MXI-3 and MXI-4 compatibility with MXI-Express

Overview

This article discusses compatibility between a MXI-Express card and MXI-4 or MXI-3 connections in older PXI chassis or hosts.

Introduction

MXI-Express is based on the PCI Express standard technology, while MXI-3 and MXI-4 are based off the PCI standard.

As of March 2017, all MXI-Express cards with a PXI/PCI connector offered on the National Instruments website contain a PCIe-to-PCI bridge to convert a PCI signal to a PCIe signal. This allows systems that require a MXI-3 or MXI-4 connection to convert to and output a MXI-Express signal. This bridge implementation is illustrated in the diagram below.

 

Figure 1: A functional block diagram of a PXI MXI-Express Card

 

Figure 2: A functional block diagram of a PCI MXI-Express Card

 

See the table below for more information on compatibilities for our MXI-Express x1 cards. Note that MXI-Express x4 cards are not compatible with MXI-Express x1 connections.

 

From Host

Targets

Slot Type

Product

PXI Chassis

VXI Chassis

PXI Express Chassis

MXI-Express RIO

NI

PXI-8360

NI

PXI-1033*

NI

VXI-8360T

NI

PXIe-8360

NI

PXIe-1073*

NI

PXIe-1073*

NI 9157*

NI 9159*

PCI

NI PCI-8361

--†

--†

--†

--†

--†

--

--

PCI Express x1

NI PCIe-8361

PCI Express x1

NI PCIe-8362

Express Card

NI

ExpressCard-8360

Industrial Controller

NI 3100/3110*

* Product has an integrated MXI-Express x1 port.

† These configurations are not supported, even though the front panel MXI connectors are mechanically compatible. For these configurations the boards will likely report a valid cable link via the front panels LEDs. Since these link scenarios expose a possible data integrity issue that may not be obvious to the user, National Instruments strongly recommends against using these configurations.

Note: For installation instructions and other information concerning the NI PXI-1033, NI PXIe-1073, NI VXI-8360T, NI 9157, NI 9159, and the NI 3100/3110, refer to their respective user manuals.

Note: PCI Express host slots will give better throughput and latency performance than PCI slots.

 

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