National Instruments MXI Express x4 User manual

Set Up Your MXI -Express x4
for PXI Express System
This document explains how to set up your PXI Express MXI system.
What You Need to Get Started
To set up and use your PXI Express MXI system, you need the following:
❑One NI PCIe-8371/8372 and one NI PXIe-8370
❑A MXI-Express x4 cable
❑A host PC with an available x4 (or wider) PCI Express slot
Note Using a PCI Express slot wider than x4 may result in negotiation down to x1 width,
and therefore limiting bandwidth.
❑An expansion chassis—the PXI Express/CompactPCI Express chassis
that you control with MXI-Express
Note Your PXI Express MXI card will work in any standard CompactPCI Express chassis
adhering to the PICMG CompactPCI Express EXP.0 R1.0 specification, or in PXI Express
chassis that are compatible with the PXI Express Hardware Specification, Revision 1.0
or later. Your PCI Express MXI-Express card will work in systems compliant with the
PCI Express Base Specification, Revision 1.0a and PCI Express Card Electromechanical
Specification, Revision 1.0a or later.
Note For full PXI or PXI Express functionality, refer to the Software Overview section in
the MXI-Express x4 for PXI Express Series User Manual.
Unpacking
Your PXI Express MXI cards are shipped in antistatic packages to prevent
electrostatic damage (ESD) to the devices. ESD can damage several
components on the device.
™

Set Up Your MXI-Express for PXI Express System 2 ni.com
Caution Never touch the exposed pins of connectors. Doing so may damage the device.
To avoid such damage in handling the device, take the following
precautions:
• Ground yourself using a grounding strap or by holding a grounded
object.
• Touch the antistatic package to a metal part of the computer chassis
before removing the device from the package.
Remove the device from the package and inspect the device for loose
components or any sign of damage. Notify NI if the device appears
damaged in any way. Do not install a damaged device into the computer
or PXI Express/CompactPCI Express chassis.
Store the device in the antistatic envelope when not in use.
Installing the Software
MXI-Express x4 is based on PCI Express technology. A MXI-Express x4
kit uses PCI Express switches to enable control of a PXI Express or
CompactPCI Express chassis from a PC with an available PCI Express slot.
MXI-Express x4 will be recognized as a collection of PCI-to-PCI bridges.
It should automatically have CompactPCI support without any additional
software. For full PXI/PXI Express functionality, install the PXI Platform
Services software included with your kit.
Note The PXI Platform Services software on the PXI Platform Services CD or NI driver
CD included with your kit is required to provide additional PXI features such as chassis
and controller identification, trigger routing, and slot detection. The PXI Platform Services
software is also included with the NI-DAQmx and NI-VISA drivers that are included on
the NI Device Drivers DVD or found at the ni.com/updates website.
A newer version of the PXI Platform Services software may be available at
ni.com/updates. Enter PXI Platform Services in the search field. For
operating system support, refer to the KnowledgeBase 53399AQ7,
PXI Platform Services Operating System Support, at ni.com/kb.
Hardware Installation
The following are general instructions for installing the MXI-Express x4
cards. Consult your computer user manual or technical reference manual
for specific instructions and warnings.

©National Instruments Corporation 3 Set Up Your MXI-Express for PXI Express System
Note The PXI Platform Services software on the PXI Platform Services CD or NI driver
CD included with your kit is required to provide additional PXI features such as chassis
and controller identification, trigger routing, and slot detection. The PXI Platform Services
software is also included with the NI-DAQmx and NI-VISA drivers that are included on
the NI Device Drivers DVD or found at the ni.com/updates website.
Installing an NI PCIe-8371/8372
Complete the following steps to install the NI PCIe-8371/8372 in your
computer.
1. Power off your computer.
Caution To protect both yourself and the computer from electrical hazards, your computer
should remain off until you finish installing the NI PCIe-8371/8372.
2. Remove the top cover or access port to the PCI Express expansion
slots.
3. Touch the metal part of the power supply case inside the computer to
discharge any static electricity that might be on your clothes or body.
4. Unplug the computer and wait 30 seconds to allow the energy stored
in the computer’s power supply to fully dissipate.
5. Select any available PCI Express expansion slot (x4 or wider).
Note Using a PCI Express slot wider than x4 may result in negotiation down to x1 width,
which will reduce throughput performance.
Note The BIOS or motherboard may not support the NI PCIe-8371/8372 in a slot intended
for a graphics card.
Note Not all PCI Express expansion slots that have x4 or wider physical connectors are
electrically capable of x4 PCI Express operation. Check with the motherboard
manufacturer to verify that the slot is capable of x4 PCI Express operation.
6. Unpack the NI PCIe-8371/8372 following proper ESD precautions
described in the Unpacking section.
7. Line up the NI PCIe-8371/8372 with the slot on the back panel. Slowly
lower the NI PCIe-8371/8372 until its card-edge connector is resting
on the expansion slot receptacle. Using slow, evenly distributed
pressure, press the NI PCIe-8371/8372 straight down until it seats in
the expansion slot, as shown in Figure 1.
8. Secure the NI PCIe-8371/8372 to the back panel rail using a bracket
retaining screw.
9. Replace the computer cover.

Set Up Your MXI-Express for PXI Express System 4 ni.com
10. Plug the computer back in.
Figure 1. Installing the NI PCIe-8371/8372
Installing the Low-Profile Bracket on the NI PCIe-8371 [Optional]
To install the NI PCIe-8371 in a host computer that requires a low-profile
height card, the front bracket must be replaced with the low-profile bracket
included with your kit. Complete the following steps to replace the bracket.
1. Remove the standard height front bracket already installed on your
NI PCIe-8371 card by removing the two 4-40 ×3/16 inch Phillips head
screws that attach the bracket to the card. Note that the two mounting
tabs for the standard height bracket rest against the front side of the
card, which is the side upon which the cable receptacle connector
housing rests. Set the two screws aside to re-use when installing the
low-profile bracket.
Caution When removing the bracket, be careful not to remove or lose the EMI gasket on
the cable receptacle connector housing.
1 NI PCIe-8371/8372
2 PCI Express x4 Card-Edge Connector
3 PCI Express Slot
1
3
2

©National Instruments Corporation 5 Set Up Your MXI-Express for PXI Express System
2. Fit the low-profile bracket onto the NI PCIe-8371. Note that the
two mounting tabs that the screws thread into rest against the back side
of the card for the low-profile bracket. Ensure that the front bracket
LED bulb is situated in the display hole correctly.
3. Align the mounting holes on the card with the threaded holes on the
mounting tabs of the bracket, and insert the screws from the front side.
4. Tighten each screw to a maximum torque of 3.6 lbf/in (0.407 N/m).
Installing an NI PXIe-8370
Complete the following steps to install the NI PXIe-8370 in your
PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis.
1. Power off your PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis, but leave
it plugged in while installing the NI PXIe-8370. The power cord
grounds the chassis and protects it from electrical damage while you
install the module.
2. The NI PXIe-8370 must be installed in the controller slot (slot 1 in
PXI Express).
Caution To protect both yourself and the chassis from electrical hazards, leave the chassis
off until you finish installing the NI PXIe-8370.
3. Remove or open any doors or covers blocking access to the slot in
which you intend to install the NI PXIe-8370.
4. Touch a metal part of the chassis to discharge any static electricity that
might be on your clothes or body.
5. Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position.
Be sure to remove all connector packaging and protective caps from
retaining screws on the module. Align the NI PXIe-8370 with the card
guides on the top and bottom of the system controller slot.
Caution Do not raise the injector/ejector handle as you insert the NI PXIe-8370. It will not
insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so that it does not interfere
with the injector/ejector rail on the chassis, as shown in Figure 2.
6. Hold the handle as you slowly slide the module into the chassis until
the handle catches on the injector/ejector rail.
7. Raise the injector/ejector handle until the module firmly seats into the
backplane receptacle connectors. The front panel of the NI PXIe-8370
should be even with the front panel of the chassis.
Note The LEDs on the back side of the PCB will light up when the board is plugged in.
This indicates that 5 V auxiliary power is present. Refer to the Checking LEDs for Status
section for details.

Set Up Your MXI-Express for PXI Express System 6 ni.com
8. Tighten the bracket-retaining screws on the top and bottom of the front
panel to secure the NI PXIe-8370 to the chassis.
9. Replace or close any doors or covers to the chassis.
Figure 2 shows an NI PXIe-8370 just before installation in the system
controller slot of a National Instruments chassis.
Figure 2. NI PXIe-8370 Card Before Installation
Cabling
Connect the MXI-Express x4 cable to both PXI Express MXI cards. The
cables have no polarity, so either end may be connected to either card.
Caution Do not remove the cable after the system is powered on. Doing so can hang
or cause errors in applications communicating with devices behind MXI-Express. If a
cable becomes unplugged, plug it back into the system. You must reboot before you can
continue using your hardware.
Note For more information about cables, refer to the MXI-Express Cable Options section
of Chapter 3, Hardware Overview, of the MXI-Express x4 for PXI Express Series User
Manual.
1 PXI Express/CompactPCI Express Chassis
2 NI PXIe-8370
3 Ejector Handle in Down Position
4 PXI Express/CompactPCI Express Slot 1
2
3
1
4
NI PXIe-1062Q

©National Instruments Corporation 7 Set Up Your MXI-Express for PXI Express System
Powering On the MXI-Express x4 System
Complete the following steps to power on the system.
1. Power on all of the expansion chassis in any order you choose.
2. Power on the host.
Typical PCI-PCI bridges and switches are used to add PCI devices to a
PCI hierarchy in which all the bridges and devices are contained within a
single chassis. Because of this, BIOSes and operating systems make the
assumption that all PCI devices in the entire hierarchy will be available as
soon as code execution begins at power-up time. This assumption means
that all of the expansion chassis must be turned on before the host PC for
the BIOS and OS to correctly configure a MXI-Express system.
Note There are no requirements on how MXI-Express expansion chassis are powered up
relative to each other, as long as they are all on before the computer is powered on.
3. Observe the LED status on the NI PCIe-8371, NI PCIe-8372, and
NI PXIe-8370 where applicable. A properly connected and powered
up system should report a valid link and power status on all of these
boards once the host PC is powered on. Refer to the LED Indicators
section in the MXI-Express x4 for PXI Express Series User Manual for
more information.
Powering Down the MXI-Express x4 System
Because operating systems and drivers commonly make the assumption
that PCI devices will be present in the system from power-up to
power-down, it is important to not power off the expansion chassis until
after the host PC is powered off. Powering off the expansion chassis while
the host is still on can cause crashes or hangs. The order in which expansion
chassis are powered off, relative to each other, is not important.
Note To power down the chassis while the host computer is on, you may need to hold the
power button for at least four seconds. However, this behavior cannot be guaranteed.
Checking LEDs for Status
After powering on the system, you should check the LEDs for status to
ensure that all connected systems have linked. The following tables provide
the meaning of the LEDs.

Set Up Your MXI-Express for PXI Express System 8 ni.com
The LEDs on the NI PCIe-8371 (part number 194591x-02) indicate the
following:
The LEDs on the NI PCIe-8372 (part number 194591x-01) indicate the
following:
The front-panel LEDs on the NI PXIe-8370 (part number 194402x-01)
indicate the following:
Table 1. NI PCIe-8371 Status LED Messages
Color Meaning
Off Power is off
Red, blinking Power is out of spec
Amber Power is within spec; no link to chassis
Green Power is within spec; link established
Table 2. NI PCIe-8372 Status LED Messages
Color Meaning
Off Power is off
Red Power is out of spec
Amber Power is within spec; no link to chassis
Green Power is within spec; link established
Table 3. NI PXIe-8370 Status LED Messages
LED Color Meaning
PWR Off No power
Red, blinking Power is out of spec
Green Power is within spec
LINK Off Link not established
Green Link established

©National Instruments Corporation 9 Set Up Your MXI-Express for PXI Express System
The NI PXIe-8370 also has a vertical column of 16 LEDs on the back panel
of the card near the front connector, as shown in Figure 3. These LEDs
provide additional information about the link status of the PCI Express
lanes on the module to the backplane. Each group of four LEDs
corresponds to one of the four PCI Express links to the backplane.
Figure 3. NI PCIe-837x Back Panel LEDs
Notes If you are using a chassis that directly links the PXI Express board (such as the
NI PXIe-1062) the LEDs to that slot will not illuminate until you have a PXI Express board
installed and linked.
If you are using the NI PXIe-1062 chassis, you will notice that the last group of LEDs has
an LED (PORT 3) illuminated even if no boards are populated in the slots. Since the
NI PXIe-1062 uses the last link for a PCI Express to PCI bridge for PXI communication,
this link should always be active. Different chassis topologies will give different default
behaviors. Contact your chassis’ manufacturer for more information on your chassis’
topology.
Configuring Your System
For information on configuring your system in Measurement &
Automation Explorer (MAX), open MAX and navigate to Help»
Help Topics»PXI.
1 Back Panel LEDs
1

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