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© National Instruments Corporation 3-1 MXI-Express Series User Manual
3
Hardware Overview
This chapter presents an overview of MXI-Express hardware functionality
and explains the operation of each functional unit.
Functional Overview
MXI-Express is based on PCI Express technology. A MXI-Express kit uses
a PCI Express switch and PCI Express-to-PCI bridge to enable control of a
PXI or CompactPCI chassis from a PC with an available PCI Express slot.
The PCI Express-to-PCI bridge architecture is transparent to device
drivers, so no additional software is needed to support using PXI and
CompactPCI devices in a chassis connected using MXI-Express.
The link between the PC and the chassis is a x1 cabled PCI Express link.
This link is a dual-simplex communication channel comprised of a
low-voltage, differentially driven signal pair. The link can transmit at a rate
of 2.5 Gbps in each direction simultaneously.
Figure 3-1 shows the basic architecture of MXI-Express. The
NI PCIe-8360 consists of a PCI Express x1 card edge connector, a PCI
Express switch, and two cabled PCI Express connectors. The NI PXI-8360
consists of one cabled PCI Express connector, a PCI Express-to-PCI
bridge, and a PXI connector.