Keysight Technologies N5990A-301 User manual

User Guide
Keysight N5990A-301 PCI
Express Link Training Suite

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Manual Part Number
N5990-91101
Manual Edition
Edition 3.0, July 2017
Keysight Technologies Deutschland GmbH
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2Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide

Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide 3
Contents
1 Introduction
Overview of this guide 8
Document History 9
PCIe Link Training Suite - Overview 10
2 Software Installation and Update
Software Update 12
Software Installation 13
3 Starting and Registering the Software
Starting Registered Software 18
Software Registration 19
4 Test Instrument Setup
N4903B J-BERT Setup 22
Setup with De-Emphasis Box 23
Setup with CM Interference AWG 24
Setup with Power Switch 25
M8020A J-BERT Setup 26
Basic setup 27
Setup with Power Switch 28

4 Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide
Contents
5 Using the Software
Connecting to the Instruments 30
Instrument Connection for J-BERT N4903B 31
Instrument Connection for J-BERT M8020A 32
Main User Interface 35
Basics 37
Demo Mode 37
Applying 38
PCIe Physical Parameters 38
Link Training Pattern 39
Edit Training Parameters in Fixed Mode 40
Edit Training Parameters in Interactive Mode 41
Loop-back Pattern 45
Clock Tolerance Compensation 46
Error Detector 46
Link Training Results 47
Power Switch 49
Timing 50
Jitter/SSC 52
Interferences 53
Voltage Levels 54
De-Emphasis 55
Bit Error Rate Measurement 56
Sequencer 57
BERT Control 57
Saving and Loading Settings 58
Expert Mode 58
Exporting The Script 58
Script Editing 59
Limitations 61
6 Troubleshooting
Startup Fails 64

Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide 5
Contents
Slow Response 65
Link Training Fails 66

Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite
User Guide
1Introduction
Overview of this guide / 8
Document History / 9
PCIe Link Training Suite - Overview / 10

8 Keysight N5990A - 301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide
1 Introduction
Overview of this guide
This guide provides a detailed description of the N5990A PCIe Link
Training Suite.

Keysight N5990A - 301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide 9
Introduction1
Document History
First Edition (May, 2015)The first edition of this guide describes the
functionality of the software version 1.0
Second Edition (February, 2017): The second edition of this guide
describes the functionality of the software version 1.40
Second Edition (July, 2017)The second edition of this guide describes the
functionality of the software version 2.0

10 Keysight N5990A - 301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide
1 Introduction
PCIe Link Training Suite - Overview
The Keysight PCIe Link Training Suite (N5990A-301) is a flexible tool for
trouble- shooting and debugging. It controls the pattern sequencer of a
Keysight J-BERT (N4903B or M8020A), to bring the device under test into
the loop-back mode. Enabling the loop-back mode is usually a
prerequisite for receiver compliance testing.
The PCIe LTS complements the full Test Automation Software (Keysight
N5990A opt. 101 or 201, according to the configuration), which provides
automated physical layer compliance tests and device characterization.
The software runs on a standard Windows XP or Windows 7 PC and
controls the hardware test resources through appropriate interfaces such
as a LAN (Local Area Network).

Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite
User Guide
2Software Installation
and Update
Software Update / 12
Software Installation / 13
The PCIe Link Training Suite N5990A-301 runs on the PC that controls the
J-BERT. If N5990A-301 is already installed on the PC and is not to be
updated, proceed to the next chapter.

12 Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide
2 Software Installation and Update
Software Update
If you want to upgrade a previous version of the PCIe Link Training Suite,
uninstall it first from the PC and then continue with the software
installation.

Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide 13
Software Installation and Update 2
Software Installation
Prior to installing N5990A-301, if not yet installed, the following software
has to be installed, items 1 through 3, in the order given below:
1. Microsoft Windows XP SP3 or higher.
2. Keysight VISA IO Library 16.3 or higher.
3. Microsoft.NET Framework redistributable 2.0.
If using an N4903B J-BERT, make sure it has firmware version 7.40 or
higher, installed. Then, perform the following steps:
• Execute the installer file “PCIeLinkTrainingSuiteInstaller” (see Figure 1).
• The second and third page of the installer wizard will show the software
license agreement (see Figure and Figure 3).
• Read it carefully and select the “I accept the terms of the License
Agreement” option.
• The install location window is displayed as shown in Figure 4.
•ClickBrowse to select the destination folder, in which the software will
be installed.
•ClickInstall.
Figure 1 Installer Wizard

14 Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide
2 Software Installation and Update
Figure 2 Installer License Agreement Window
Figure 3 Installer Additional License Agreement Window

Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide 15
Software Installation and Update 2
Figure 4 Installer Location Window
Figure 5 Installation Complete Window

16 Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide
2 Software Installation and Update
Figure 6 Completing Setup Window
After installation, the PCIe Link Training Suite icon will be available on your
desktop (see Figure 7).
Figure 7 PCIe Link Training Suite Icon

Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite
User Guide
3Starting and
Registering the
Software
Starting Registered Software / 18
Software Registration / 19

18 Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide
3 Starting and Registering the Software
Starting Registered Software
Double click the PCIe Link Training Suite icon on your desktop or start the
software from the Start >Programs > BitifEye menu.
If you have already registered the software, it will start automatically. You
can then proceed to Chapter 4, “Test Instrument Setup”.

Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide 19
Starting and Registering the Software 3
Software Registration
If you start the software without a valid registration key, a window as
shown in Figure 8 will open.
To get a valid registration key, send an e-mail to [email protected]
with the following information:
• Customer name (such as company and department or university and
institute).
• 16-digit certificate number (XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX), supplied with
your license certificate.
• Site Code and MID from the startup license dialog.
The activation code will be provided within three working days of the mail
being received at the address indicated above.
Figure 8 Licensing Window

Keysight 5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite
User Guide
4Test Instrument Setup
N4903B J-BERT Setup / 22
M8020A J-BERT Setup / 26
Prior to using the PCIe Link Training Suite software for connecting
instruments, it is recommended that you set up the test instruments and
establish the required connections.
• Connect the instruments to the controller PC by LAN.
• Establish all required cable connections between the instruments and
the DUT (device under test).
• Switch on the PC and instruments.
• Start Keysight “IO (Input Output) VISA (Virtual Instrument Software
Architecture) Connection Expert” and check the connections for the
instruments.
• Set the correct IP addresses of the instruments.
There are two possible configurations:

22 Keysight N5990A-301 PCI Express Link Training Suite User Guide
4 Test Instrument Setup
N4903B J-BERT Setup
• An N4903B J-BERT is required
•If a J20 module is installed, it can be used to generate sinusoidal
interferences.
•If jitter and/or SSC is available, these parameters can be controlled.
• An N4916B de-emphasis signal converter can be used to generate de-
emphasized signals. The N4916B must be connected to the J-BERT via
USB.
• An N4880A reference clock multiplier can be used to multiply a
reference clock from a DUT, in order to use the DUT's clock for pattern
generation. The N4880A must be connected to the J-BERT via USB.
• An 81150A arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) can be used to
generate common-mode sinusoidal interference. If no AWG is
connected, interference is generated using the J-BERT’s J20 module, if
available.
• A NetIo230B Power Switch can be used to power cycle the DUT
automatically.
The following sections show connection diagrams for different DUT types
and data rate.