Chapter 3
Hardware Overview
MXI-Express x16 for PXI Express Series User Manual
3-2
ni.com
Figure 3-1.
MXI-Express x16 Block Diagram
Functional Unit Descriptions
PCI Express x16 Board Edge Connector
You can use the board edge connector to use the NI PCIe-8388 in a x16
PCI Express slot in a PC. The
PCI Express Card Electromechanical
Specification
defines this connector.
PCI Express Switch
The
PCI Express Base Specification
defines a PCI Express switch
as a logical collection of PCI Express-to-PCI Express bridge devices.
NI PCIe-8388 does not contain a PCI Express switch. It uses PCI Express
repeaters to drive the PCI Express signals over the PCI Express cable. The
PCI Express switch is on the NI PXIe-8388/9 board.
On the NI PXIe-8388/9, the switch upstream port is connected to the cable
PORT 1. One downstream port is connected to the SMBus Master, one x16
port is connected to PORT 2 (NI PCIe-8389 only), and four x4 ports or
one x8 and one x16 port are connected to the backplane, depending on
the chassis backplane configuration.
NI PCIe-
8388
NI PXIe-
8388
/
8
9
S
MBu
s
M
as
ter
PCI Expre
ss
to
PCI Bridge
PCI EXPRE
SS
PXI EXPRE
SS
BA
CKPLANE
PCI
Expre
ss
S
witch
4 x4 PCIe link
s
or
1 x
8
, 1 x16
PCIe link
s
x16
Copper
C
a
ble
PORT 1 (up
s
tre
a
m)
PORT 2 (down
s
tre
a
m)
PCI
Expre
ss
Repe
a
ter
s
C
a
bled
PCI
Expre
ss
x16
Connector
C
a
bled
PCI
Expre
ss
x16
Connector
C
a
bled
PCI
Expre
ss
x16
Connector
