The PCIe-8364 remote controller has two ports that each provide a x1 PCI Express link over a copper cable to a PXI Express remote control module, used for PXI system control.

MXI-Express x1 is based on PCI Express technology. An MXI-Express x1 kit might use a combination of PCI Express switches or PCI Express-to-PCI bridges. These PCIe interconnects enable control of a PXI or PXI Express chassis from a PC with an available PCI, PCI Express, or ExpressCard slot. The bridge architecture is transparent to device drivers. No additional software is required for CompactPCI level support for PXI or PXI Express devices in connected chassis.

Note For full PXI/PXI Express functionality such as chassis and controller identification, trigger routing, and slot detection, install the PXI Platform Services software from ni.com/downloads.

The link between a PC and chassis is a x1 cabled PCI Express link. This link is a dual-simplex communication channel containing a low-voltage, differentially driven signal pair. The link can transmit at a rate of 2.5 Gb/s in each direction simultaneously. This port is not compatible with the cabled PCI Express specification developed by the PCI-SIG.

PCIe-8364 Block Diagram

Block diagrams describe the hardware architecture of your instrument and the paths that signals take through components of the instrument.

Figure 1. PCIe-8364 Block Diagram

Connecting the PCIe-8364 in Basic MXI-Express x1 System Topologies

The simplest MXI-Express x1 system can consist of a host board connected to a target board installed in the controller slot of a chassis or integrated port of a chassis.

The following figure shows an example configuration.

Figure 2. Example of a Basic MXI-Express x1 Line Topologies
  1. Host PC
  2. PCIe-8364
  3. PXI Remote Control Target Module
  4. PXI Express Expansion Chassis
Note You can use a CompactPCI Express chassis instead of a PXI Express chassis.
Note For installation instructions and other information concerning the target chassis or other MXI Express modules, refer to their respective user manuals on ni.com/docs.
Note PCI Express host slots will give better throughput and latency performance than PCI slots.

Connecting the PCIe-8364 in Larger MXI-Express x1 System Topologies

By leveraging the PCI Express technology used in MXI-Express x1 products, you can connect more than a single chassis to a host controller.

The PCIe-8364 has two MXI-Express x1 ports. This allows for connecting two targets simultaneously, also known as a star configuration or star topology. Also, if multiple PCI or PCI Express slots are available in the host PC, you can connect additional PXI or PXI Express chassis by installing additional NI MXI Express x1 host boards to achieve the same star topology.

You can also daisy-chain from a chassis that is already controlled by an embedded controller or host computer to additional chassis using MXI-Express x1 products.

Figure 3. Example of MXI-Express x1 System Expansion Star Topology
  1. Host PC
  2. PCIe-8364
  3. PXI Remote Control Target Module
  4. PXI Express Expansion Chassis
Figure 4. Example of MXI-Express x1 System Expansion Daisy-Chain Topology
  1. Host PC
  2. PCIe-8364
  3. PXI Remote Control Target Module
  4. PXI Bus Extension Module
  5. PXI Express Expansion Chassis
Note For installation instructions and other information concerning the target chassis or other MXI Express modules, refer to their respective user manuals on ni.com/docs.