) the prefix for 1,024, or 210, used with B (byte) in quantifying data

or computer memory. (2) The standard metric prefix for 1,000, or 10 such as volts, hertz, and meters.

, used with units of measure

laptop A portable computer with an available ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54

slot with PCI Express support.

lb Pounds.

LED Light emitting diode.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual G-4 ni.com

Glossary

m Meters.

M Mega—(1) the standard metric prefix for 1 million or 10

units of measure such as volts and hertz.

(2) The prefix for 1,048,576, or 2

, when used with B (byte) to quantify

data or computer memory.

MAX NI Measurement & Automation Explorer, the utility that allows you to

configure and test your PXI system.

ms Milliseconds.

MXI Multisystem eXtension Interface.

MXI-4 A previous generation of MXI products (compared to MXI-Express) that

offers similar connectivity as MXI-3, but with link error correction capability.

MXI-Express An extension of MXI based upon PCI Express.

, when used with

MXI-Express x8 copper cable

MXI-Express Gen II x8 connector

Standard PCI Express specification compliant cable with x8 PCIe connectors.

The cabled MXI-Express Gen II x8 connector provides all necessary signals to connect an NI PCIe-8381 and an NI PXIe-8381/8384. These signals include the PCI Express transmit and receive pairs, the system clock, presence detect signals, reset, and a wake-up signal. This connector is compatible with the PCI Express External Cabling 1.0 Specification.

NI National Instruments.

NI-DAQ The National Instruments industry-standard software for data acquisition

instruments.

Glossary

PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect—A high-performance expansion bus

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

PCI card edge connector The PCI card edge connector is the row of metal contacts along the bottom

edge of a PCI plug-in card. The details for this connector are defined by the PCI Specification.

PCI Express A scalable full-simplex serial bus standard that operates at 2.5 Gbps, or

higher, and offers both asynchronous and isochronous data transfers. Also known as PCIe.

PCI Express switch The PCI Express Base Specification defines a PCI Express switch as a

logical collection of PCI Express-to-PCI Express bridge devices. On the NI PCIe-8381, the upstream port of the switch is connected to the PCI Express x8 card edge connector, and the downstream port is connected to a cabled MXI-Express Gen II x8 connector.

On the NI PXIe-8381, the upstream part of the switch is connected to the cable. One downstream port is connected to the SMBus Master, and either four x4 ports or two x8 ports are connected to the backplane, depending on the chassis backplane configuration.

PCI Express x8 card edge connector

PCI Express-to-PCI Bridge

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

PCI Express-to-PCI bridge

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual G-6 ni.com

The card edge connector allows you to use the NI PCIe-8381 in a x8 or wider PCI Express slot in a PC. The PCI Express Card Electromechanical Specification defines this connector.

The PCI Express Base Specification defines a PCI Express-to-PCI bridge as a device that connects a PCI Express fabric and a PCI hierarchy. On the NI PXIe-8381, the PCI Express-to-PCI bridge connects an SMBus Master on the card via a Gen 1 x1 PCI Express link.

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

The PCI Express Base Specification defines a PCI Express-to-PCI bridge as a device that connects a PCI Express fabric and a PCI hierarchy. A PCI Express-to-PCI bridge enables certain MXI-Express Gen II x8 products to interface with PCI or PXI slots.

PXI PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation. PXI is an open specification

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

Glossary

RMS Root mean squared. See also g

RMS

s Seconds.

SMBus Master The SMBus is a low-speed bus for reading and configuring devices outside

the normal PCI Express mechanism. The PXI Express specification requires controllers to supply an SMBus for reading chassis configuration information from an EEPROM. It may also be used for fan control, power monitors, or other system devices. In addition, devices on plug-in boards may connect to the SMBus for purposes specific to those devices.

target board The MXI-Express Gen II x8 board of a cabled pair of boards that is farther

from the CPU.

USB Universal Serial Bus—a serial bus for connecting computers to keyboards,

printers, and other peripheral devices.

VVolts.

VISA Virtual Instrument Software Architecture. This is the general name given to

VISA and its associated architecture.

Peak-to-peak voltage.

Glossary

W Watts.

x1 A PCI Express link or port with one physical lane.

x4 A PCI Express link or port with four physical lanes.

x8 A PCI Express link or port with eight physical lanes.

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual G-8 ni.com

Index

back side LEDs, 2-11 basic MXI-Express Gen II x8, systems, 1-4 block diagrams, 1-2 bracket, low-profile, 2-4

cabling, 2-8 calibration certificate (NI resources), C-2 common questions, B-1

general hardware, B-1 general software, B-3 MXI-4 to MXI-Express Gen II x8, B-2

configuration, 2-1

additional, star (figure), 1-5 basic, 1-4 software, 2-13 system, 2-13

conventions used in the manual, x

Declaration of Conformity (NI resources), C-2 diagnostic tools (NI resources), C-1 documentation

conventions used in manual, x NI resources, C-1 related documentation, ix

drivers (NI resources), C-1

environment specifications

NI PCIe-8381, A-3 NI PXIe-8381, A-6 NI PXIe-8384, A-10

equipment needed, 2-1 examples (NI resources), C-1

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

installation, 2-1

cabling, 2-8 configuration, 2-13 equipment needed, 2-1 hardware, 2-3 low-profile bracket, 2-4 NI PCIe-8381, 2-3 NI PXIe-8381/8384, 2-6 powering off the MXI-Express Gen II x8

system, 2-9

powering on the MXI-Express Gen II x8

system, 2-8

software, 2-13

instrument drivers (NI resources), C-1

KnowledgeBase, C-1

larger MXI-Express Gen II x8 systems, 1-5 LED

indicators, 2-9 locations, 2-10, 2-11 status descriptions, 2-9

low-profile bracket, 2-4

Index

MXI-4 to MXI-Express Gen II x8 common

questions, B-2

MXI-Express Gen II x8

basic system, 1-4 block diagrams, 1-2 cabling, 2-8 configuration, 2-1 description and features, 1-1 installation, 2-1 larger systems, 1-5 specifications, A-1

NI PCIe-8381, A-2 NI PXIe-8381, A-6 NI PXIe-8384, A-10

unpacking, 2-2

National Instruments support and services, C-1 NI PCIe-8381

installation, 2-3

figure, 2-4 installing the low-profile bracket, 2-4 specifications, A-2

NI PXIe-8381

installation, 2-6 specifications, A-6

NI PXIe-8384

installation, 2-6 specifications, A-10

overview, functional, 1-2

physical specifications

NI PCIe-8381, A-2 NI PXIe-8381, A-6 NI PXIe-8384, A-10

programming examples (NI resources), C-1 PXI Express board, installation, figure, 2-7

NI MXI-Express Gen II x8, MXI-Express Gen II PCIe-8381, MXI-Express Gen II PXIe-8381, MXI-Express Gen II PXIe-8384 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual

Support

Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information

Worldwide Offices

National Instruments Corporate Headquarters

Important Information

Warranty

Copyright

End-User License Agreements and Third-Party Legal Notices

Trademarks

Patents

Export Compliance Information

WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS

Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines

Contents

About This Manual

Products Covered

Related Documentation

Conventions

Description and Features

Table 1-1. Feature Comparison of Available MXI-Express Gen II x8 Interfaces

Functional Overview

Functional Block Diagrams

Figure 1-1. NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L) Block Diagram

Figure 1-2. NI PXIe-8381 (153097x-01L) Block Diagram

Figure 1-3. NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L) Block Diagram

Basic MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems

Figure 1-4. Example of a Basic MXI-Express Gen II x8 Link Topology

Larger MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems

Figure 1-5. Example of MXI-Express Gen II x8 System Expansion Topologies

Compatibility with Host PCs

Equipment Needed

Connecting a PC to an Expansion Chassis

Connecting Additional Expansion Chassis to a System

Unpacking

Hardware Installation

Installing an NI PCIe-8381

Figure 2-1. Installing the NI PCIe-8381

Installing the Low-Profile Bracket on the NI PCIe-8381 (Optional)

Figure 2-2. Removing the Standard Bracket from the NI PCIe-8381

Installing an NI PXIe-8381 or NI PXIe-8384

Table 2-1. NI MXI-Express Gen II x8 PXI Express Board Slot Type Compatibility

Figure 2-3. Example NI PXI Express Board Installation Into a PXI Express Chassis

Cabling

Table 2-2. National Instruments MXI-Express x8 Copper Cables

Powering On the MXI-Express Gen II x8 System

Powering Off the MXI-Express Gen II x8 System

LED Indicators

Table 2-3. LED Status Descriptions of MXI-Express Gen II x8 Products

Figure 2-4. NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L) Onboard LED Locations

Figure 2-5. NI PXIe-8381 Back Side LED Locations

Table 2-4. Backplane Link Status LED Behavior for Example Chassis Controlled by a NI PXIe-8381

Software Installation and Configuration

Installation

Configuring Your System

Glossary

Symbols

Index