PCI Express Control of PXI (MXI-Express)
NI PXI-PCIe8361, NI PXI-PCIe8362, NI PCIe-8361,
NI PCIe-8362, NI PXI-8360
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PCI Express control of PXI/CompactPCI
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Control of two PXI/CompactPCI
chassis from a single PCI Express
board (NI PCIe-8362)
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Sustained throughput
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160 MB/s (2 chassis)
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110 MB/s (1 chassis)
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Rugged connectivity
Overview
With NI MXI-Express interface kits, PC users with PCI Express slots can exercise
direct control of PXI systems using cabled PCI Express technology. MXI-Express,
a high-bandwidth serial link transparent to software applications and drivers,
provides the ability to use high-performance desktop computers, servers, and
workstations to control PXI systems.
Cabled PCI Express Technology
The NI PCIe-8361 and PCIe-8362 boards provide one or two cabled PCI Express
links, respectively. The links have x1 (“by one”) lane widths. The PXI-8360
module includes a bridge that converts the PCI Express link to the PCI bus used
in PXI. Thus, all PXI modules appear as PCI boards within the computer itself.
PCI Express Control of PXI
With a MXI-Express link, you can transparently control a PXI system from any
PCI Express slot, so you can use desktop computers, servers, and workstations
to control PXI systems. MXI-Express features a transparent link where all
PXI modules appear as PCI boards within the computer itself. However, you
benefit from the increased number of slots, power and cooling per slot, module
selection, and synchronization features provided by PXI.
The MXI-Express link consists of an NI PCIe-8361 or PCIe-8362 board in the
PC that is connected via a MXI-Express cable to a PXI-8360 module in slot 1 of a
PXI chassis. The NI PCIe-8361 board provides one PCI Express link, which you can
cable to a PXI-8360 module in a PXI chassis. The NI PCIe-8362 board provides
two PCI Express links, each of which you can cable to individual PXI-8360
modules in separate PXI chassis. Thus, you can use a single NI PCIe-8362 board
to simultaneously control two PXI systems. For your convenience, you can
purchase either a complete MXI-Express kit with all necessary components or
the PCI Express board, PXI module, and cable separately.
PCI Software Compatibility
PCI Express features software compatibility with PCI. Without making any
modifications to your software, you can use MXI-Express with an application
written for a PXI system controlled via a PCI remote controller, such as MXI-3
or MXI-4.
Multichassis PXI Systems
You can use a single NI PCIe-8362 board to simultaneously control two PXI
systems. You also can incorporate multiple NI PCIe-8361 or PCIe-8362 boards in
a PC with multiple PCI Express slots to add PXI chassis to a system. You cannot
use a PXI-8360 module to connect multiple PXI chassis. However, using MXI-4,
you can connect multiple PXI chassis in a star or daisy-chain configuration within
a single system. To connect two PXI chassis together with MXI-4, install an
NI PXI-8331 (copper) or PXI-8336 (fiber-optic) module into any peripheral slot of
the master chassis, and connect with the appropriate cable to a second PXI-8331
or PXI-8336 in slot 1 of the slave chassis.
NI [ NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION ]
