National Instruments NI CardBus-8310-to-PXI Expansion Introduction

Introduction

This chapter presents an overview of the hardware functionality of NI

CardBus-8310-to-PXI cards, and explains the operation of each functional

unit. It also contains recommended steps to be taken while preparing to

install the NI CardBus-8310 and NI PXI-8310 modules.

The National Instruments CardBus-8310-to-PXI interface kit provides

laptop computers direct control of PXI systems. The CardBus-to-PXI link

is transparent to software applications and drivers, thereby providing you

the ability to use high-performance laptop computers to control PXI

systems. The NI CardBus-8310-to-PXI interface kit is ideal for use with

portable systems, and you can pair it with DC-powered chassis to provide

mobile solutions for applications such as in-vehicle testing.

The CardBus-to-PXI link consists of an NI CardBus-8310 card in the

laptop computer connected via cabling to an NI PXI-8310 module in slot 1

of a PXI chassis. For convenience, you can purchase either a complete

NICardBus-8310-to-PXI interface kit with all necessary components or

purchase the NI CardBus-8310 card, NI PXI-8310 module, and cabling

separately.

The CardBus-8310-to-PXI interface kit, which uses a StarFabric serial

interface to implement a CardBus-to-PCI bridge, provides a transparent

link where all PXI modules appear as if they were PCI boards within the

laptop computer itself. However, you benefit from the increased number of

slots, power and cooling per slot, module selection, and synchronization

features provided by PXI.

The NI CardBus-8310-to-PXI product is based on Stargen’s StarFabric

technology. StarFabric is a 2.5 Gb/s serial technology that can extend the

capabilities of PCI based systems. It supports PCI-to-PCI bridging to

extend the PCI bus to multiple chassis.