Chapter 3 Hardware and Software Overview
© National Instruments Corporation 3-3 MXI-4 Series User Manual

MXI-4 Cable Options

MXI-4 dyads are available with either copper or fiber-optic media
connecting the MXI-4 cards. Copper cabled MXI-4 boards can span up to
10 meters, while fiber-optic cables provide up to 200 meters of separation
between the cards. Table 3-1 shows the cables that are available from
National Instruments:
Caution Although MXI-4 copper cables use the same DB-9 connector as many RS-232
serial cables, they are not compatible. RS-232 cables and MXI-4 cables cannot be
interchanged.
Software Configuration
On Microsoft Windows operating systems, National Instruments
Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) provides access to
information about your MXI-4 controller, as well as other components of
your PXI system. This section provides introductory information about the
MXI-4 specific functions within MAX. Refer to the MAX help within
MAX to learn more about how to use MAX with your PXI system.

MXI-4 Retransmit Count

Your MXI-4 dyad uses a robust protocol to communicate between the
individual MXI-4 cards. If serial data is corrupted during transfer, the
receiving MXI-4 card will detect the corruption and request that the other
MXI-4 card retransmit the data. This guarantees that even if the serial data
is compromised, your application will always get the correct data.
Table 3-1. National Instruments MXI-4 Cables
Cable Length (meters) Description
3 m MXI-4 copper cable
5 m MXI-4 copper cable
10 m MXI-4 fiber optic cable
10 m MXI-4 copper cable
30 m MXI-4 fiber optic cable
200 m MXI-4 fiber optic cable