Product category:
Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: PLX Technology Europe | Subject: ExpressLane family
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 14 April 2006
Interconnect chips enable PCI Express
expansion
PLX PCI Express switches and bridges are providing high-speed interconnect functions to a range of PCIe expansion products from One Stop Systems.
PLX PCI Express switches and bridges are providing high-speed interconnect functions to a range of PCIe expansion products from One Stop Systems (OSS) PCIe-based upstream/downstream bridge and link boards and multi-slot subsystems from OSS now incorporate switches and bridges from the PLX ExpressLane family of PCIe devices
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 14 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Development tools are now available for the PLX ExpressLane family of PCI Express (PCIe) devices.
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The implementation of PLX devices into the OSS PCIe and CompactPCI Express boards and subsystems reflect both the rapid adoption and extensive use of PCIe in the emerging market for system expansion.
These developments are quickly transforming information-technology used in applications such as storage, computing, communications, medical-equipment, and display markets; they allow manifold increase in flexibility and performance without replacement of core systems.
"PCI Express is spawning a new generation of expansion and integration opportunities in the embedded-system market", said Akber Kazmi, PLX Product Marketing Director for PCIe switches.
Further reading
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As storage-system makers begin to adopt alternative interconnect technologies, switched-PCI is providing them a means of expanding and improving the overall performance of their systems.
Interconnect devices support PCI Express
PLX Technology is developing I/O interconnect devices based on the next-generation input/output architecture PCI Express.
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The latest software development kit from PLX Technology dramatically boosts performance - up to 42 times - in Linux and Microsoft Windows XP drivers for all PLX I/O accelerator devices.
"Slot and cable expansion extends a system's capabilities and reach, and PCI Express adds to the equation increased flexibility, throughput and greater reliability".
"These benefits all are blended into One Stop Systems products enabled by PLX PCI Express switching and bridging solutions".
"PLX silicon has enabled OSS to bring state-of-the-art cable interface, passive backplane and CompactPCI Express products to market", said Steve Cooper, One Stop Systems Chief Executive Officer.
"These new board and backplane products bring unprecedented performance and system expandability to the embedded computer marketplace".
"OSS is committed to leading the market transition from traditional PCI to PCI Express in several form factors".
By implementing PLX ExpressLane devices into its expansion products, OSS leveraged the broadest line of PCIe switches and bridges on the market.
These switches and bridges enable CPUs, NPUs and I/O devices to communicate through PCIe backbones in server, storage, embedded-control, and communications systems.
The OSS MAX Express boards and subsystems incorporating the PLX PCIe switching and bridging technology serve a variety of slot- and cable-expansion applications.
The MAX Express 4U expansion subsystem includes a 4U expansion chassis with 20-slot PCIe x4 backplane and downstream expansion link board and features the ExpressLane PEX 8532 32-lane PCIe switch.
The MAX Express host interface board extends the PCIe bus from any upstream PCIe slot to any PCIe device or expansion system and utilises the switching features of the PEX 8532.
The MAX Express SHB expansion link board is a system host board downstream cable link board that takes advantage of the PEX 8532's fan-out capability.
The MAX Express 1U PCI Express switch has one upstream port and seven downstream ports in a 1U rack-mount enclosure, featuring the PEX 8532 for PCIe switching.
The MAX Express 3U/6U host/expansion bridge board extends the PCIe bus from a host PCIe slot to a CompactPCI/PXI system and incorporates the PEX 8114 PCIe-to-PCI-X bridge.
The MAX Express 3U/6U switch board fans out the PCIe bus to seven downstream slots using the ExpressLane PEX 8532 32-lane PCIe switch.
And the MAX Express 3U/6U expansion link board extends the PCIe bus from an upstream host slot to a CompactPCI Express system slot and employs the PEX 8532 for PCIe switching.
The PEX 8114 is the most versatile bridging device in its class, capable of forward, reverse and nontransparent bridging, and features low power and a small footprint.
The PEX 8532 is a 32-lane PCIe switch providing unprecedented flexibility through up to eight completely configurable ports, on-chip nontransparency, two virtual channels, and peer-to-peer and fan-out capability.
The ExpressLane family, the industry's most complete and flexible line of interconnect chips based on PCIe technology, features switches ranging from eight to 32 lanes, and PCIe-to-PCI/PCI-X bridges, which are being designed into a wide array of system and board manufacturers' products.
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