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© National Instruments Corporation B-1 MXI-4 Series User Manual
B
Common Questions
This appendix lists common questions related to the use of the MXI-4
controllers.
General Hardware
What are the board names of the MXI-4 remote controllers?
• PCI-8331: PCI MXI-4 interface with connectors for copper cable
• PXI-8331: PXI MXI-4 interface with connectors for copper cable
• PCI-8336: PCI MXI-4 interface with connectors for fiber cable
• PXI-8336: PXI MXI-4 interface with connectors for fiber cable
What is the difference between the copper (PXI-8331) and fiber
(PXI-8336) versions of MXI-4?
MXI-4 data performance is identical with both types. Use copper for short
distances, and fiber for longer distances, EMI resistance, and electrical
isolation.
Can I use a copper MXI-4 and a fiber MXI-4 kit in the same
multi-chassis PXI system?
A copper or fiber MXI-4 kit is comprised of two MXI boards of the same
type and an interconnecting cable. Copper and fiber MXI-4 kits can be
intermixed to connect multiple PXI chassis together. A single copper board
will not connect to a single fiber board.
How many PXI bus segments can I connect together with MXI-4?
The PCI specification allows up to 255 bus segments. MXI-4 does not limit
this number, but the maximum number of bus segments allowed can be
BIOS or operating system dependent. Also, a computer may already
possess internally several PCI bus segments. Notice that connecting large
numbers of chassis together in series with MXI-4 will result in high latency
and lower throughput for chassis at the end of the chain. To reduce the