Dolphin MXS824 User manual

Dolphin PCI Express MXS824 Switch
MXS824 24 ports PCI Express Gen3 switch users guide
Version 1.4e
Date: 30th November 2023

Table of Contents

Terms and Acronyms

Overview
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Software support

Revision history
Hardware revisions
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Management Version

PCI Express Gen3 Switch - MXS824
MXS824 high level specification
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Picture 1: MXS824 front view

MTBF by Temperature and Environment
The MTBF (in hours) for the complete MXS824 assembly (including power supply, fans, SD-Card and Electronics) can be
found in the table below. The numbers are calculated using the Telcordia SR-332 issue 2 (2006) standard.
Ambient
Temp. [°C]
MXS824
FR [fpmh]
MTBF [h]
0
1,332215
750.630
5
1,618884
617.709
10
1,987925
503.037
15
2,463908
405.859
20
3,078391
324.845
25
3,871750
258.281
30
4,895445
204.272
35
6,214803
160.906
40
7,912418
126.384
Table 1: MTBF vs. Temperature and Environment

NTB Configuration examples
6 node PCIe x16 Gen3 NTB Cluster
12 node PCIe x8 Gen3 NTB Cluster
24 node PCIe xx Gen3 NTB Cluster
10 node PCIe x16 Gen3 NTB Cluster
Figure 1: 6 Node PCIe x16 Cluster
Figure 2: 12 Node PCIe x8 Cluster
Figure 3: 10 Node PCIe x16 Cluster

20 node PCIe x8 Gen3 NTB Cluster
Larger NTB Cluster configurations
Figure 4: 20 Node PCIe x8 Cluster

Transparent PCIe IO expansion –Multiple expansion chassis connected to
one server
Figure 5: Transparent PCIe IO Expansion

Supported Transparent Configurations
Table 2 : Supported Transparent Configurations
Configuration Name
PCIe Configurations
Chassis ports
Transparent x16
One x16 upstream port
P1-P4
Five x16 downstream
ports
P5-P8 / P9-P12 / P13-P16 / P17-P20 / P21-24
Transparent x8
One x16 upstream port
P1-P4
Ten x8 downstream
ports
P5-P6 / P7-P8 / P9-P10 / P11-P12 / P13-P14 / P15-P16 / P17-
P18 / P19-P20 / P21-P22 / P23-24
Transparent x4
One x16 upstream port
P1-P4
Twenty x4 downstream
ports
P5 / P6 / P7 / P8 / P9 / P10 / P11 / P12 / P13 / P14 / P15 / P16 /
P17 / P18 / P19 / P20 / P21 / P22 / P23 / P24

Cables
Management processor
Use cases summary and settings
Use Case
Description
Cable Hot Plug
Power Sequence
Requirements
Software/
Driver
Transparent
Transparent –Dolphin
adapter card connects
to downstream PCI
Express devices or
PCI Express
expansion systems
through the MXS824
switch
Not supported by
legacy device
drivers
IO system and
MXS824 must
power on before
PC
No driver required
for host card or
MXS824 switch.
Legacy drivers for IO
Devices
NTB
NTB configuration. All
connected hosts have
Dolphin adapter card
Fully supported
No limitations
Dolphin SISCI,
SuperSockets,
TCP/IP, SmartIO
Table 3: Switch use cases

LEDs
MXS824 Switch Status LEDs
Table 3 MXS824 Switch status LED overview
Port and Link status LEDs
Table 2: Link LED overview
Port status LEDs

Link status LEDs
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USB Port
SD Card Port

Installation
Safety instructions
Always use caution when working with computers, IO Devices and electrical components.
High voltages are present inside the MXS824 cabinet that may cause severe
harm to your body if opened. Never open the switch cabinet, no user
serviceable parts are available inside the cabinet. Opening the cabinet will
void your warranty.
Static electricity from your clothes or work environment can damage your PCI Express adapter card or your PC.
Always wear a grounded antistatic wrist strap while opening the PC and when Dolphin PCI Express adapter is
removed from the anti-static bag. The MXS824 switch requires no special anti-static protection and should be
handled in line with other electronic equipment.
Norway:“Apparatet må tilkoples jordet stikkontakt”
Sweden: “Apparaten skall anslutas till jordat uttag”
Finland: "Laite on liitettävä suojamaadoituskoskettimilla varustettuun pistorasiaan"
Installing the Switch in a rack
Airflow
Switch desktop use
Ethernet

Installing and removing PCIe cables
MXS824 operating modes
Transparent mode port usage
NTB mode port usage
Cascading switches
Partitioning –mixed transparent and NTB usage

Configuring the MXS824 switch
Status section
PCIe Configuration section