Dolphin MXH912 User manual

Users Guide-MXH912 1
©Copyright 2020-2023 Dolphin Interconnect Solution. All rights reserved.
Dolphin PCI Express MXH912 Adapter
MXH912 Transparent Host Adapter Users Guide
Version 1.0
Date: 4nd October 2023

Users Guide-MXH912 2
©Copyright 2020-2023 Dolphin Interconnect Solution. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
1. DISCLAIMER......................................................................................................................................................... 4
2. TERMS AND ACRONYMS...................................................................................................................................... 5
3. TECHNICAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 BOARD REVISION HISTORY ...........................................................................................................................................5
3.2 HIGH-LEVEL SPECIFICATION.........................................................................................................................................6
3.3 SIMPLIFIED SCHEMATICS .............................................................................................................................................7
3.4 PCIE SLOT DETERMINATION ........................................................................................................................................7
3.5 AIRFLOW -OPERATING ENVIRONMENT.......................................................................................................................... 7
4INSTALLATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
4.1 BOARD UNPACKING...................................................................................................................................................8
4.2 CHANGE PCIE BRACKET..............................................................................................................................................8
4.3 CONFIGURE THE BOARD..............................................................................................................................................9
4.4 INSTALL THE ADAPTER CARD........................................................................................................................................9
4.5 INSTALLING AND REMOVING THE CABLE.........................................................................................................................9
4.5.1 Connecting the Cable..................................................................................................................................... 9
4.5.2 Cable strain relief .......................................................................................................................................... 9
4.5.3 Disconnecting the Cable ................................................................................................................................ 9
4.6 INSTALLING THE DOLPHIN BOARD MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE ..........................................................................................10
4.7 VERIFY INSTALLATION &LEDS...................................................................................................................................10
5OPERATION ........................................................................................................................................................11
5.1 CONFIGURATION AND DIP SWITCH ............................................................................................................................. 11
5.2 DIP SWITCH TRANSPARENT SETTINGS..........................................................................................................................11
5.3 USE CASE -TRANSPARENT HOST MODE .......................................................................................................................12
5.4 FIRMWARE UPGRADE...............................................................................................................................................12
5.5 IDENTIFYING THE CARD............................................................................................................................................. 12
6PCIE CABLE PORT ................................................................................................................................................14
6.1 PCIE CABLE SIGNALS................................................................................................................................................ 14
6.2 PCIE CABLE CONNECTOR X8PIN-OUT......................................................................................................................... 15
7COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY TESTING..........................................................................................................15
7.1 EMC COMPLIANCE..................................................................................................................................................15
7.2 FCC CLASS A..........................................................................................................................................................15
7.3 ROHS COMPLIANCE.................................................................................................................................................16
7.4 WEEE NOTICE .......................................................................................................................................................16
8LIMITED WARRANTY...........................................................................................................................................16
8.1 WARRANTY PERIOD .................................................................................................................................................16
8.2 COVERAGE .............................................................................................................................................................16
8.3 SERVICE PROCEDURE................................................................................................................................................16

Users Guide-MXH912 3
©Copyright 2020-2023 Dolphin Interconnect Solution. All rights reserved.
Figure 1: MXH912 Simplified Schematics ................................................................................................................................................7
Figure 2: Full length PCIe bracket ............................................................................................................................................................8
Figure 3: DIP Switch (Shipping Default) .................................................................................................................................................11
Figure 4:Transparent topology ..............................................................................................................................................................12
Table 1:Revision History ..........................................................................................................................................................................5
Table 2:MXH912 Product High-Level Specifications................................................................................................................................6
Table 3: LED behaviors ..........................................................................................................................................................................10
Table 4: DIP Switch Transparent settings for MXH912..........................................................................................................................11
Table 5:PCIe Cable Port Signals .............................................................................................................................................................14
Table 6: External PCIe x8 cable pin-out .................................................................................................................................................15

Users Guide-MXH912 4
©Copyright 2020-2023 Dolphin Interconnect Solution. All rights reserved.
1. DISCLAIMER
DOLPHIN INTERCONNECT SOLUTIONS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE TO
ANY OF ITS PRODUCTS TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY, FUNCTION, OR DESIGN.
DO NOT USE THE INFORMATION IN THIS GUIDE TO DESIGN YOUR PCI-SIG-COMPLIANT PRODUCT; ALWAYS
REFERENCE THE ORIGINAL PCI-SIG SPECIFICATION FOR DETAILS.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DOLPHIN WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST DATA, OR LOSS OF USE) ARISING OUT OF
ANY USE OF DOLPHIN’S PRODUCTS, SOFTWARE OR SERVICE PROVIDED. DOLPHIN’S MAXIMUM LIABILITY WILL NOT
EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID FOR THE PRODUCT BY THE PURCHASER.
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.

Users Guide-MXH912 5
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2. Terms and acronyms
The following are Essential terms and acronyms used in this manual.
eXpressWare
Dolphin’s software stack for PCIe clustering and IO. Please visit www.dolphinics.com/software
for more information.
Host mode
The card installs in a root complex / Host PC.
Lane
One PCI Express Lane contains a differential pair for transmission and a differential pair for
reception.
Link
A collection of one or more PCI Express Lanes provides the communication path between an
Upstream and Downstream Port.
Port
PCIe Cable port. The MXH912 x8 iPass™or standard PCI Express cable.
3. Technical Information
3.1 Board revision history
The following table gives a general overview of the hardware revision history. Please consult the MXH912 PCN available from
Dolphin for details.
Adapter card revision
Capabilities
MXH912-BC
•Initial product version
Table 1:Revision History

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3.2 High-Level Specification
The table presented below provides an overview of the high-level specifications.
Form Factor
PCIe Half-Length, Half-Height
Dimension
116.23mm (4.57 inches) x 68.90 mm (2.731 inches).
Configuration
Transparent MXH912 as Host
Link To
PXH812 and customer target device
Storage Temperature
Storage Temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
PCI Express®
Base Specification 3.0
Card Electromechanical Specification 3.0
External Cabling Specification Spec 2.0
Operating Temperature
0°C to 55°C (32°F - 131°F)
Airflow
350 LFM
Operating Humidity
Relative humidity 5% - 95% non-condensing
Switch
PM40028B Switchtec PCI Express
Max operating altitude
2000m
Power
Power Rail
Typical Current
Maximum Current
+3.3V
0A
0A
+3.3VAux
1 mA
30 mA
+12V
900 mA
2000 mA
Cable CREFCLK
Constant Frequency Clock (CFC) generated by the MXH912 card. Spread
Spectrum Clock (SSC) is optional.
Flash
for boot-up configuration data
SEEPROM
Card-specific information (serial number, etc.)
Host Clock
Host clock isolation sup porting Constant Frequency Clock (CFC) or
Spread Spectrum Clock (SSC) for EDGE reference clock.
Brackets
High profile mounted on the board and low profile available in the
shipping package
Compliance
•RoHS
•REACH
•FCC Class B
•CE (EN-55022 (2010), EN 55024 (2010), EN 61000-6-2 (2005).
Supporting Speed and Width
Edge
PCIe Gen1.0, Gen2.0, and Gen3.0
x1, x2, x4, x8 link widths
x8, x16 Slot-widths
PCI Express Gen 3.0
8.0 GT/s per lane signaling –64 GT/s total signaling.
Cable Connection
•One PCI Express Gen3.0 x8 iPass cable connection
•Support for iPass copper cables up to 5 meters.
Table 2:MXH912 Product High-Level Specifications

Users Guide-MXH912 7
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3.3 Simplified schematics
The figure below shows the MXH912 simplified schematics with main functions.
Figure 1: MXH912 Simplified Schematics
3.4 PCIe Slot Determination
The MXH912 supports PCIe Gen1.0, Gen2.0, Gen3.0 speeds and x1, x2, x4 and x8 slot edge link-widths. The slot width
and speed will affect the performance of the card. The card can be installed in an x8 or x16 connector. The card will
auto-configure the slot speed and width.
•Install the board in a slot connecting directly to the CPU for optimal shared memory performance.
3.5 Airflow - Operating Environment
To maximize the product’s lifetime and maintain the warranty, specify the operating temperature, and ensure the
specified airflow is present. Consider Special care when using MXH912 in office-type cabinets with poor cooling in
combination with other high energy-consuming PCIe devices, e.g., not active cooled GPUs:
•Operating Temperature: 0°C - 55°C (32°F - 131°F),
•Airflow: 350 LFM
TIP: Please use the dis_diag tool immediately after software installation to verify the temperature. If the chip
temperature reported by dis_diag exceeds 95°C, it recommends improving the airflow.

Users Guide-MXH912 8
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4Installation
For installation, follow these steps from 4.1 to 4.7 sequentially.
4.1 Board Unpacking
The MXH912 includes the following components.
•MXH912 Adapter Board with high profile PCIe bracket mounted.
•Low profile PCIe bracket.
•Anti-static bag.
•Get started guide with serial number for quick Dolphins eXpressWare PCIe software download.
The MXH912 card is delivered in an anti-static bag to avoid any potential damage from static electricity. It is crucial to
exercise anti-static precautions before removing the card from the packaging. Clothing or the surrounding work
environment can generate static electricity, which may harm the PCI Express adapter card or the PC. Wearing a
grounded anti-static wrist strap when opening the PC and handling the MXH912 after taking it out
of the anti-static bag is recommended. Pre-Installation Questions
Before installing the MXH912, it is essential to identify the necessary configuration requirements
through specific steps.
•Which system and PCIe slot are suitable for installing the card?
•What is the speed and link width of the selected slot?
•What are the environmental conditions where the card will be installed?
•What type and length of cables will be used?
•How to ensure adequate operational conditions, including temperature and airflow
4.2 Change PCIe Bracket
The MXH912 package comes with both standard and low-profile PCI Express brackets. The board is initially
installed with a standard bracket. To switch to the low-profile bracket, carefully unscrew the two mounting
screws to remove the full-height bracket. Remember to save the screws and replace the bracket with the low-
profile one.
Before proceeding with the installation process, ensure you are correctly grounded to prevent static discharges
that can damage the adapter card. Use the two mounting screws to install the low-profile bracket and be cautious
not to overtighten them. Tighten the screws carefully while ensuring that they are appropriately secured.
Figure 2: Full length
PCIe bracket

Users Guide-MXH912 9
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4.3 Configure the Board
Set the DIP switch settings for proper operation depending on the firmware. Please refer to the section Configuration
and DIP Switch on page 11 for details.
4.4 Install the Adapter Card
Before installing the adapter card, ensure you are properly grounded to avoid static discharges that may
destroy your computer or the adapter card. Ensure you are grounded before opening your computer or
the anti-static bag containing the MXH912. Please follow your computers or expansion chassis manual on
installing a PCI Express card.
The MXH912 Adapter card can be installed into any PCI Express x8 and x16 slot. The MXH912 supports PCI Express Gen1.0,
Gen2.0, and Gen3.0 signaling.
NOTE: The MXH912 requires complete electrical x8 signaling from the slot to achieve maximum performance since it
is an x8 card.
4.5 Installing and Removing the Cable
Installing and removing cables should be done with the host and expansion system powered off. Please contact the
Dolphin representative if you intend to connect and disconnect the PCI Express cables continuously.
4.5.1 Connecting the Cable
Please carefully install the cable connector into the connector housing on the MXH912 adapter card. To install
the iPass cable, match the cable house with the connector on the MXH912 adapter card. Use even pressure to
insert the connector until it is secure. Adhere to ESD guidelines when installing the cables to ensure you don’t
damage the board.
4.5.2 Cable strain relief
It is crucial to provide strain relief for the PCIe cables to prevent fatigue loading and damage to the card. The
cables should be mechanically secured to the rack or cabinet, particularly for long and heavy cables and those
between cabinets and racks.
4.5.3 Disconnecting the Cable
Please carefully pull the release tab to release the cable from the locking latches and gently pull the cable out
of the connector guides.

Users Guide-MXH912 10
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4.6 Installing the Dolphin Board Management Software
The MXH912 adapter card is supported by Dolphins Board Manament Software –a part of s with Dolphin’s
eXpressWare software package for the MX product line. Please visit. Register and download the latest documentation
and software. Following the quick installation guide on the web page above, installing the software for your operating
system is recommended.
http://www.dolphinics.com/mx
TIP: Dolphin provides software and documentation for several product families; please remember to select the MX
product family before downloading. The MXH912 requires Dolphin software version DIS 5.22.0 or higher to operate.
The software download requires a password to log in. If you follow the instructions on the getting started document
bundled with the adapter card, the password will automatically be emailed to you. If you fail to provide the correct
software serial number on the getting started document, your request will be managed manually.
Note: Please consult the eXpressWare release note for detailed information on available software functionality.
Please get in touch with Dolphin for more information.
4.7 Verify Installation & LEDs
The MXH912 has two bi-color LEDs visible through the PCI Express bracket.
The LEDs are visible through cut-outs in the PCIe bracket on each side of the cable connector block.
Dark
Yellow
Green
Link
Power off, No Cable
installed
Power on, No Link
Power on, cable installed; Link
operational
NTB
Transparent Host
NA
NA
Table 3: LED behaviors