PXI expands to multiple processors
A PXImc device contains a processor, memory, a PCI/PCIe root complex, and an NTB.
Martin Rowe, Senior Technical Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 12/1/2009 2:00:00 AM
The PXI Systems Alliance has announced the PXImc (PXI MultiComputing) specification in two parts: hardware and software. Systems that comply with the new specification can have more than one processor module, thus increasing computing power.
Think of PXImc as a local network for PXI/PXIe (PXI Express). A PXImc system's primary controller, called a Primary System Host, can communicate with a PXImc processor device over a PCI backplane, a PCIe (PCI Express) backplane, or a cabled PCIe port through an NTB (nontransparent bridge). With an NTB, the host controller can see only the PXImc device and instruments connected directly to the host—it can't see instrument cards across the bridge. Each PXImc device and the instruments behind it appear as a single PXI node to the Primary System Host. A PXImc device contains a processor, memory, a PCI/PCIe root complex, and an NTB.
The Primary System Host can be a stand-alone PC or a PXI/PXIe embedded controller. If the host is a stand-alone PC, it connects to a PXI/PXIe chassis through a cabled PXIe port. If the host is an embedded PXI/PXIe controller, it connects to a PXImc controller over the chassis backplane.
 In (a), a cabled PCIe link connects a PC to a PXImc host controller, which hides all instruments from the PC. In (b), the PXImc controller hides some of the instruments from the embedded PXI controller |
The figure shows two possible configurations. A PC connects to a PXI chassis where the chassis controller is a PXImc controller. In this configuration, the host can't see any of the instruments in the chassis. In the chassis with the embedded controller, the host can see some instruments and the PXImc controller, but it can't see the instruments beyond the PXImc controller.
The PXImc specifications also let you expand your system beyond a single chassis. If you need a system with a PC as a primary host and need more than one instrument chassis or other PXImc-compliant device, you can connect the host to an external cabled PCIe switch to add ports.
You can download the PXImc hardware and software specifications at www.pxisa.org/Specifications.html.
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