National Instruments Switch PCI 8331 User Manual

TM  
MXI  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
MXI-4 Multi-System Extension Interface for PCI, CompactPCI,  
and PXI Bus Computers  
PCI-8331  
PXI-8331  
PCI-8336  
PXI-8336  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
December 2003 Edition  
Part Number 370840A-01  
 
 
Important Information  
Warranty  
The PXI-PCI 8331 and 8336 hardware is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of  
shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to  
be defective during the warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.  
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in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National  
Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instructions if National Instruments receives  
notice of such defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be  
uninterrupted or error free.  
A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before  
any equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are  
covered by warranty.  
National Instruments believes that the information in this document is accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical  
accuracy. In the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National Instruments reserves the right to make changes to subsequent  
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Instruments Corporation.  
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LabVIEW, MXI, National Instruments, NI, ni.com, and NI-VISAare trademarks of National Instruments Corporation.  
Product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.  
Patents  
For patents covering National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file  
on your CD, or ni.com/patents.  
WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS  
(1) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS AND TESTING FOR A LEVEL OF  
RELIABILITY SUITABLE FOR USE IN OR IN CONNECTION WITH SURGICAL IMPLANTS OR AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN  
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INCORPORATED IN A SYSTEM OR APPLICATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE APPROPRIATE DESIGN,  
PROCESS AND SAFETY LEVEL OF SUCH SYSTEM OR APPLICATION.  
 
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Compliance with FCC/Canada Radio Frequency Interference  
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Determining FCC Class  
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules to protect wireless communications from interference. The FCC  
places digital electronics into two classes. These classes are known as Class A (for use in industrial-commercial locations only)  
or Class B (for use in residential or commercial locations). All National Instruments (NI) products are FCC Class A products.  
Depending on where it is operated, this Class A product could be subject to restrictions in the FCC rules. (In Canada, the  
Department of Communications (DOC), of Industry Canada, regulates wireless interference in much the same way.) Digital  
electronics emit weak signals during normal operation that can affect radio, television, or other wireless products.  
All Class A products display a simple warning statement of one paragraph in length regarding interference and undesired  
operation. The FCC rules have restrictions regarding the locations where FCC Class A products can be operated.  
Consult the FCC Web site at www.fcc.gov for more information.  
FCC/DOC Warnings  
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in strict accordance with the instructions  
in this manual and the CE marking Declaration of Conformity*, may cause interference to radio and television reception.  
Classification requirements are the same for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Canadian Department  
of Communications (DOC).  
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by NI could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment under the  
FCC Rules.  
Class A  
Federal Communications Commission  
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC  
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated  
in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and  
used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this  
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user is required to correct the interference  
at their own expense.  
Canadian Department of Communications  
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.  
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.  
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Users in the European Union (EU) should refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for information* pertaining to the  
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information. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit ni.com/hardref.nsf, search by model number or product line,  
and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.  
*
The CE marking Declaration of Conformity contains important supplementary information and instructions for the user or  
installer.  
 
About This Manual  
Chapter 1  
About the MXI-4 Series.................................................................................................1-1  
Description and Features.................................................................................1-1  
Larger MXI-4 Systems....................................................................................1-3  
Chapter 2  
Hardware Installation.....................................................................................................2-2  
Installing a PCI MXI-4 Card...........................................................................2-2  
Cabling ............................................................................................................2-5  
Chapter 3  
Serial-to-Parallel Converter ..............................................................3-2  
Serial Connector/Fiber Optic Transceiver ........................................3-2  
MXI-4 Cable Options......................................................................................3-3  
Software Configuration..................................................................................................3-3  
MXI-4 Retransmit Count.................................................................................3-3  
MXI-4 Linked Chassis Status..........................................................................3-6  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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Contents  
Appendix A  
Specifications  
Appendix B  
Technical Support and Professional Services  
Glossary  
Index  
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About This Manual  
This manual describes the features, functions, and operation of the MXI-4  
series of products. The four products in this series are the PCI-8331,  
PXI-8331, PCI-8336, and PXI-8336. The PXI-PCI 8331 and 8336  
incorporate MXI-4 technology, which couples two physically separate PCI,  
CompactPCI, or PXI buses with a data link capable of 1.5 Gbit/s serial data  
rates.  
Conventions  
The following conventions appear in this manual:  
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. This font 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.  
MXI-4 card  
MXI-4 dyad  
MXI-4 card refers to any of the following cards, unless otherwise noted:  
PCI-8331, PXI-8331, PCI-8336, and PXI-8336.  
MXI-4 dyad refers to any of the following 4 pairs of MXI-4 cards:  
PCI-8331 and PXI-8331  
PCI-8336 and PXI-8336  
PXI-8331 and PXI-8331  
PXI-8336 and PXI-8336  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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About This Manual  
Note In this manual, whenever a PXI chassis is referenced, a CompactPCI chassis could  
be used instead.  
Related Documentation  
The following documents contain information that you might find helpful  
as you read this manual:  
Set Up Your MXI-4 System  
Your computer or chassis documentation  
PXI Hardware Specification, Revision 2.1  
PXI Software Specification, Revision 2.1  
PCI Specification, Revision 2.2  
PCI-PCI Bridge Architecture Specification, Revision 1.0  
PICMG CompactPCI 2.0 R2.1 specification  
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1
Introduction  
This chapter describes the MXI-4 series of products, lists what you need to  
get started, and explains how to unpack and set up your hardware.  
The four products in this series are the PCI-8331, PXI-8331, PCI-8336, and  
PXI-8336. For the remainder of this manual the term MXI-4 card will refer  
to any of the products in the MXI-4 series.  
MXI-4 cards must always be installed as either a pair of PXI cards or as a  
PCI card and a PXI card. The term MXI-4 dyad will refer to one of the four  
allowable pairings of MXI-4 cards which are described in the Conventions  
section of the About This Manual.  
About the MXI-4 Series  
Description and Features  
A MXI-4 dyad is a PCI master/slave implementing the PCI-PCI bridge  
register set. It couples two physically separate buses with either a copper or  
fiber-optic data link capable of 1.5 Gbit/s serial data rates. With the MXI-4  
dyad, you can do the following:  
Control a PXI/CompactPCI backplane with a PCI based PC  
Control a PXI/CompactPCI backplane with another PXI/CompactPCI  
system  
Increase the available number CompactPCI or PXI slots for your  
application  
Physically separate the measurement or automation system from  
a host PC  
Combine PCI, CompactPCI, and PXI devices in the same system  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
         
Chapter 1  
Introduction  
Basic MXI-4 Systems  
MXI-4 cards are used in two basic configurations, both of which are shown  
in Figure 1-1:  
A PCI MXI-4 in a PC, connected to a PXI MXI-4 in the controller slot  
of a PXI/CompactPCI chassis.  
A PXI MXI-4 in a non-controller slot of a PXI/CompactPCI chassis  
with an embedded controller, connected to a PXI MXI-4 in the  
controller slot of another PXI/CompactPCI chassis.  
Note The PXI MXI-4 is capable of automatically detecting whether it is in a controller or  
non-controller slot and configuring itself accordingly.  
PC to PXI/CompactPCI  
PXI/CompactPCI to PXI/CompactPCI  
Figure 1-1. Basic MXI-4 Configurations  
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Chapter 1  
Introduction  
Larger MXI-4 Systems  
Using multiple MXI-4 dyads, large PCI/PXI/CompactPCI systems can be  
created. The PCI specification makes provisions for up to 255 bus segments  
to simultaneously exist in a PCI hierarchy and MXI-4 hardware provides  
everything needed to support those provisions.  
Notes Keep in mind that some chassis and PCs have more than one PCI bus segment.  
The host configuration software (BIOS and OS) and device drivers must support the  
number of bus segments and PCI devices that you intend to use.  
Figure 1-2 shows how MXI-4 cards can be used to connect multiple  
expansion chassis to a PC in both a star and daisy chain topology. The  
PC that is shown at the root of the PCI hierarchy in this example could  
instead be a PXI/CompactPCI chassis with an embedded controller in its  
controller slot. The star topology will give higher performance than the  
daisy chain because it minimizes the number of MXI-4 dyads between the  
expansion cards and the PC.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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Chapter 1  
Introduction  
Daisy-Chain Configuration  
Star Configuration  
Figure 1-2. Star and Daisy Chain MXI-4 Configurations  
Note Adding PCI bridges, such as MXI-4, to a system can create a slight decrease in  
performance when communicating with devices behind the bridges.  
Although the distance between individual chassis is confined to a  
maximum of 10 meters for copper cables and 200 meters for fiber-optic  
cables, there is no limit to the total amount of cable in the system.  
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Chapter 1  
Introduction  
What You Need to Get Started  
To set up and use your MXI-4 cards, you need the following:  
Two MXI-4 cards of the allowable pairings that comprise a MXI-4  
dyad. The allowable pairings are:  
PCI-8331 and PXI-8331  
PCI-8336 and PXI-8336  
PXI-8331 and PXI-8331  
PXI-8336 and PXI-8336  
A MXI-4 cable  
A copper cable for 8331 dyads  
A fiber optic cable for 8336 dyads  
A host—This can be a PC with PCI slots, or a PXI/CompactPCI  
chassis that already has a controller  
An expansion chassis—This is the PXI/CompactPCI chassis that you  
control with the MXI-4 dyad  
NI MXI-4 software  
Note Your PXI MXI-4 card will work in any standard CompactPCI chassis adhering to  
the PICMG CompactPCI 2.0 R2.1 specification, or in PXI chassis that are compatible with  
the PXI Hardware Specification, Revision 1.0 or later. Your PCI MXI-4 card will work in  
systems compliant with the PCI Specification, Revision 2.2 or later.  
Unpacking  
Your MXI-4 cards are shipped in antistatic packages to prevent  
electrostatic damage (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.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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Chapter 1  
Introduction  
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.  
Store the device in the antistatic envelope when not in use.  
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2
Hardware and Software  
Installation  
This chapter explains how to install the MXI-4 software and hardware.  
Software Installation  
The software for your MXI-4 controller enables use of the MXI-4  
Connection Monitor which is built into the MXI-4 hardware. This software  
enhances the product, allowing you to monitor your MXI-4 link, view  
information about the organization of your PXI system, and  
programmatically retrieve data about the link, chassis, and modules you  
have installed.  
The MXI-4 software for Microsoft Windows operating systems is included  
as part of NI-VISA. The appropriate version of NI-VISA is provided on the  
MXI-4 Software CD or National Instruments Driver CD included with your  
kit. To install the software, insert the CD into your computer and run the  
setup.exe program if it does not start automatically. Follow the  
installation program prompts to install the NI-VISA software and any other  
components you select. After installation you may be required to reboot  
your computer before using the MXI-4 software.  
Note If the MXI-4 software does not support your operating system, the operating system  
will provide a mechanism for you to ignore the MXI-4 Connection Monitor which is built  
into the MXI-4 hardware.  
If you are using LabVIEW Real-Time, be sure you also update the LabVIEW RT controller  
by accessing the Software attributes of your target system in Measurement & Automation  
Explorer (MAX) and using MAX to update the software on your LabVIEW RT controller.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
         
Chapter 2  
Hardware and Software Installation  
Hardware Installation  
The following are general instructions for installing the MXI-4 cards.  
Consult your computer user manual or technical reference manual for  
specific instructions and warnings.  
Installing a PCI MXI-4 Card  
1. Power off your computer, but leave it plugged in while installing the  
PCI MXI-4 card. The power cord grounds the chassis and protects it  
from electrical damage while you install the module.  
Caution To protect both yourself and the computer from electrical hazards, your computer  
should remain off until you finish installing the PCI MXI-4 device.  
2. Remove the top cover or access port to the PCI bus.  
3. Select any available PCI expansion slot.  
4. 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.  
5. 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.  
6. Line up the PCI MXI-4 with the slot on the back panel. Slowly push  
down on the top of the PCI MXI-4 until its card-edge connector is  
resting on the expansion slot receptacle. Using slow, evenly distributed  
pressure, press the PCI MXI-4 straight down until it seats in the  
expansion slot.  
7. Reinstall the bracket-retaining screw to secure the PCI MXI-4 to the  
back panel rail.  
8. Replace the computer cover.  
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Chapter 2  
Hardware and Software Installation  
2
1
3
1
2
PCI MXI-4 Card  
PCI Bus Card-Edge Connector  
3
PCI Bus Slot  
Figure 2-1. Installing the PCI MXI-4  
Installing a PXI MXI-4 Card  
Complete the following steps to install the PXI MXI-4 in your PXI or  
CompactPCI chassis.  
1. Power off your PXI or CompactPCI chassis, but leave it plugged in  
while installing the PXI MXI-4 card. The power cord grounds the  
chassis and protects it from electrical damage while you install the  
module.  
2. Select a slot for the PXI MXI-4 card:  
When being placed in the expansion chassis that you wish to  
control using MXI-4, choose the controller slot (slot 1 in PXI).  
When being placed in a host chassis, choose any slot except the  
controller slot (slot 1 is reserved for the system controller in PXI).  
The slot chosen must support bus mastering.  
Caution To protect both yourself and the chassis from electrical hazards, leave the chassis  
off until you finish installing the PXI MXI-4 card.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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Chapter 2  
Hardware and Software Installation  
3. Remove or open any doors or covers blocking access to the slot in  
which you intend to install the PXI MXI-4.  
4. Touch the metal part of the case 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 PXI MXI-4 card 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 PXI MXI-4 card. It will  
not insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so that it does not interfere  
with the injector rail on the mainframe, as shown in Figure 2-2.  
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 PXI MXI-4  
card should be even with the front panel of the chassis.  
8. Tighten the bracket-retaining screws on the top and bottom of the front  
panel to secure the PXI MXI-4 card to the chassis.  
9. Replace or close any doors or covers to the chassis.  
Figure 2-2 shows a PXI MXI-4 card just before installation in the system  
controller slot of a National Instruments mainframe.  
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Chapter 2  
Hardware and Software Installation  
1
NI PXI-1042  
2
4
3
1
2
PXI/Compact PCI Chassis  
PXI MXI-4 Card  
3
4
Ejector Handle in Down Position  
PXI/Compact PCI Slot 1  
Figure 2-2. PXI MXI-4 Before Installation as Secondary  
Cabling  
1. Connect the appropriate MXI-4 cable to both MXI-4 cards. If you are  
using a fiber-optic MXI-4 cable, be sure to remove the protective caps  
from the connectors. 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-4. If a cable  
becomes unplugged, plug it back into the system.  
Note For more information on cables, refer to the MXI-4 Cable Options section of  
Chapter 3, Hardware and Software Overview.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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Chapter 2  
Hardware and Software Installation  
Powering Up the MXI-4 System  
1. Power on all of the expansion chassis in any order you choose.  
2. Power on the host, which could either be a PC or a CompactPCI/PXI  
chassis with an embedded controller.  
Typical PCI-PCI bridges 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 or embedded  
controller in order for the BIOS and OS to correctly configure a MXI-4  
system.  
Note There are no requirements on how MXI-4 expansion chassis are powered up relative  
to each other, as long as they are all on before the BIOS begins execution.  
Powering Down the MXI-4 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 not to power off the expansion chassis until  
after the host PC or embedded controller is powered off. Powering the  
expansion chassis off while the host is still on can cause crashes or hangs.  
The order in which expansion chassis are turned off, relative to each other,  
is not important.  
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3
Hardware and Software  
Overview  
This chapter presents an overview of the hardware and software function of  
MXI-4 cards, and explains the operation of each functional unit.  
Hardware Overview  
Functional Overview  
The PCI specification places a limit on the number of PCI devices that can  
be placed on any single PCI bus segment in order to guarantee the electrical  
characteristics and timing of the bus. This limitation spawned the need for  
devices that could logically couple electrically independent busses to form  
a hierarchical PCI system. The PCI Special Interest Group recognized this  
need and created the PCI-PCI Bridge Architecture Specification in 1994 to  
provide a standardized register set and well defined functionality for such  
devices.  
Each MXI-4 dyad implements this PCI-PCI Bridge Architecture  
Specification for the purpose of coupling PCI-based peripherals located in  
separate chassis into a single PCI hierarchy. Each of the MXI-4 cards  
contains half of the bridge logic, and uses the serial link to communicate  
between those two halves at a maximum rate of 1.5 Gbits/sec.  
Using the PCI-PCI Bridge specification as the basis for its implementation  
allows MXI-4 to connect a large number of peripheral devices while  
allowing them to use the same drivers that would be used if they were in the  
host system. This is possible because the PCI-PCI Bridge Architecture  
Specification was designed to be transparent to device drivers, and because  
all major operating systems and BIOSes support configuration of the  
bridges natively.  
Figure 3-1 shows the basic architecture of a MXI-4 card. The MXI-4 FPGA  
is connected to the PCI bus, a serializer and a deserializer. The serializer  
and deserializer then connect to either a fiber-optic transceiver, which  
converts the electrical signals to laser-light and vice versa, or directly  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
           
Chapter 3  
Hardware and Software Overview  
copper cable using one differential pair on that cable to transmit data, and  
the other pair to receive the data.  
National Instruments MXI-4 FPGA  
Parallel-  
to-Serial  
Converter  
Serial  
Data  
Transmitter  
Port  
C P  
P
C
I
P X  
C I  
I
Serial  
PCI/PXI  
Interface  
Port  
Connector/  
Fiber-Optic  
Transceiver  
B
u
s
Serial-  
to-Parallel  
Converter  
Receiver  
Port  
Serial  
Data  
Figure 3-1. MXI-4 Card Block Diagram  
Functional Unit Descriptions  
National Instruments MXI-4 FPGA  
Each of the MXI-4 FPGAs in a MXI-4 dyad contain half of the logic  
needed to implement the PCI-PCI Bridge Architecture Specification,  
as well as logic that handles the packetization and reliable transmission  
of data between the two half-bridges.  
Parallel-to-Serial Converter  
The serial transmitter converts packetized parallel data coming from the  
MXI-4 FPGA into a differential electrical signal.  
Serial-to-Parallel Converter  
The serial receiver converts the incoming differential electrical signal, to a  
parallel data stream for consumption by the MXI-4 FPGA.  
Serial Connector/Fiber Optic Transceiver  
The electrical signals coming from the transmitter and going to the receiver  
may have one of two things done to them: either they are first run through  
a fiber-optic transceiver for conversion to/from laser-light, or they are run  
directly through a copper connector to a cable.  
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Chapter 3  
Hardware and Software Overview  
MXI-4 Cable Options  
MXI-4 dyads are available with either copper or fiber-optic media  
connecting the MXI-4 cards. Copper cabled MXI-4 boards can span up to  
10 meters, while fiber-optic cables provide up to 200 meters of separation  
between the cards. Table 3-1 shows the cables that are available from  
National Instruments:  
Table 3-1. National Instruments MXI-4 Cables  
Cable Length (meters)  
Description  
3 m  
5 m  
MXI-4 copper cable  
MXI-4 copper cable  
MXI-4 fiber optic cable  
MXI-4 copper cable  
MXI-4 fiber optic cable  
MXI-4 fiber optic cable  
10 m  
10 m  
30 m  
200 m  
Caution Although MXI-4 copper cables use the same DB-9 connector as many RS-232  
serial cables, they are not compatible. RS-232 cables and MXI-4 cables cannot be  
interchanged.  
Software Configuration  
On Microsoft Windows operating systems, National Instruments  
Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) provides access to  
information about your MXI-4 controller, as well as other components of  
your PXI system. This section provides introductory information about the  
MXI-4 specific functions within MAX. Refer to the MAX help within  
MAX to learn more about how to use MAX with your PXI system.  
MXI-4 Retransmit Count  
Your MXI-4 dyad uses a robust protocol to communicate between the  
individual MXI-4 cards. If serial data is corrupted during transfer, the  
receiving MXI-4 card will detect the corruption and request that the other  
MXI-4 card retransmit the data. This guarantees that even if the serial data  
is compromised, your application will always get the correct data.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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Chapter 3  
Hardware and Software Overview  
You can determine how frequently retransmissions are occurring by  
enabling the Show PXI Bus Details attribute of your PXI system (refer to  
Figure 3-2). To set this attribute, right-click your PXI system in MAX and  
select the Show PXI Bus Details menu option.  
Figure 3-2. Show PXI Bus Details Attribute in Configuration Pop-Up  
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Chapter 3  
Hardware and Software Overview  
With this attribute enabled, clicking on a PXI Bridge entry in MAX that  
corresponds to a MXI-4 link will display information about the link in the  
right-hand pane in MAX (refer to Figure 3-3). To update the information  
shown, click the Refresh button.  
Note In normal operation, the bridge retransmit count should be zero.  
Figure 3-3. Bridge Retransmit Count Value in Right Pane View  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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Chapter 3  
Hardware and Software Overview  
MXI-4 Linked Chassis Status  
When your PXI system contains a chassis connected through MXI-4, MAX  
can show additional information about the chassis status depending on the  
state of the MXI-4 link. If there is a problem with the link or the chassis is  
not connected, MAX will display the chassis with a yellow exclamation  
point indicating a warning (refer to Figure 3-4).  
Figure 3-4. Chassis Status Indication in Configuration Tree  
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Chapter 3  
Hardware and Software Overview  
To determine the cause of the warning, click the chassis in the MAX tree  
view and check the status bar text to determine what condition the software  
detected (refer to Figure 3-5).  
If MAX indicates that the MXI-4 connection has timed out, the MXI-4 card  
did not detect that it was connected to another MXI-4 card at power-up  
time. This can occur if the host chassis is turned on before the expansion  
chassis, or if the MXI-4 cable is not plugged in properly. Refer to the  
Powering Up the MXI-4 System section of Chapter 2, Hardware and  
Software Installation, for more information.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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A
Specifications  
This appendix lists the system specifications for PCI MXI-4 and  
PXI MXI-4 cards. These specifications are typical at 25 °C, unless  
otherwise stated.  
Physical  
Dimensions  
PCI .................................................. 10.7 × 17.5 cm (4.2 × 6.9 in.)  
PXI.................................................. 10.0 × 16.0 cm (3.9 × 6.3 in.)  
Maximum cable lengths  
Copper............................................. 10 m  
Fiber-optic....................................... 200 m  
Slot requirements ................................... One slot (PCI or PXI)  
Compatibility ......................................... Fully compatible with the  
PXI Hardware Specification,  
Revision 2.1 and the  
PCI Specification, Revision 2.2  
Weight  
PXI-8331......................................... .25 Kg (.55 lb) typical  
PCI-8331......................................... .19 Kg (.42 lb) typical  
PXI-8336......................................... .25 Kg (.55 lb) typical  
PCI-8336......................................... .20 Kg (.44 lb) typical  
PXI-8331 power requirement  
3.3 V................................................ <.21 A typical  
5 V................................................... <1.4 A typical  
PXI-8336 power requirement  
3.3 V................................................ <.34 A typical  
5 V................................................... <1.4 A typical  
© National Instruments Corporation  
A-1  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
   
Appendix A  
Specifications  
Environment  
Maximum altitude...................................2,000 m  
Pollution Degree.....................................2  
Indoor use only  
Operating Environment  
Ambient temperature range ....................0 to 55 °C (tested in accordance  
with IEC-60068-2-1 and  
IEC-60068-2-2)  
Operating relative humidity....................10 to 90%, noncondensing  
(tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-56)  
Storage Environment  
Ambient temperature range ....................–20 to 70 °C (tested in accordance  
with IEC-60068-2-1 and  
IEC-60068-2-2)  
Storage relative humidity........................5 to 95%, noncondensing  
(tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-56)  
Shock and Vibration  
Operational shock...................................30 g peak, half-sine, 11 ms pulse  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-27. Test profile  
developed in accordance with  
MIL-PRF-28800F.)  
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Appendix A  
Specifications  
Random Vibration  
Operating................................................ 5 to 500 Hz, 0.3 grms  
Nonoperating.......................................... 5 to 500 Hz, 2.4 grms  
(Tested in accordance with  
IEC-60068-2-64. Nonoperating  
test profile exceeds the  
requirements of  
MIL-PRF-28800F, Class 3.)  
Safety  
The MXI-4 cards were evaluated using the criteria of EN 61010-1 and meet  
the requirements of the following standards for safety and electrical  
equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use:  
IEC 61010-1, EN 61010-1  
UL 3111-1, UL 61010B-1  
CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 1010.1  
Note For UL and other safety certifications, refer to the product label, or visit  
ni.com/hardref.nsf, search by model number or product line, and click the  
appropriate link in the Certification column.  
Electromagnetic Compatibility  
Emissions ............................................... EN 55011 Class A at 10 m  
FCC Part 15A above 1 GHz  
Immunity................................................ EN 61326:1997 + A2:2001,  
Table 1  
EMC/EMI............................................... CE, C-Tick, and FCC Part 15  
(Class A) Compliant  
Note For EMC compliance, operate this device with shielded cabling. In addition,  
all covers and filler panels must be installed.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
   
Appendix A  
Specifications  
CE Compliance  
This product meets the essential requirements of applicable European  
Directives, as amended for CE marking, as follows:  
Low-Voltage Directive (safety)..............73/23/EEC  
Electromagnetic Compatibility  
Directive (EMC).....................................89/336/EEC  
Note Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product for any additional  
regulatory compliance information. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit  
ni.com/hardref.nsf, search by model number or product line, and click the  
appropriate link in the Certification column.  
Cleaning  
If you need to clean the module, use a soft, nonmetallic brush. Make sure  
that the module is completely dry and free from contaminants before  
returning it to service.  
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B
Common Questions  
This appendix lists common questions related to the use of the MXI-4  
controllers.  
General Hardware  
What are the board names of the MXI-4 remote controllers?  
PCI-8331: PCI MXI-4 interface with connectors for copper cable  
PXI-8331: PXI MXI-4 interface with connectors for copper cable  
PCI-8336: PCI MXI-4 interface with connectors for fiber cable  
PXI-8336: PXI MXI-4 interface with connectors for fiber cable  
What is the difference between the copper (PXI-8331) and fiber  
(PXI-8336) versions of MXI-4?  
MXI-4 data performance is identical with both types. Use copper for short  
distances, and fiber for longer distances, EMI resistance, and electrical  
isolation.  
Can I use a copper MXI-4 and a fiber MXI-4 kit in the same  
multi-chassis PXI system?  
A copper or fiber MXI-4 kit is comprised of two MXI boards of the same  
type and an interconnecting cable. Copper and fiber MXI-4 kits can be  
intermixed to connect multiple PXI chassis together. A single copper board  
will not connect to a single fiber board.  
How many PXI bus segments can I connect together with MXI-4?  
The PCI specification allows up to 255 bus segments. MXI-4 does not limit  
this number, but the maximum number of bus segments allowed can be  
BIOS or operating system dependent. Also, a computer may already  
possess internally several PCI bus segments. Notice that connecting large  
numbers of chassis together in series with MXI-4 will result in high latency  
and lower throughput for chassis at the end of the chain. To reduce the  
© National Instruments Corporation  
B-1  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
   
Appendix B  
Common Questions  
impact of this situation in general, design a multi-chassis system layout  
such that there are a minimum of MXI-4 links between the host PC and PXI  
boards requiring large bandwidth.  
General Cabling  
What are the different cabling options for MXI-4?  
There are two different types of cables that can be used with MXI-4. The  
PCI/PXI-8331 uses a copper cable. The PCI/PXI-8336 uses a fiber-optic  
cable.  
What is the maximum length of a MXI-4 copper cable?  
The maximum length for the MXI-4 copper cable is 10 meters. National  
Instruments offers 3 meter, 5 meter, and 10 meter copper cables.  
What is the maximum length of a MXI-4 fiber-optic cable?  
The maximum length for the MXI-4 fiber-optic cable is 200 meters.  
National Instruments offers 10 meter, 30 meter, and 200 meter fiber-optic  
cables.  
How can I extend my system past the maximum cable length?  
The best solution is to add a second MXI-4 link, which will then extend the  
length to 400 meters (fiber-optic kit only). To do this you will need a  
second PXI-MXI-4 kit (which consists of two PXI-8336 devices), another  
cable, and another chassis. The 4-slot PXI chassis is the lowest cost option  
for a chassis. Chassis and MXI-4 kits can be added as needed in order to  
obtain the desired distance.  
Can I use a repeater to extend the range of my MXI-4 link?  
To extend MXI-4 greater than the 200 (fiber) or 10 (copper) meters, you  
cannot use a normal Ethernet repeater. Most repeaters work by resending  
the packets sent to them instead of the exact electrical signals. Since MXI-4  
uses a proprietary packet optimized for PCI cycles, a standard Ethernet  
repeater will not work.  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
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Appendix B  
Common Questions  
MXI-4 copper cables look like standard serial cables. Are they the  
same?  
No. Although MXI-4 copper cables use the same DB-9 connector as many  
RS-232 serial cables like those found on a regular PC, they are not  
compatible. RS-232 cables and MXI-4 cables cannot be interchanged.  
Also, never attempt to cable together a standard RS-232 serial port to the  
copper connector on a MXI-4 board. Doing so will result in damage to your  
hardware.  
General Software  
Under which operating systems will MXI-4 work?  
MXI-4 is a PCI-to-PCI bridge that is recognized by the majority of  
operating systems. It should automatically work with most systems like  
Windows, Macintosh OS X, Linux, and Solaris, but only Windows  
operating systems have been verified in the initial release of MXI-4.  
What software is required to use my MXI-4 kit?  
For Windows and LabVIEW RT, the required software is included as part  
of the latest version of NI-VISA included with your kit. The software for  
your MXI-4 controller enhances the product, allowing you to monitor your  
MXI-4 link, view information about the organization of your PXI system,  
and programmatically retrieve data about the link, chassis, and modules  
you have installed.  
use MXI-4 and the operating system will provide a mechanism for you to  
ignore the MXI-4 Connection Monitor that is built into the MXI-4  
hardware.  
For more details, refer to the Software Installation section of Chapter 2,  
Hardware and Software Installation.  
MXI-3 required optimization software. Does MXI-4 require the same?  
No. The necessary optimization is now done automatically by the MXI-4  
hardware.  
How does my MXI-4 board show up in the Windows Device Manager?  
MXI-4 boards contain two distinct PCI functions onboard and will have  
two separate listings in the Windows Device Manager (WDM). The first  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
Appendix B  
Common Questions  
function will show up in the WDM listed under System devices as a PCI  
standard PCI-to-PCI bridge. The second function listing in the WDM  
will show up as a MXI-4 Connection Monitor when the correct MXI-4  
driver is installed.  
If the MXI-4 software is not installed, the PCI-to-PCI function will still be  
detected and work correctly, but the MXI-4 Connection Monitor will be  
detected as an unknown device.  
MXI-3 to MXI-4 Upgrade Questions  
What are some of the improvements from MXI-3 to MXI-4?  
MXI-4 incorporates the latest technology to include:  
Universal PCI support for both 3.3 V and 5 V PCI slots.  
Improved error correction and handling for noisy or harsh  
environments.  
Expanded operating temperature range to 0–55 °C.  
Improved mechanical connectivity.  
Can a MXI-3 and a MXI-4 board be used together directly?  
No. MXI-3 and MXI-4 boards use different cable connectors and cannot be  
plugged in together. Additionally, the board-to-board communication  
protocols differ.  
Can I use a MXI-3 and a MXI-4 kit in the same multi-chassis PXI  
system?  
Yes. Different MXI kits can be intermixed to connect multiple PXI chassis  
together. As mentioned previously, an individual MXI-3 board will not  
cable directly to a MXI-4 board.  
MXI-3 systems required the use of a specific boot ordering. Is this still  
a requirement with MXI-4?  
Yes, the requirements of the PCI bus still mandate that you must power on  
secondary PXI chassis before powering on the host PC or controller when  
using MXI-4, but MXI-4 does have improved boot behavior when using  
multiple chassis connected in series.  
With MXI-3 and several chassis connected in series, you were required to  
power on the chassis in order starting with the chassis at the end of the chain  
and move towards the host controller. Now with MXI-4, multiple chassis  
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connected in series can be powered on in any order, except that you need  
to ensure that the last component powered on is the host PC or the chassis  
containing the host controller as previously mentioned.  
For more details, refer to the Powering Up the MXI-4 System section in  
Chapter 2, Hardware and Software Installation.  
What is the benefit of Universal PCI support with MXI-4?  
With Universal PCI support, MXI-4 now can be used in more types of PCI  
and PCI-X slots.  
Table B-1. MXI-4 Bus Compatibility  
Will the board connector  
work in this type of slot?  
Universal  
MXI-4 boards  
Traditional  
MXI-3 boards  
5 V PCI 33 Mhz  
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
yes  
no  
no  
no  
no  
no  
3.3 V PCI 33 MHz  
3.3 V PCI 66 MHz  
3.3 V PCI-X 66 MHz  
3.3 V PCI-X 100 MHz  
3.3 V PCI-X 133 MHz  
Note PCI-X and 66 Mhz PCI buses maintain backwards compatibility with 33 Mhz PCI  
boards like MXI-4 by slowing down the bus to 33 Mhz operation.  
What is significant about improved error handling with MXI-4?  
MXI-4 now offers the flexibility to correct for serial data corruption during  
transmission in noisy or harsh environments. MXI-4 also gives greater  
flexibility of use.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
C
Technical Support and  
Professional Services  
Visit the following sections of the National Instruments Web site at  
ni.com for technical support and professional services:  
Support—Online technical support resources include the following:  
Self-Help Resources—For immediate answers and solutions,  
visit our extensive library of technical support resources available  
in English, Japanese, and Spanish at ni.com/support. These  
resources are available for most products at no cost to registered  
users and include software drivers and updates, a KnowledgeBase,  
product manuals, step-by-step troubleshooting wizards,  
conformity documentation, example code, tutorials and  
application notes, instrument drivers, discussion forums,  
a measurement glossary, and so on.  
Assisted Support Options—Contact NI engineers and other  
measurement and automation professionals by visiting  
ni.com/support. Our online system helps you define your  
question and connects you to the experts by phone, discussion  
forum, or email.  
Training—Visit ni.com/training for self-paced tutorials, videos,  
and interactive CDs. You also can register for instructor-led, hands-on  
courses at locations around the world.  
System Integration—If you have time constraints, limited in-house  
technical resources, or other project challenges, NI Alliance Program  
members can help. To learn more, call your local NI office or visit  
ni.com/alliance.  
Declaration of Conformity (DoC)—A DoC is our claim of  
compliance with the Council of the European Communities using  
the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity. This system affords  
the user protection for electronic compatibility (EMC) and product  
safety. You can obtain the DoC for your product by visiting  
ni.com/hardref.nsf.  
© National Instruments Corporation  
C-1  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
                     
Appendix C  
Technical Support and Professional Services  
Calibration Certificate—If your product supports calibration,  
you can obtain the calibration certificate for your product at  
ni.com/calibration.  
If you searched ni.com and could not find the answers you need, contact  
your local office or NI corporate headquarters. Phone numbers for our  
worldwide offices are listed at the front of this manual. You also can visit  
the Worldwide Offices section of ni.com/niglobal to access the branch  
office Web sites, which provide up-to-date contact information, support  
phone numbers, email addresses, and current events.  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
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Glossary  
Symbol  
Prefix  
nano  
micro  
milli  
kilo  
Value  
10–9  
10– 6  
10–3  
103  
n
µ
m
k
M
mega  
106  
Symbols  
°
Degrees  
%
Equal or greater than  
Equal or less than  
Percent  
B
bus  
the group of conductors that interconnect individual circuitry in a computer.  
Typically, a bus is the expansion vehicle to which I/O or other devices are  
connected. Examples of PC buses are the AT bus, NuBus, Micro Channel,  
and EISA bus.  
bus master  
a type of a plug-in board or controller with the ability to read and write  
devices on the computer bus  
C
C
Celsius  
clock  
hardware component that controls timing for reading from or writing to  
groups  
counter/timer  
a circuit that counts external pulses or clock pulses (timing)  
© National Instruments Corporation  
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MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
 
Glossary  
D
device  
a plug-in instrument card or pad that can contain multiple channels and  
conversion devices. Plug-in boards and PCMCIA cards, which connect to  
your computer parallel port, are examples of devices.  
digital trigger  
DMA  
a TTL level signal having two discrete levels—a high and a low level  
direct memory access—a method by which data can be transferred to/from  
computer memory from/to a device or memory on the bus while the  
processor does something else. DMA is the fastest method of transferring  
data to/from computer memory.  
dyad  
MXI-4 dyad refers to any of the following 4 pairs of MXI-4 cards:  
PCI-8331 and PXI-8331  
PCI-8336 and PXI-8336  
PXI-8331 and PXI-8331  
PXI-8336 and PXI-8336  
F
FPGA  
Field Programmable Gate Array—a logic device that has its functionality  
defined after it is manufactured.  
I
IEEE  
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers  
P
PCI  
Peripheral Component Interconnect—a high-performance expansion bus  
architecture originally developed by Intel to replace ISA and EISA. It is  
achieving widespread acceptance as a standard for PCs and workstations;  
it offers a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 132 Mbytes/s.  
PCI-PCI bridge  
a device that transparently expands the PCI bus on a computer motherboard  
to another bus segment in the same machine. The bridge expands the  
number of PCI expansion slots, but remains transparent to the end user.  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
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Glossary  
PXI  
PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation. PXI is an open specification  
that builds off the CompactPCI specification by adding  
instrumentation-specific features.  
V
VCSEL  
Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser  
© National Instruments Corporation  
G-3  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
Index  
A
additional MXI-4 configurations (figure), 1-4  
fiber optic transceiver, 3-2  
B
help, technical support, C-1  
Cable), 3-3  
C
cable options, 3-3  
calibration certificate (NI resources), C-2  
common questions, B-1  
installation  
cable options, 3-3  
cabling, 2-5  
configuration, basic (figure), 1-2  
configurations, additional  
of a PXI MXI-4 card, 2-3  
powering down the MXI-4 system, 2-6  
software, 2-1  
star (figure), 1-4  
conventions used in the manual, vii  
D
Declaration of Conformity (NI resources), C-1  
diagnostic tools (NI resources), C-1  
documentation  
instrument drivers (NI resources), C-1  
K
conventions used in manual, vii  
drivers (NI resources), C-1  
M
MAX, 3-3  
E
MXI-4  
block diagram, 3-2  
cable options, 3-3  
definition, 1-1  
overview, 3-1  
electromagnetic compatibility, A-3  
examples (NI resources), C-1  
© National Instruments Corporation  
I-1  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
 
 
Index  
MXI-4 FPGA, 3-2  
MXI-4 system  
R
related documentation, viii  
definition, 1-1  
description, 1-1  
getting started, 1-5  
S
safety specifications (table), A-3  
serial connector, 3-2  
serial-to-parallel converter, 3-2  
software (NI resources), C-1  
N
services, C-1  
safety, A-3  
O
overview  
hardware, 3-1  
training (NI resources), C-1  
troubleshooting (NI resources), C-1  
P
parallel-to-serial converter, 3-2  
PCI MXI-4 card  
installation, 2-2  
W
figure, 2-3  
Web resources, C-1  
programming examples (NI resources), C-1  
PXI MXI-4 card  
installation, 2-3  
figure, 2-5  
MXI-4 Series User Manual  
I-2  
 
ni.com  

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