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

©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

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

LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI, ni.com, the National Instruments corporate logo, and the Eagle

logo are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Refer to the Trademark Information at

ni.com/trademarks for other National Instruments trademarks. Other product and company

names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. For patents

covering National Instruments products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents

in your software, the patents.txt file on your media, or the National Instruments Patent Notice

at ni.com/patents.

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