AlazarTech ATS9371 User manual

ATS9371 User Manual
12 Bit, 2 Channel, 1 G
S/s
Waveform Digitizer for PCI Express Gen 3
Bus
Written for Hardware Version 1.5
September 2018 Edition

ATS9371 User Manual i
Copyright © 2018 Alazar Technologies Inc.. All rights reserved.
Alazar Technologies Inc. Contact Information
AlazarTech, Inc.
6600 Trans-Canada Highway
Suite 310
Pointe-Claire, QC
Canada H9R 4S2
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.alazartech.com
To comment on the documentation for ATS9371, send e-mail to
[email protected].
Information required when contacting AlazarTech for technical
support:
Owned by:
Serial Number:
Purchase Date:
Purchased From:
Software Driver Version:
SDK Version:
ATS-GPU Version:
ATS-GMA Version:
AlazarDSO®Version:
Operating System:

ii ATS9371 User Manual
Important Information
Warranty
The AlazarTech ATS®9371 is warranted against defects in
materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date
of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation.
Alazar Technologies, Inc. (hereafter “AlazarTech”) will, at its
option, repair or replace equipment that proves to be defective
during the warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.
The media on which you receive AlazarTech software are
warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to
defects in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days
from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other
documentation. AlazarTech will, at its option, repair or replace
software media that do not execute programming instructions if
AlazarTech receives notice of such defects during the warranty
period. AlazarTech does not warrant that the operation of the
software shall be uninterrupted or error free.
A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained
from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package
before any equipment will be accepted for warranty work.
AlazarTech will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner
parts that are covered by warranty.
AlazarTech believes that the information in this document is
accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical
accuracy. In the event that technical or typographical errors exist,
AlazarTech reserves the right to make changes to subsequent
editions of this document without prior notice to holders of this
edition. AlazarTech may also make improvements and/or
changes in the products and/or programs described in this
document at any time. The reader should consult AlazarTech if
errors are suspected. In no event shall AlazarTech be liable for
any damages arising out of or related to this document or the
information contained in it. The latest user manual can be found
on the AlazarTech web page at
www.alazartech.com/support/downloads.htm.

ATS9371 User Manual iii
EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED HEREIN, ALAZARTECH MAKES NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND SPECIFICALLY
DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMER’S
RIGHT TO RECOVER DAMAGES CAUSED BY FAULT OR
NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF ALAZARTECH SHALL BE
LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT THERETOFORE PAID BY THE
CUSTOMER. ALAZARTECH WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR
DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, USE
OF PRODUCTS, OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY
THEREOF. This limitation of the liability of AlazarTech will apply
regardless of the form of action, whether in contract or tort,
including negligence. Any action against AlazarTech must be
brought within one year after the cause of action accrues.
AlazarTech shall not be liable for any delay in performance due to
causes beyond its reasonable control. The warranty provided
herein does not cover damages, defects, malfunctions, or service
failures caused by owner’s failure to follow the AlazarTech
installation, operation, or maintenance instructions; owner’s
modification of the product; owner’s abuse, misuse, or negligent
acts; and power failure or surges, fire, flood, accident, actions of
third parties, or other events outside reasonable control.
Copyright
Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced
or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system,
or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent
of AlazarTech.
Registered Trademarks
AlazarTech®, AlazarTech ATS®, AlazarDSO®, AlazarStream®, and
AlazarPC® are registered trademarks of Alazar Technologies, Inc.
MATLAB is a trademark and/or registered trademark of The
MathWorks, Inc. LabVIEW is a trademark and/or registered
trademark of National Instruments. Windows is a trademark and/or
registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or
other countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
CUDA is a trademark and/or registered trademark of NVIDIA
Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Radeon is a
trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. OpenCL is a
trademark of Apple Inc.Product and company names mentioned
herein are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of
their respective owners.

iv ATS9371 User Manual
Warning Regarding Use of AlazarTech Products
1. ALAZARTECH PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED WITH
COMPONENTS AND TESTING FOR A LEVEL OF RELIABILITY
SUITABLE FOR USE IN OR IN CONNECTION WITH SURGICAL
IMPLANTS OR AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN ANY LIFE
SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHOSE FAILURE TO PERFORM CAN
REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT
INJURY TO A HUMAN.
2. IN ANY APPLICATION, INCLUDING THE ABOVE, RELIABILITY
OF OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS CAN BE
IMPAIRED BY ADVERSE FACTORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO FLUCTUATIONS IN ELECTRICAL POWER
SUPPLY, COMPUTER HARDWARE MALFUNCTIONS,
COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE FITNESS,
FITNESS OF COMPILERS AND DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE
USED TO DEVELOP AN APPLICATION, INSTALLATION
ERRORS, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY
PROBLEMS, MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC
MONITORING OR CONTROL DEVICES, TRANSIENT
FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS (HARDWARE AND/OR
SOFTWARE), UNANTICIPATED USES OR MISUSES, OR
ERRORS ON THE PART OF THE USER OR APPLICATIONS
DESIGNER (ADVERSE FACTORS SUCH AS THESE ARE
HEREAFTER COLLECTIVELY TERMED “SYSTEM FAILURES”).
ANY APPLICATION WHERE A SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD
CREATE A RISK OF HARM TO PROPERTY OR PERSONS
(INCLUDING THE RISK OF BODILY INJURY AND DEATH)
SHOULD NOT BE RELIANT SOLELY UPON ONE FORM OF
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM DUE TO THE RISK OF SYSTEM
FAILURE. TO AVOID DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH, THE
USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER MUST TAKE
REASONABLY PRUDENT STEPS TO PROTECT AGAINST
SYSTEM FAILURES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BACK-
UP OR SHUT DOWN MECHANISMS. BECAUSE EACH END-
USER SYSTEM IS CUSTOMIZED AND DIFFERS FROM
ALAZARTECH’s TESTING PLATFORMS AND BECAUSE A
USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER MAY USE ALAZARTECH
PRODUCTS IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER PRODUCTS IN A
MANNER NOT EVALUATED OR CONTEMPLATED BY
ALAZARTECH, THE USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER IS
ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING AND
VALIDATING THE SUITABILITY OF ALAZARTECH PRODUCTS
WHENEVER ALAZARTECH PRODUCTS ARE INCORPORATED
IN A SYSTEM OR APPLICATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, THE APPROPRIATE DESIGN, PROCESS AND
SAFETY LEVEL OF SUCH SYSTEM OR APPLICATION.

ATS9371 User Manual v
Compliance
FCC/Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment
Standard (ICES-003) Compliance*
Determining FCC Class
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules to
protect wireless communications from interference. The FCC
places digital electronics into two classes. These classes are
known as Class A (for use in industrial-commercial locations only)
or Class B (for use in residential or commercial locations).
Depending on where it is operated, this product could be subject to
restrictions in the FCC rules. (In Canada, the department of
Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED), regulates
wireless interference in much the same way.)
Digital electronics emit weak signals during normal operation that can
affect radio, television, or other wireless products. By examining the
product you purchased, you can determine the FCC Class and
therefore which of the two FCC/ISED Warnings apply in the following
sections. (Some products may not be labeled at all for FCC; if so, the
reader should then assume these are Class A devices.)
FCC Class A products only display a simple warning statement of
one paragraph in length regarding interference and undesired
operation. Most of our products are FCC Class A. The FCC rules
have restrictions regarding the locations where FCC Class A
products can be operated.
FCC Class B products display either a FCC ID code, starting with
the letters EXN, or the FCC Class B compliance mark.
Consult the FCC website http://www.fcc.gov for more information.
FCC/ISED Warnings
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in strict accordance with the instructions in
this manual and the CE Mark Declaration of Conformity**, may
cause interference to radio and television reception. Classification
requirements are the same for the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and Innovation, Science and Economic
Development (ISED) Canada.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by AlazarTech
Inc. could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment under
the FCC/ISED Rules.

vi ATS9371 User Manual
Class A
Federal Communications Commission
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment
in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which
case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own
expense.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the
Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Standard (ICES-003).
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les
exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.

ATS9371 User Manual vii
Compliance to EU Directives
Readers in the European Union (EU) must refer to the
Manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for information**
pertaining to the CE Mark compliance scheme. The Manufacturer
includes a DoC for most every hardware product except for those
bought for OEMs, if also available from an original manufacturer
that also markets in the EU, or where compliance is not required
as for electrically benign apparatus or cables.
To obtain the DoC for this product, click Declaration of
Conformity at www.alazartech.com/support/documents.htm. This
web page lists all DoCs by product family. Select the appropriate
product to download or read the DoC.
* Certain exemptions may apply in the USA, see FCC Rules
§15.103 Exempted devices, and §15.105(c). Also available in
sections of CFR 47.
** The CE Mark Declaration of Conformity will contain
important supplementary information and instructions for the user
or installer.
Environmental Compliance
Alazar Technologies Inc., hereby certifies that this product is
RoHS compliant, as defined by Directive 2015/863/EU (RoHS 3) of
the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2015 on
the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in
electrical and electronic equipment. All manufacturing has been
done using RoHS-compliant components and lead-free soldering.

viii ATS9371 User Manual
Table of Contents
Important Information................................................................... ii
Compliance .................................................................................. v
Table of Contents.......................................................................viii
Change Log................................................................................. ix
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................... 1
About Your ATS9371 ................................................................... 2
ATS9371 Export Control Classification ........................................ 3
Acquiring Data with Your ATS9371.............................................. 4
Optional Upgrades ....................................................................... 7
CHAPTER 2 - INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION ........... 8
What You Need to Get Started .................................................... 9
Unpacking .................................................................................. 10
Installing the ATS9371 ............................................................... 11
Installing the ATS9371 in a Linux System.................................. 20
Updating ATS9371 Driver .......................................................... 23
CHAPTER 3 HARDWARE OVERVIEW .................................... 24
Physical Overview ...................................................................... 26
Status LEDs ............................................................................... 28
Signal Connections .................................................................... 31
Analog Input ............................................................................... 32
Calibration .................................................................................. 33
Optional External Clock.............................................................. 34
OCT Ignore Bad Clock ............................................................... 36
CHAPTER 4 SPECIFIC FEATURES ......................................... 37
Streaming Data Across the Bus ................................................. 38
On-FPGA FFT............................................................................ 43
FPGA Customization.................................................................. 44
APPENDIX A - SPECIFICATIONS ............................................ 45
APPENDIX B - BENCHMARKS ................................................ 51

ATS9371 User Manual ix
Change Log
This is the first edition of this manual

ATS9371 User Manual 1
Chapter 1
Introduction
This chapter describes the ATS9371 and lists additional
equipment.
Note: The Board color can be GREEN or BURGUNDY

2 ATS9371 User Manual
About Your ATS9371
Thank you for your purchase of an ATS9371. This PCI Express
(PCIe Gen3 x8) based waveform digitizer has the following
features:
•Two 12-bit resolution analog input channels
•Real-time sampling rate of 1 GS/s to 1 KS/s with internal
clock and 1 GS/s to 300 MS/s with external clock (1 GS/s
to 100 MS/s with screened external clock)
•Uses on-board SO-DIMM RAM as a very deep FIFO
•Streaming of acquired data to PC host memory at
6.8 GB/s (exact rate is motherboard dependent)
•1 GHz analog input bandwidth
•Half-length PCI Express (8 lane) card
•External trigger input channel with software-selectable
level and slope
•DC coupling and fixed 50 Ωinput impedance for analog
inputs
•Pre-trigger and Post-Trigger Capture with Multiple Record
capability
•NIST- or CNRC-traceable calibration
•Dual DMA engines for best latency protection against
Windows and Linux operating systems
•Fully asynchronous software driver for fastest DMA with
least CPU overhead
All ATS9371 digitizers follow industry-standard Plug and Play
specifications on all platforms and offer seamless integration with
compliant systems.
Detailed specifications of the ATS9371 digitizers are listed in
Appendix A, Specifications.

ATS9371 User Manual 3
ATS9371 Export Control Classification
According to the Export Controls Division of Government of
Canada, ATS9371 is currently not controlled for export from
Canada. Its export control classification is N8, which is equivalent
to ECCN EAR99. ATS9371 can be shipped freely outside of
Canada, with the exception of countries listed on the Area Control
Listand Sanctions List.
Furthermore, if the end-use of ATS9371, in part or in its entirety, is
related to the development or deployment of weapons of mass
destruction, AlazarTech is obliged to apply for an export permit.

4 ATS9371 User Manual
Acquiring Data with Your ATS9371
You can acquire data either programmatically by writing an
application for your ATS9371 or interactively with the AlazarDSO
software.
If you want to integrate the ATS9371 in your test and
measurement or embedded OEM application, you can program
the digitizer using C/C++, Python, MATLAB®or LabVIEW®for
Windows®or Linux®operating systems.
Windows operating systems supported are Windows 10,
Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2013, Windows
Server 2010, and Windows Server 2008 R2. Both 32 bit
and 64 bit Windows operating systems are supported.
Binary drivers for most of the popular Linux distributions,
such as CentOS, Ubuntu, etc. are available. Users can
download the binary driver for their specific distribution by
choosing from the available drivers here:
ftp://releas[email protected]/outgoing/linux
Only 64 bit Linux operating systems are supported.
Other Linux distributions may also be supported on a case
by case basis. Please contact s[email protected]
for more details. You must include the full output of
uname -a command from your target Linux system in your
email.
The AlazarTech engineering team may be able to
generate an appropriate driver for a nominal fee, if
applicable.
For using a programming language to acquire data from your
ATS9371, you must purchase the ATS-SDK package.

ATS9371 User Manual 5
Interactively Controlling your ATS9371
The AlazarDSO oscilloscope emulation software for Windows
allows you to interactively control your ATS9371 as you would a
desktop oscilloscope.
Under Linux, an application named Alazar Front Panel is available.
Note that Alazar Front Panel has a limited feature set.

6 ATS9371 User Manual
ATS-SDK API
The ATS-SDK API is used for programming the ATS9371 in C/C++,
C#, LabVIEW, MATLAB and Python. It provides the exact same API
that is used for writing AlazarDSO software. To help you get started,
ATS-SDK comes with examples you can use or modify.
The ATS-SDK contains the necessary files to develop applications
both under Windows and Linux.
ATS-GPU
The ATS-GPU library provides a framework to allow real-time
processing of data from AlazarTech PCIe digitizers on a CUDA®
compatible GPU. Using pinned buffers, ATS-GPU can move data
at rates up to 4 GB/s for ATS9371. To help you get started, ATS-
GPU-BASE comes with an example of a user application that
performs very simple signal processing (data inversion) you can
use or modify.
ATS-GPU-OCT is the optional OCT Signal Processing library for
ATS-GPU. It contains floating point FFT routines that have also
been optimized to provide the maximum number of FFTs per
second. Kernel code running on the GPU can do zero-padding,
apply a windowing function, do a floating point FFT, calculate the
amplitude and convert the result to a log scale. It is also possible
to output phase information.
ATS-GMA
The ATS-GMA library allows True DMA of data from AlazarTech PCIe
digitizers to AMD Radeon™ Pro GPU cards at full PCI Express bus
speed, with latency as low as 100 μs. ATS-GMA does not use any
host memory buffers for temporary storage. To help you get started,
ATS-GMA-BASE comes with an example of a user application that
performs very simple signal processing (data inversion) that you can
use or modify. ATS-GMA is for OpenCL-based development.
ATS-GMA-OCT is the optional OCT Signal Processing library for
ATS-GMA. It provides out-of-the-box OCT imaging with floating
point FFT routines that have been optimized to provide the
maximum number of FFTs per second. Kernel code running on
the GPU can do zero-padding, apply a windowing function, do a
floating point FFT, calculate the amplitude and convert the result to
a log scale. It is also possible to output phase information.

ATS9371 User Manual 7
Optional Upgrades
AlazarTech offers the following upgrades and accessories for use
with your ATS9371 digitizer:
•ATS9371: External Clock Upgrade (300 MHz to 1 GHz)
•ATS9371: Screened External Clock Upgrade (100 MHz to
1 GHz)

8 ATS9371 User Manual
Chapter 2 - Installation and
Configuration
This chapter describes how to unpack, install, and configure your
ATS9371.

ATS9371 User Manual 9
What You Need to Get Started
To set up and use your ATS9371, you will need the following:
•One or more ATS9371 digitizers
(Note: The Board color can be GREEN or BURGUNDY)
•ATS9371 Installation Software on USB Disk
(or downloaded software from
www.alazartech.com/support/downloads.htm)