Dolphin PXH812 User manual

PXH812 User’s Guide – Dolphin Interconnect Solutions Page 1
Dolphin PCI Express PXH812
Adapter card user’s guide
Version 1.03
Date: 22nd May 2019

PXH812 User’s Guide – Dolphin Interconnect Solutions Page 2
Table of Contents
DISCLAIMER .......................................................................................................................................................................3
Quick Install Guide .............................................................................................................................................................4
PXH812 Operating Modes ..............................................................................................................................................4
Cable Connections .........................................................................................................................................................5
Dolphin Software...........................................................................................................................................................5
Overview ...........................................................................................................................................................................6
Dolphin Express Adapter Card - PXH812 .............................................................................................................................7
PXH812 High Level Specification.....................................................................................................................................7
LEDs...............................................................................................................................................................................8
Use Cases...........................................................................................................................................................................9
Use Case A: Transparent IO............................................................................................................................................9
Use Case B –Transparent Downstream Target ...............................................................................................................9
Use Case C –Expansion Scale Out.................................................................................................................................10
Configuration and DIP Switches........................................................................................................................................11
DIP Switch Bank –Configuration...................................................................................................................................11
Use Cases Summary and Settings .................................................................................................................................12
Installation.......................................................................................................................................................................13
Changing the PCI Express Bracket.................................................................................................................................13
Installing the Adapter Card...........................................................................................................................................13
Installing and Removing the Cable................................................................................................................................13
EEPROM Programming.....................................................................................................................................................13
Identifying the Card..........................................................................................................................................................14
Support............................................................................................................................................................................14
Technical information ......................................................................................................................................................15
PCI-Express 8x Finger Connector Pin-Out......................................................................................................................15
PCIe iPass Cable Connector Pin-Out..............................................................................................................................15
Compliance and Regulatory Testing..................................................................................................................................16
EMC Compliance..........................................................................................................................................................16
RoHS Compliance.........................................................................................................................................................16
FCC Class B...................................................................................................................................................................16
Limited Warranty.............................................................................................................................................................17
Warranty Period ..........................................................................................................................................................17
Coverage .....................................................................................................................................................................17
Service Procedure........................................................................................................................................................17
Limitations...................................................................................................................................................................17

PXH812 User’s Guide – Dolphin Interconnect Solutions Page 3
DISCLAIMER
DOLPHIN INTERCONNECT SOLUTIONS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES, WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE, TO ANY OF
ITS PRODUCTS TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY, FUNCTION, OR DESIGN. DOLPHIN INTERCONNECT SOLUTIONS DOES NOT
ASSUME ANY LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE APPLICATION OR USE OF ANY PRODUCT.
DO NOT USE INFORMATION IN THIS GUIDE TO DESIGN YOUR OWN PCI-SIG COMPLIANT PRODUCT, ALWAYS REFERENCE
THE ORIGINAL PCI-SIG SPECIFICAITON.
LIFE SUPPORT POLICY
DOLPHIN INTERCONNECT SOLUTIONS’ PRODUCTS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN LIFE
SUPPORT DEVICES.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Dolphin is minimizing the amount of printed documentation and software CDs in its shipments; please download
additional documentation and software from www.dolphinics.com/px.

PXH812 User’s Guide – Dolphin Interconnect Solutions Page 4
Quick Install Guide
The PXH812 card is shipped in an anti-static bag to prevent static electricity damage. The card should only be
removed from the bag after ensuring that anti-static precautions are taken.
The PXH812 card can be installed in any PCI Express compliant x8 or x16, Gen1, Gen2 or Gen3 slot. Electrically,
the PXH812 supports PCIe Gen1, Gen2 and Gen3 speeds and x1, x2, x4 and x8 link-widths.
The card will operate at the highest common speed shared between the slot and the card (Gen3) and the widest common
link-width (x8).
For best performance, we recommend a PCI Express Gen3 x8 or Gen3 x16 slot.
PXH812 Operating Modes
The Dolphin PCI Express PXH812 card is a transparent PCI Express Gen3 cable adapter card. The card supports
both upstream host and downstream target operation. The operation is controlled by the TRANSP and TARGET
DIP switches that can be found close to the upper edge of the board. The main
configuration options are found in the table below. The shipping default is
Transparent Host mode. To enable Transparent Target mode, DIP switch TARGET
needs to be set. In Transparetn Target mode, the NTB-LED will be orange. For both
modes, OPT2 can also be set to tune the card for long cables –this is typically
required for 3-5m (10-16ft) copper cables.
Configuration PXH812
DIP switch view
NTB LED Color
Transparent Host mode
(shipping default)
Not lit
Transparent Target mode
Orange
Transparent Host mode
(long-cable tuning)
Not lit
Transparent Target mode
(long-cable tuning)
Orange
Table 1: PXH812 SW2 configuration settings
Actual settings depend on the functionality of the target device.
All other DIP switches should normally be left in the shipping default setting. More details on DIP switch settings can be
found on page 11 in this document.
DIP Switches

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Cable Connections
The PXH812 requires an x8 iPass™ or PCI Express standard cable. A single x8 cable is used to connect to a PXH812 card in
target mode, other compliant transparent I/O devices, or an IXS600 8 port switch in transparent mode.
To install the cable, match the x8 cable with the connector on the PXH812 board. Use even pressure to insert the
connector until it is secure. Adhere to ESD guidelines when installing the cable to prevent damage to the board. The
PXH812 supports both copper and active fiber cables. Copper cables up to 5 meters long and active fiber cables up to 100
meters long are supported at full Gen3 speed between PXH812 cards. Connectivity to other PCIe devices may require
special tuning for copper cables longer than 2 meters.
Connecting to a x4 Device
An x8 to x4 transition cable can be used to connect the card to PCI Express equipment having an x4 iPass connector.
Please contact Dolphin for more information.
Using the PXH812 with Optical Fibers
The PXH812 card is compliant with active fiber optic cables from Samtec. The fiber iPass houses are marked with Host or
Target. The Host side should be connected to the card configured to be the upstream transparent host. The iPass house
marked with Target should be connected to the downstream target adapter card.
Dolphin Software
Transparent mode (Host or Target operation) does not require any special software.

PXH812 User’s Guide – Dolphin Interconnect Solutions Page 6
Overview
This document describes the Dolphin PCI Express PXH812 PCI Express Gen3 adapter cards.
The Dolphin Express IX and PX product family consists of the following compliant products:
•PXH810 PCI Express Gen3 x8 NTB iPass cable adapter card
•PXH812 PCI Express Gen3 x8 Host and Target Transparent iPass cable adapter card
•IXH610 PCI Express Gen2 x8 NTB Host iPass cable adapter card
•IXH611 PCI Express Gen2 x8 Host and Target iPass cable adapter card
•IXH620 XMC PCI Express Gen2 NTB Host and Target XMC iPass cable adapter card
•IXS600 PCI Express Gen3 iPass 8 port rack mount iPass cable switch
•IXC1M 1 meter PCIe Gen3 x8 iPass copper cable
•IXC2M 2 meter PCIe Gen3 x8 iPass copper cable
•IXC5M 5 meter PCIe Gen3 x8 iPass copper cable
•IXC7M 7 meter PCIe Gen2 x8 iPass copper cable
•IXC448-2M 2 meter x8 to x4 transition PCIe Gen3 iPass copper cable
The PXH812 adapter can be used to connect to any existing PCI Express compliant target device having a standard PCI
Express x8 connector (PCI Express Gen 1 through Gen3, auto detect). The PXH812 can connect to the IXH620 XMC card for
transparent operation.
Please note that the PXH812 adapter does not supports the Dolphin NTB Software. To utilize the Dolphin software, you
need an NTB adapter like the PXH810, PXH830 or any of the IXH6xx adapters.
More information about the Dolphin PCI Express software can be found on the Dolphin website at.
http://www.dolphinics.com/software

PXH812 User’s Guide – Dolphin Interconnect Solutions Page 7
Dolphin Express Adapter Card - PXH812
Figure 1: PXH812 schematics
The PXH812 is a PCI Express Gen3 x8 adapter card available from Dolphin that provides a reliable transparent connection.
PXH812 High Level Specification
•PCI Express Gen3 8.0 GT/s per lane signaling –64 GT/s total signaling.
•PCI Express Gen3 x8 edge connector. The card installs in any PCI Express slot that has a physical x8 or x16
connector.
•Compliant with PCI Express Gen1 through Gen3 computers and IO systems, auto detection.
•The PXH812 supports transparent connections to IO systems (host and target operation).
•PCI Express Base Specification Rev. 3.0.
•PCI Express External Cabling Specification, Rev. 1.0.
•One PCI Express Gen3 x8 iPass cable connection.
•PEX8717 PCI Express Gen3 chipset.
•138 nanosecond cut-through latency port to port.
•Support for copper cables up to 5 meters (between PXH812 cards).
•Support for active optical fibers, up to 100 meters.
•Low Profile - PCI Express Electromechanical Specification, Rev. 2.0.
•Comes with both low profile and standard profile PCI Express bracket.
•Host clock isolation. Automatic support for host running CFC or SSC mode.
•Generates high quality, low jitter CFC CREFCLK.
•Quad 64 KB EEPROM for boot up configuration data.
•EEPROM recovery option.
•Optional software utility for reprogramming of EEPROM content.
•No PCI Express power domain isolation.
•Power Consumption: 12 Volt: Max 12 Watt, Typical 8 Watt.
•Operating temperature 0°C to 55°C.
•Relative Humidity 5% - 95% non-condensing.
•RoHS compliant.
•Compliant to EN-55022 (2010), EN 55024 (2010), EN 61000-6-2 (2005).
•CE
•FCC Class B

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LEDs
The card has two bi-color LEDs visible through the PCI Express front bracket.
Name
Dark
Yellow
Green
Blinking
Link
Power off or failure
Power on, Link down
Power on, Link up in
Gen3
Fast green/yellow: Link is at
Gen2
Slow green/yellow: Link is at
Gen1
NTB
Transparent mode
Transparent Target
NA
NA
Table 2: LED overview
The NTB link LED is controlled by software. An incorrect EEPROM can cause dark LEDs. DIP switch SAFE in position ON will
cause all LEDs to be dark.

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Use Cases
The PXH812 card may be used in the following use cases. The use cases are summarized in Table 3: Adapter Use Cases on
page 12.
Use Case A: Transparent IO
The Dolphin PXH812 connects to any standardized PCI Express x8 target device. No special device driver is required for the
PXH812 card. Any device in the PCI Express IO system will operate using its standard device driver. The PXH812 is
configured in Target Host transparent mode.
Use Case B –Transparent Downstream Target
The PXH812 adapter can be used as a downstream target adapter. The PXH812 in the expansion chassis operates in
Transparent Target mode. The PXH812 in the computer operates in Transparent Host mode (Use Case A). The PXH812
card is compliant to the PCIe Target card specification and has been tested with several expansion boxes from Magma Inc.
Please contact Dolphin for details.

PXH812 User’s Guide – Dolphin Interconnect Solutions Page 10
Use Case C –Expansion Scale Out
Up to 7 IO devices or expansion chassis can be connected to a single host using a combination of the PXH812 and the
IXS600 switch. The PXH812 in the PC operates in Transparent Host mode. The other PXH812 cards operate in Transparent
Target mode.