Hardware Description - National Instruments MXI-2 Reference Manual

Hardware Description

© National Instruments Corporation
The MXI-2 kits, which include a MXI-2 cable and National Instruments
software, are as follows:
• VXI-PCI8000, containing a PCI-MXI-2 or PCI-MXI-2 Universal and
a C-size or B-size VXI-MXI-2
• VXI-PXI8000, containing a PXI-8320 and a C-size or B-size
VXI-MXI-2
• VME-PCI8000, containing a PCI-MXI-2 or PCI-MXI-2 Universal and
a VME-MXI-2
• VME-PXI8000, containing a PXI-8320 and a VME-MXI-2
A PCI-based computer equipped with a VXI-PCI8000 interface, or a
PXI/CompactPCI chassis equipped with a VXI-PXI8000, can function as a
VXI Commander and Resource Manager. A PCI-based computer equipped
with a VME-PCI8000 interface, or a PXI/CompactPCI chassis equipped
with a VME-PXI8000, can function as both a VMEbus master and a slave
device. The MXI-2 interface kit makes your computer behave as if it were
plugged directly into the VXI/VME backplane as an embedded CPU
VXI/VME module.
The PCI-MXI-2 and PCI-MXI-2 Universal are half-size, PCI-compatible
plug-in circuit boards that plug into one of the expansion slots in your
PCI-based computer. (The PCI-MXI-2 is for 5 V PCI systems, while the
PCI-MXI-2 Universal is for 5 V or the newer 3.3 V PCI systems.) The
PXI-8320 is a 3U-size, PXI/CompactPCI-compatible circuit board that
plugs into one of the peripheral slots in your PXI/CompactPCI chassis.
Both boards link your computer directly to the MXIbus, and vice versa.
Because the PCI-MXI-2, PCI-MXI-2 Universal, and PXI-8320 use the
same communication register set that other VXIbus message-based devices
use, other MXIbus devices view your board as a VXIbus device. The
PCI-MXI-2, PCI-MXI-2 Universal, and PXI-8320 can also function as the
MXIbus System Controller and can terminate the MXIbus signals directly
on the PCI-MXI-2, PCI-MXI-2 Universal, and PXI-8320. In addition, you
can have up to 16 MB of onboard DRAM on your board that can be shared
with the MXIbus and VXI/VMEbus and used as a dedicated data buffer.
The VXI-MXI-2 module is an extended-class, register-based VXIbus
device with optional VXIbus Slot 0 capability so that it can reside in any
slot in a C-size or D-size chassis.
1-3 MXI-2 Configuration Reference Manual
Chapter 1 Introduction