Appendix B Common Questions
© National Instruments Corporation B-3 MXI-Express (x1) for PXI Express Series User Manual
NIPXIe-83 60 includes five to seven bridges and one
NIPXIe-83 60 SMBus Controller device.
If the MXI-Express software is not installed, the PCI-to-PCI function will
still be detected and work correctly, but the SMBus master will be detected
as an unknown device.
MXI-3 and MXI-4 to MXI-Express Upgrade Questions
What are some of the improvements from MXI-3 and MXI-4 to
MXI-Express?
MXI-Express incorporates the latest technology to include:
• Support for PCI Express slots.
• Support for PXI Express and CompactPCI Express chassis.
• Improved error correction and handling for noisy or harsh
environments.
• Improved mechanical connectivity.
• Improved performance.
• Support for two chassis from a single card in the host PC.
Can a MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express board be used together
directly?
No. MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express boards use different cable
connectors and cannot be connected together. Additionally, the
board-to-board communication protocols differ.
Can I use a MXI-3, MXI-4, and MXI-Express kit in the same
multichassis PXI system?
Yes. Different MXI kits can be intermixed to connect multiple PXI and
PXI Express chassis together. As mentioned previously, an individual
MXI-3 or MXI-4 board will not cable directly to a MXI-Express board.
MXI-3 and MXI-4 systems required the use of a specific boot ordering.
Is this a requirement with MXI-Express?
Yes. The requirements of the PCI bus still mandate that you must power-on
secondary PXI chassis before powering on the host PC when using
MXI-Express.