NI MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User manual

MXITM-Express Gen II x8
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Multisystem eXtension Interface for PCI Express,
CompactPCI Express, and PXI Express Bus Systems
NI PCIe-8381
NI PXIe-8381
NI PXIe-8384
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
August 2012
373681A-01

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The NI PCIe-8381, NI PXIe-8381, and NI PXIe-8384 are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from
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Electromagnetic Compatibility Guidelines
This product was tested and complies with the regulatory requirements and limits for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) as
stated in the product specifications. These requirements and limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the product is operated in its intended
operational electromagnetic environment.
This product is intended for use in industrial locations. There is no guarantee that harmful interference will not occur in a
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accessories.

©National Instruments vii MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
Contents
About This Manual
Products Covered...........................................................................................................ix
Related Documentation..................................................................................................ix
Conventions ...................................................................................................................x
Chapter 1
Introduction
Description and Features ...............................................................................................1-1
Functional Overview......................................................................................................1-2
Functional Block Diagrams.............................................................................1-2
Basic MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems...........................................................1-4
Larger MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems.........................................................1-5
Compatibility with Host PCs...........................................................................1-6
Chapter 2
Installation and Configuration
Equipment Needed.........................................................................................................2-1
Connecting a PC to an Expansion Chassis......................................................2-1
Connecting Additional Expansion Chassis to a System..................................2-1
Unpacking......................................................................................................................2-2
Hardware Installation.....................................................................................................2-3
Installing an NI PCIe-8381..............................................................................2-3
Installing the Low-Profile Bracket on the NI PCIe-8381 (Optional) ..............2-4
Installing an NI PXIe-8381 or NI PXIe-8384 .................................................2-6
Cabling ............................................................................................................2-8
Powering On the MXI-Express Gen II x8 System ..........................................2-8
Powering Off the MXI-Express Gen II x8 System .........................................2-9
LED Indicators...............................................................................................................2-9
Software Installation and Configuration........................................................................2-13
Installation .......................................................................................................2-13
Configuring Your System................................................................................2-13

Contents
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual viii ni.com
Appendix A
Specifications
Appendix B
Common Questions
Appendix C
Technical Support and Professional Services
Glossary
Index

©National Instruments ix MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
About This Manual
This manual describes the features, functions, and operation of the
NI PCIe-8381, NI PXIe-8381, and NI PXIe-8384 MXI-Express Gen II x8
series of products.
Products Covered
Note The model numbers listed below are followed by their specific NI assembly numbers
in parentheses. Ensure the specifications of interest match the NI assembly number that is
printed on either the front or back side of the board.
•NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L)
•NI PXIe-8381 (153097x-01L)
•NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L)
Note xdenotes all letter revisions of the assembly.
Related Documentation
The following documents contain information that you might find helpful
as you read this manual:
• Your computer or chassis documentation
•PXI Express Hardware Specification, Revision 2.0
• PXI-6 PXI Express Software Specification
• PICMG CompactPCI Express EXP.0 R1.0 Specification
•PCI Express Specification, Revision 2.0
• PCI Express External Cabling 2.0 Specification

About This Manual
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual x ni.com
Conventions
The following conventions appear in this manual:
»The »symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options
to a final action. The sequence Options»Settings»General directs you to
pull down the Options menu, select the Settings item, and select General
from the last dialog box.
This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.
This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.
bold Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such
as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter
names.
italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction
to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.
monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames and extensions, and code excerpts.
CompactPCI Express/ The terms CompactPCI Express and CPCIe are interchangeable in this
CPCIe manual.
MXI-Express Gen II x8 A NI PCIe-8381, NI PXIe-8381, or NI PXIe-8384 board.
product
PCI Express/PCIe The terms PCI Express and PCIe are interchangeable in this manual.
PXI Express chassis In this manual, whenever a PXI Express chassis is referenced,
a CompactPCI Express chassis could be used instead.
PXI Express/PXIe The terms PXI Express and PXIe are interchangeable in this manual.

©National Instruments 1-1 MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
1
Introduction
Description and Features
MXI-Express Gen II x8 extends PCI Express communication over a cable
of up to 5 m. With MXI-Express Gen II x8, you can do the following:
• Control a PXI Express or CompactPCI Express backplane with a
PCI Express-based PC
• Physically separate the measurement or automation system from
a host PC
• Control multiple PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis with a
single PCI Express-based PC or PXI Express embedded controller.
Table 1-1 lists the products and lists their features for comparison.
Tip For optimum link widths and performance, use the NI PXIe-8381 and NI PXIe-8384
in chassis that support a Gen II x8 backplane link.
Table 1-1. Feature Comparison of Available MXI-Express Gen II x8 Interfaces
Model Slot Type Number of Ports Cable Support
NI PCIe-8381 PCI Express Gen II x8 or wider 1MXI-Express x8 Copper
NI PXIe-8381 PXI Express Controller 1MXI-Express x8 Copper
NI PXIe-8384 PXI Express Peripheral 1MXI-Express x8 Copper

Chapter 1 Introduction
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 1-2 ni.com
Functional Overview
MXI-Express Gen II x8 is based on PCI Express technology. A
MXI-Express Gen II x8 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, or from a PXI Express chassis with an available PXI
Express slot. The switch architecture is transparent to device drivers, so no
additional software is needed for CompactPCI Express level support for
PXI Express devices in connected chassis.
Note For full PXI/PXI Express functionality such as chassis and controller identification,
trigger routing, and slot detection, install the PXI Platform Services software included with
your kit. This software also can be found at ni.com/updates by searching for
PXI Platform Services.
The link between the PC and the chassis is a Gen II x8 cabled PCI Express
link. This link is a dual-simplex communication channel comprised of
eight low-voltage, differentially driven signal pairs. The link can transmit
at a rate of 40 Gbps in each direction simultaneously.
Note This link is compatible with the cabled PCI Express specification developed by the
PCI-SIG.
Functional Block Diagrams
Figure 1-1. NI PCIe-8381 (153094x-01L) Block Diagram
CLOCK MODE
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
BIOS COMPAT
2
135
4 6
OFF
OFF
0
OFF
OFF
DFLT
R1025
R1099
R1026
SW1
R1023
R1098
R1024
MXI-Express
Gen II x8
PWR/LNK
Status LED
PCIe
Switch
PCIe Gen II x8
PCIe Gen II x8

Chapter 1 Introduction
©National Instruments 1-3 MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
Figure 1-2. NI PXIe-8381 (153097x-01L) Block Diagram1
The NI PXIe-8381 supports dual link mode, which will merge the four x4
links to the chassis backplane into two x8 links if the chassis supports it.
National Instruments offers Gen II PXI Express chassis that allow the
NI PXIe-8381 to establish Gen II backplane links.
1 The width and speed of the backplane links are chassis dependent.
MXI-Express
Gen II x8
PCIe
Switch
PCIe-to-
PCI Bridge
SMBus
Master
PCIe Gen II x41
PCIe Gen II x8
PCIe Gen II x41
PCIe Gen II x41
PCIe Gen II x41

Chapter 1 Introduction
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 1-4 ni.com
Figure 1-3. NI PXIe-8384 (153100x-01L) Block Diagram1
National Instruments offers Gen II PXI Express chassis that allow the
NI PXIe-8384 to establish Gen II backplane links.
Basic MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems
The simplest MXI-Express Gen II x8 system consists of an NI PCIe-8381
in a PC connected to an NI PXIe-8381 in the controller slot of a
PXI Express chassis, as shown in Figure 1-5.
Figure 1-4. Example of a Basic MXI-Express Gen II x8 Link Topology
1 The width and speed of the backplane links are chassis dependent.
MXI-Express
Gen II x8 PCIe
Switch
PCIe Gen II x8
PCIe Gen II x81
Host PC to Target PXI Express Chassis

Chapter 1 Introduction
©National Instruments 1-5 MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
Note In this manual, whenever a PXI Express chassis is referenced, a CompactPCI
Express chassis could be used instead.
Larger MXI-Express Gen II x8 Systems
If multiple PCI Express slots are available in the host PC, additional PXI
Express chassis can be connected by installing an additional NI PCIe-8381 in
any available Gen II x8 or wider PCI Express slot.
You can also daisy-chain from a PXI Express chassis that is already
controlled by an embedded controller, host PC, or laptop to additional
PXI Express chassis using MXI-Express Gen II x8 products. Figure 1-6
shows how you can use MXI-Express Gen II x8 cards to connect multiple
PXI Express expansion chassis to a PC in a star or daisy-chain topology.
Figure 1-5. Example of MXI-Express Gen II x8 System Expansion Topologies
Star Topology
Daisy-Chain Topology

Chapter 1 Introduction
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 1-6 ni.com
Compatibility with Host PCs
The BIOS of some host machines may not support the extension of the
PCI-Express fabric. Since this is the primary function of MXI-Express Gen
II x8 products, those systems may not boot or function correctly. To
address this issue, National Instruments offers NI MXI-Express BIOS
Compatibility Software. This software can be found at ni.com by
searching for MXI-Express BIOS Compatibility Software. Review the
documentation for information about using this software.
In the cases where this software is required, there may be a dip switch on
the board that needs to be toggled as instructed by the documentation for
the software. The functional block diagrams in this chapter illustrate the
locations and availability of the dip switch package. Only the first dip
switch in the package is used for this purpose. The other switches should
be left in their default position.
Note Unless NI MXI-Express BIOS Compatibility Software is installed on the host
machine for use, the BIOS Compat Mode dip switch (switch 1) should remain in the off
position. If this mode is enabled on a MXI-Express Gen II x8 product in a host machine
that does not have the software installed, the connected devices will not be detected by the
operating system.
For more information on host system compatibility with MXI-Express Gen
II x8 products, refer to the NI Developer Zone document Tips to Help You
Successfully Use MXI-Express Controllers at ni.com/zone.

©National Instruments 2-1 MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
2
Installation and Configuration
This chapter explains how to unpack, install, and configure the
MXI-Express Gen II x8 hardware and software.
Equipment Needed
Connecting a PC to an Expansion Chassis
❑Host PC with an available PCI Express Gen II x8 slot or wider
❑Expansion PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis
❑MXI-Express x8 cable
❑One NI PCIe-8381
❑One NI PXIe-8381
Connecting Additional Expansion Chassis to a System
❑Chassis to daisy-chain from
❑Expansion chassis to daisy-chain to
❑MXI-Express x8 cable
❑One NI PXIe-8381
❑One NI PXIe-8384
Note Using a PCI Express slot wider than x8 may result in negotiation down to x1 width,
and therefore limiting bandwidth. This is uncommon in newer PCs.
Note The BIOS or motherboard may not support the NI PCIe-8381 in a slot intended for
a graphics card.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 2-2 ni.com
Note Not all PCI Express expansion slots that have x8 or wider physical connectors are
electrically capable of x8 PCI Express operation. Check with the motherboard
manufacturer to verify that the slot is capable of x8 PCI Express operation.
Unpacking
Your MXI-Express Gen II x8 products are shipped in antistatic packages to
prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) to the devices. ESD can damage
several components on the device.
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
into a PXI Express or CompactPCI Express chassis.
Store the device in the antistatic envelope when not in use.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration
©National Instruments 2-3 MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
Hardware Installation
The following are general instructions for installing the MXI-Express Gen
II x8 products. Consult your computer user manual or technical reference
manual for further instructions and warnings.
Caution The protection provided by the MXI-Express Gen II x8 products can be impaired
if it is used in a manner not described in this document.
Installing an NI PCIe-8381
Complete the following steps to install the NI PCIe-8381 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 all hardware as instructed.
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 (Gen II x8 or wider).
6. Locate the metal bracket that covers the cut-out in the back panel of the
computer for the slot you have selected. Remove and save the
bracket-retaining screw and the bracket cover.
7. Line up the NI PCIe-8381 with the slot on the back panel. Slowly lower
the NI PCIe-8381 until its card-edge connector is resting on the
expansion slot receptacle. Using slow, evenly distributed pressure,
press the NI PCIe-8381 straight down until it seats in the expansion
slot, as shown in Figure 2-1.
8. Secure the NI PCIe-8381 to the back panel rail using a bracket
retaining screw.
9. Replace the computer cover.
10. Plug the computer back in.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration
MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual 2-4 ni.com
Figure 2-1. Installing the NI PCIe-8381
Installing the Low-Profile Bracket on the NI PCIe-8381 (Optional)
To install the NI PCIe-8381 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-8381 card by removing the two 4-40 × 3/16 in. Phillips head
screws that attach the bracket to the card. Note that the two mounting
tabs for the standard height bracket rest against the back side of the
card. Set the two screws aside to re-use when installing the low-profile
bracket.
1 NI PCIe-8381
2PCIExpress x8Card-Edge Connector
3PCIExpress Slot (x8or wider)
1
3
2

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration
©National Instruments 2-5 MXI-Express Gen II x8 Series User Manual
Figure 2-2. Removing the Standard Bracket from the NI PCIe-8381
Caution When removing the bracket, be careful not to remove or lose the EMI gasket on
the cable receptacle connector housing.
2. Fit the low-profile bracket onto the NI PCIe-8381. 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 lb · in. (0.407 N · m).
1Standard Height Bracket
2EMIGasket
3 4-40 ×3/16 in. PhillipsHead Screws(x2)
4 Front Side of Card
5 Connector Shield
6LEDs
7Bracket Holesfor LEDs
8Bracket Hole for Connector Shield
5
4
6
8
7
1
3
2