Preliminary - PLX Confidential

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

x8

x4

Memory

Memory

Memory

Memory

x4

x4

x16

x16

x4

Endpoint

Endpoint

Endpoint

Endpoint

Chipset

Chipset

Chipset

Chipset

Endpoint

Endpoint

Endpoint

Endpoint

PCIe Gen1 or PCIe Gen2 slots

Figure 3. Fan-in/out Usage

Advanced Mezzanine Cards

The PEX 8624’s fan-out capabilities can be utilized on

Advanced Mezzanine Cards (AMC) for I/O expansion.

In the example shown below in Figure 4, the PEX 8624

is used on a Quad-Port Network Interface Card (NIC) in

an AMC form factor. The PEX 8624 uses a x8 upstream

link to the host and four x4 downstream links to to fan-

out to the four MAC/PHY controllers.

10GE

10GE

10GE

10GE

x8

x4

x4

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

MAC/PHY

x4

x4

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

Figure 4. Quad-Port 10GE NIC AMC

Embedded Systems

The PEX 8624 is well suited for embedded applications

as well. Embedded applications, like the example shown

in Figure 5, commonly use a number of independent

modules for functions such as control plane processing,

data acquisition, or image processing to name a few

possibilities. Figure 5 represents a bladed embedded

system utilizing a PEX 8624 to fan-out to the I/O

Modules. The PEX 8624’s NT port isolates the

processors on the two switch fabrics.

I/O Blades

Switch

Fabric

Backplane

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

NT

Figure 5. Bladed Embedded System

Failover Storage Systems with Dual Cast

The PEX 8624’s Dual Cast feature proves to be very

useful in storage systems. In the example shown in

Figure 6, the Dual Cast feature enables the PEX 8624 to

copy data coming from the host to two downstream ports

(see yellow traffic patterns) in one transaction as

opposed to having to execute two separate transactions

to send data to the redundant chassis. By offloading the

task of backing up data onto the secondary system,

processor and system performance is enhanced. The

PEX 8624’s NT port is used to isolate the backup system

from the primary system.

x8

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

Memory

Memory

Memory

Memory

Chipset

Chipset

Chipset

Chipset

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

CPU

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

x8

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

PEX 8624

NT

Memory

Memory

Memory

Memory

Chipset

Chipset

Chipset

Chipset

8 Disk Chassis

PEX 8616

PEX 8616

PEX 8616

PEX 8616

8 Disk Chassis

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

FC

Control

NT

PEX 8616

PEX 8616

NT

PEX 8616

PEX 8616

PEX 8616

PEX 8616

NT

x8

x4

x4

x4

x4

x4

x4

x4

x4

Backup

System

Figure 6. Dual Cast in Storage Systems