Keysight Technologies M9506A, Startup Manual

6

Keysight M9506A AXIe Chassis Startup Guide

 Introduction

M9506A AXIe Chassis System Block Diagrams

The 

“M9506A System Block Diagram (Graphic)” 

on page 8 shows a block 

diagram of the M9506A 5-slot AXIe chassis system, showing the chassis and the 

host PC. The key points regarding this diagram are:

-

The diagram shows the host PC interfaces to the chassis: (1) The PCIe Cable 

ports, (2) Thunderbolt 3 interface, and (3) the LAN interface. The PCIe Cable 

ports and Thunderbolt signals route through the ESM PCIe Switch to the slot 

x16 PCIe links. The LAN interface signals are routed through the LAN Switch 

to the slot Gb Ethernet links. The PCIe and Thunderbolt interface signals can 

also be routed to the slot Gb signals (through the network interface controller 

and the LAN Switch). However, the LAN interface signals cannot be routed to 

the slot x16 PCIe links.

-

The network interface controller (NIC) is an Intel I210 NIC. The PCIe Switch 

and the NIC provide an x1 path from the chassis PCIe interface to the LAN 

Switch and, ultimately, the Shelf Manager (described further below).

-

Install either the M9048B or the M9049A PCIe Desktop Adapter in the host PC 

to provide a PCIe interface. The PCIe Desktop Adapter is used in desktop or 

rack-mount computers. A PCIe cable (Y1202A, 2.0 m cable) connects the 

adapter to the AXIe chassis. For Thunderbolt access, a standard Thunderbolt 

cable connects the ESM to the host PC. For LAN access, a standard Ethernet 

cable connects the ESM to the host PC.

-

The chassis contains a processor called the 

Shelf Manager 

that monitors the 

status of the chassis sensors and the module sensors over the Intelligent 

Platform Management Bus (IPMB). The Shelf Manager also controls the fan 

speeds and provides the chassis Web Interface. The Web Interface allows you 

to use your browser to monitor the status of the chassis and configure certain 

aspects of chassis operation, such as the trigger subsystem.

-

The chassis supports a Soft Front Panel (SFP). The SFP runs on the host PC 

and provide the same monitor and control functionality as the Web Interface.

-

Keysight provides a host PC driver for the chassis. This driver provides 

programmable control and monitoring of the chassis trigger bus and sensors. 

For further information on these drivers, please see the 

M9506A User’s Guide

.

-

The chassis contains customer upgradeable firmware. To check if a later 

version is available, go to the website below for your product, then click the 

tabs/links indicated: 

www.keysight.com/find/M9506A

then select 

Technical Support > Drivers & Software > Firmware Update

If you’re using the PCIe interface to connect to the chassis, the Intel I210 NIC 

will appear to Windows as a locally-installed device. Windows 7 and 

Windows 10 provide the necessary Intel NIC driver.