Datapath Express9 User manual

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Express9
User Manual
UK Headquarters
Datapath Ltd., Alfreton Road, Derby, DE21 4AD, UK
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email [email protected]
www.datapath.co.uk

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Contents
Contents ..........................................................................................................2
Specifications:..................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................4
Features................................................................................................................................. 4
Unpacking........................................................................................................5
Requirements......................................................................................................................... 5
Installing the Express9 Backplane...................................................................6
Installing an SBC .............................................................................................7
Express9 slot layout............................................................................................................... 7
Connecting a Host Machine to an Expansion Chassis.....................................8
Connecting more than one Chassis.................................................................9
Gen-locking Cables on H-Link and S-Link Boards ................................................................ 9
Express9 LED’s .............................................................................................12
Datapath Limited............................................................................................13
Technical Support................................................................................................................ 13
Copyright Statement ............................................................................................................ 13
Index..............................................................................................................15

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Specifications:
Express9
Max Power
16W
Power requirements
Max current at +3.3V - 0.5A
Max current at +12V –0.5A
Max current at +5V –1.5A
Form Factor
PICMG1.3 Host SBC interface
1 x PCIe (x8) expansion slot
ATX PSU
4 x 24 pin power connectors
SATA Ports
2 x ports via PICMG1.3 interface
USB Ports
2 x ports via PICMG1.3 interface
S-Link
Max Power
5W
Power requirements
Max current at +3.3V –0.1A
Max current at +12V –0.3A
Max current at +5V –0.1A
Form Factor
PICMG1.3
PCIe x 8 expansion interface
H-Link
Max Power
5W
Power requirements
Max current at +3.3V –0.1A
Max current at +12V –0.3A
Form Factor
PCIe x 8
Environment: Express9/Slink/Hlink/Ex-cable
Operating Temperature
0 to 35 deg C
Storage Temperature:
-20 to 70 deg C
Relative Humidity:
5% to 90% non-condensing

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Warranty
3 Years
Introduction
The Datapath Express9 backplane provides nine PCI express slots and can be used with a
standard PICMG 1.3 SBC as a stand alone system or with the Datapath S-Link and H-Link
cards to provide a PCIe expansion system for a standard PC.
Features
Nine slot PCIe backplane. 8 x 4 lane slots plus 1 x 8 lane slot
All slots implemented as x 16 physical connectors so any width PCIe card can be
accommodated
1 x PICMG 1.3 SBC slot
Use as a PCIe expansion backplane for a standard PC using the S-Link and H-Link
cards
Compatible with a standard 4U IPC chassis
Support for daisy chaining multiple backplanes
PCIe Switch Fabric providing 192 Gb/s peak system bandwidth

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Unpacking
Your packing box should contain the following items:
Express9 Backplane
SBC1 (optional)
S-Link Card (optional)
H-Link Card (optional)
Ex-cable (optional)
Datapath CD containing the user manual
Note:
All PCB’s are static sensitive and are packed it anti-static materials. Please keep the
Express9 Backplane and any plug-in card in its packaging until you are ready to install
and observe anti static precautions when installing this product.
Requirements
To install the Express9 backplane you require:
ATX Power supply
Chassis
Host Computer

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Installing the Express9 Backplane
The Express9 backplane is fixed into the chassis by screwing down on the mounts located in
the host chassis. Ensure the rear of the Express9 backplane is facing the rear of the chassis.
The chassis will have a number of locating mounts not used by the Express9, it is important
that stand off mounts are used to ensure the reverse side of the backplane does not come
into contact with any unused mounts.
Once the Express9 is secured inside the chassis connect the power supply to one of the four
connectors (J1, J2, J3, and J4) on the Express9 backplane and connect the 12v supply (J5 or
J6).
Connect the fan headers
There is no requirement to connect the power reset cable unless using an SBC.

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Installing an SBC
When installing an SBC onto the Express9 backplane the SBC should be carefully inserted
into the PICMG1.3 SBC slot. The SBC should be installed as per the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Express9 slot layout
Please note
Datapath recommend that the first (x8) PCIe slot is not occupied with a graphics card
as this can cause BIOS issues with certain chipsets. This slot should be reserved as
the expansion slot or for a non-VGA device.

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Connecting a Host Machine to an Expansion
Chassis
The Express9 can be used as an expansion chassis providing you have the following
accessories:
H-Link card
S-Link card
Ex-cable
Power down the host machine and insert the H-Link card into a free x8 PCIe slot.
Insert the S-Link card into the PICMG1.3 SBC slot on the Express9 as shown in the diagram
above. The S-Link card should occupy the first half of the PICMG1.3 slot (connectors A and
B).
Connect the H-Link and S-Link cards using the Ex-cable.
When powering up the host machine the expansion chassis will power up automatically, the
LED for the PICMG1.3 slot containing the S-Link card will flash indicating that a successful
link has been made between the host machine and the expansion chassis.
Note:
When inserting PCI cards into the host machine or expansion chassis, ensure the
system is powered down prior to any cards being installed.

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Connecting more than one Chassis
It is possible to connect more than one expansion chassis to a host machine increasing the
number of PCIe slots available.
The following diagram illustrates how this can be achieved:
In this instance the host machine is an Express9 backplane with an SBC fitted.
When connecting two expansion chassis to a host machine the H-Link card in the first
expansion chassis must be installed into the x8 slot.
The S-Link card in the second expansion chassis should be installed in the PICMG1.3 SBC
slot.
Connect the H-Link and S-Link cards using the Ex-cable as shown in the above illustration.
Gen-locking Cables on H-Link and S-Link Boards
Connectors J4 and J5 are used for Gen-locking multiple chassis together. This is useful when
using multiple chassis that each contains a number of Datapath Image4 graphics cards. The
gen-locking chain can be used to tie the outputs of the graphics cards together so that they all
render their outputs to the screen at the same time. This makes fast moving images appear
smoother on the video/data wall and eliminates ‘tearing’ artefacts on the display.
To create a gen-locked chain using the H-Link and corresponding S-Link cards, firstly ensure
that the system is powered down. Then connect the gen-locked output of the closest Image 4
graphics card to connector J4 (GEN LOCK IN) on the H-Link board using the cable supplied
with your H-Link board, as shown in the picture below. Note that this cable is longer than the
cable supplied with each Image 4 graphics card in order to cover the extra distance between
the Image4 and the H-Link board. This will send the gen-locked clock over the Ex-cable to the
next downstream chassis.

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In order to complete the gen-locked link, you will need to connect the output of the S-Link
board in the downstream expansion chassis back into the next Image 4 graphics card in the
chain, as per the following image. Note again that the cable supplied with the S-Link board is
longer than those supplied with the Image4 graphics card in order to cover the extra distance.