Chapter 3 Hardware Overview
MXI-Express (x1) for PXI Express Series User Manual 3-2 ni.com
Figure 3-1. MXI-Express Block Diagram
Functional Unit Descriptions

PCI Express x1 Card Edge Connector

The card edge connector allows you to use the NI PCIe-8361/8362 in a x1
or wider PCI Express slot in a PC. The PCI Express Card
Electromechanical Specification defines this connector.

PCI Express Switch

The PCI Express Base Specification defines a PCI Express switch as a
logical collection of PCI Express-to-PCI Express bridge devices. On the
NI PCIe-8361/8362, the upstream port of the switch is connected to the
PCI Express x1 card edge connector, and the two downstream ports are
connected to the two cabled MXI Express connectors.
On the NI PXIe-8360, the upstream part of the switch is connected to the
cable. One downstream port is connected to the SMBus Master, and either
4 x4 ports or 2 x8 ports are connected to the backplane, depending on the
chassis backplane configuration.
NI PCIe-8361/8362
PCI
Express
Switch
Cabled
MXI Express
Connector
PXIe-8360
SMBus
Master
Cabled
MXI Express
Connector
PCI Express
to
PCI Bridge
PCI EXPRESS
PXI EXPRESS BACKPLANE
(NI PCIe-8362 only)
PCI
Express
Switch
4 x4 PCIe links or
2 x8 PCIe links
Cabled
MXI
Express
Connector