National Instruments 778958-01 MXI-4 Interface Board

Often called the PCI-8336, the National Instruments 778958-01 is a high-performance MXI-4 card intended to increase the functionality of PCI, CompactPCI, and PXI Bus Computers. The MXI-4 divides the bridge into two parts that are connected by a 1.5 GB per second serial link, allowing it to function as a PCI-to-PCI bridge with outstanding hardware transparency and great performance. With this setup, multiple 778958-01 kits can be used to build a multiple-chassis PXI system.

There are two standard setups for the 778958-01 MXI-4 Interface Board. It may be linked to a PXI MXI-4 card in the controller slot of a PXI/CompactPCI chassis and to a PC via a PCI MXI-4 card. On the other hand, it can link a PXI MXI-4 card with an embedded controller in a PXI/CompactPCI chassis's non-controller slot to another PXI MXI-4 card in a different PXI/CompactPCI chassis' controller slot.

The 778958-01's ability to work with fiber optic cables is one of its primary features; cable lengths of 10 m, 30 m, and 200 m are available. It is therefore the best option for long-distance connections. The PCI-8336 cannot be utilized with copper boards or cables due to the fact that copper and fiber optic kits and cables are not compatible. Any conventional CompactPCI chassis that conforms to PCI Specification, Revision 2.2 or later, can be used with the 778958-01.

For physically separating a measuring system from a host PC, this interface card offers a reliable option. The 778958-01 supports PCI signaling conditions at both 3.3 V and 5 V. It provides error checking and retransmission for increased dependability, especially in challenging and electrically noisy settings. To operate, it just needs one PCI slot.

The device operates with LabVIEW Real-Time and the NI-VISA software package included on the MXI-4 software CD provided with the device kit. The program allows users to read details about the configuration of their PXI system, programmatically extract link, chassis, and installed module data, and monitor the MXI-4 link. It also makes the MXI-4 Connection Monitor usable. The MXI-4 program is a component of NI-VISA and is compatible with Microsoft Windows systems.