Dolphin MXS924 User manual

Dolphin PCI Express MXS924 Switch
MXS924 24 ports PCI Express 4.0 Switch Users Guide
Version 1.2e
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 Firmware Version

PCI Express 4.0 Switch –MXS924
MXS924 high level specification
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NTB Configuration examples
6 node PCIe 4.0 x16 NTB Cluster
Picture 1: MXS924 front view
Figure 1: 6 Node PCIe x16 Cluster

12 node PCIe 4.0 x8 NTB Cluster
24 node PCIe 4.0 x4 NTB Cluster
Larger NTB Cluster configurations
Figure 2: 12 Node PCIe x8 Cluster

Transparent PCIe IO expansion –Multiple expansion chassis connected to
one server
Figure 3: Transparent PCIe IO Expansion Example

Supported Transparent Configurations
Table 1 : 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 PCIe
devices or PCIe
expansion systems
through the MXS924
switch
Not supported by
legacy device
drivers
IO system and
MXS924 must
power on before
PC
No driver required
for host card or
MXS924 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
MXS924 Switch Status LEDs
Table 2 MXS924 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 MXS924 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 MXS924 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
MXS924 operating modes
Transparent mode port usage
NTB mode port usage
Cascading switches

Configuring the MXS924 switch
Status section
PCIe Configuration section

Change configuration
Upload configuration

Delete configuration group
Reset switch
Firmware section