National Instruments PXIe-PCIe8363 MXI-Express Device

The PXIe-PCIe8363 (part number: 788922-03) from National Instruments is a versatile X1 MXI-Express remote control device designed specifically for connection with PXI Express. Equipped with a 3 meter long copper cable, the PXIe-PCIe8363 bundle makes it easy to remotely control your PXIe system from either a centralized location or from multiple computers. This versatile functionality helps to make the device a valuable tool for test and measurement applications of all sizes.

The cable of the PXIe-PCIe8363 has one port, ready to connect with the necessary PCI Express I/O. The device description of "X1 MXI-Express for PXI Express” refers to two key aspects of it’s operation- namely the number of lanes it has and it’s primary function. Within PXI Express topology from NI, a “lane” refers to a singular pair of transmit / receive connections between two PCIe elements. Lanes allow two devices to communicate data both ways simultaneously. For the PXIe-PCIe8363, “X1” indicates that the device supports one lane. The PCIe-8363 features a data transfer rate of 208 MB/s.

The “MXI-Express for PXI Express” description of the PXIe-PCIe8363 refers to both the functionality and compatibility of the device. MXI-Express from NI is made to facilitate remote control of PXI systems by using a PCIe connection. This connection is invisible to previously installed drivers and software programs, allowing the user to utilize the PXI module as if it were a PCI device, allowing the user to streamline control without the need of any additional coding. In this way, the PXIe-PCIe8363 helps to utilize PXI modules as if they were PCI devices inserted directly into the computer.