M9506A 5-Slot AXIe Chassis
User Guide
6
Multiple Chassis Operation
How does a Multi-Chassis System Differ from a MultiFrame
System?
107
Connect Multiple AXIe or PXIe Chassis to a Single
Controller 109
General Multi-Chassis Configurations 109
Multi-Chassis Power Sync 114
Power Sync Cabling 116
Chassis Inhibit 117
105
Multiple Chassis Operation
There are several possible ways to configure multiple M9506A 5-Slot AXIe chassis systems. You can also combine AXIe and PXIe chassis (such as the
M9019A PXIe chassis) into multiple chassis configurations. You can use multiple chassis configurations to increase the number of chassis and measurement or switching modules; the only practical limit to the number of chassis you can connect is determined by the number of PCIe slots your host computer can enumerate. For more information, refer to Keysight's Multiple PXIe and AXIe
Chassis Configuration Tool . This tool is available from the Windows Start button menu.
It is also available on-line at: www.keysight.com/find/pxie-multichassis
To ensure proper system operation, use an approved (embedded, rack mount, or desktop) host computer along with an approved
PCIe adapter and cable. While you may use other controllers, the approved computers have verified hardware support for PCIe x8 and their BIOS can properly enumerate multiple instruments on the shared PCIe bus.
Keysight provides a list of tested host PCs at PC Tested
Configurations with PXIe/AXIe Chassis - Technical Overview . For the recommended PCIe host adapter cards and cables.
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How does a Multi-Chassis System Differ from a MultiFrame System?
Multiple Chassis Operation
Multiple chassis systems require careful consideration of several factors, including:
– Host controller and chassis Power Sync (power-on and power-down considerations). This is the primary subject of this chapter.
– Time base and triggering for each chassis operates independent of the other chassis.
– PCIe connectivity between the host controller (either external or embedded) and the chassis ESM.
The M9506A ESM Thunderbolt 3 port does not support multiple chassis connections.
How does a Multi-Chassis System Differ from a MultiFrame System?
Keysight’s MultiFrame feature is not available on the M9506A
5-Slot AXIe Chassis. MultiFrame is supported on the Keysight
M9502A, M9505A, and M9514A AXIe chassis.
In both multi-chassis and MultiFrame systems, all chassis are controlled by a single controller. The differences between the two system types are:
In a multi-chassis system, the time base and triggering for each chassis operates independently from the other chassis. You can use this type of configuration to increase the number of chassis/modules that do not require a common time base or cross triggering between chassis. For more information, refer to Keysight's Multiple PXIe and AXIe Chassis Configuration tool. This tool is available on line at: www.keysight.com/find/pxie-multichassis .
MultiFrame is a Keysight feature by which multiple instruments in two or more chassis are interconnected to appear as one integral instrument to the user. In a MultiFrame system, special cabling connects the time base and triggering of the master chassis to all daisy-chained slave chassis.
Accordingly, there are two aspects of multiple chassis operation that need to be considered separately:
The first is the PCIe connectivity between the chassis and the host controller.
This is handled via PCIe cabling between the ESM modules. In practice, the potential combinations of instruments which can share synchronization and triggering are numerous. The only practical limit to the number of chassis you can connect is determined by the number of PCIe slots your host computer can enumerate.
Keysight M9506A 5-Slot AXIe Chassis User Guide 107
Multiple Chassis Operation How does a Multi-Chassis System Differ from a MultiFrame System?
The second is the synchronization and timing of clock and trigger signals between the AXIe chassis. Use MultiFrame chassis configurations to increase the number of measurement modules which use a common time base or cross triggering to achieve correlation.
Also:
The host PC’s BIOS must support enumeration of PCIe slots in the AXIe chassis; many computers are not capable of enumerating a sufficient number of PCIe slots to ensure that slots in all chassis are enumerated. Keysight maintains a document listing the integrated, rack mount, desktop and laptop computers that have been verified to properly enumerate PCIe devices in the
AXIe chassis. Please check the Keysight website at: PC Tested Configurations with PXIe/AXIe Chassis - Technical Overview for the latest updates to the product software, guides, data sheet and help files.
Always power up the last chassis in the series (subordinate 2 in the following diagrams), wait for its ESM’s Status light to stop blinking, then turn on the next chassis in the series and wait for its Status light to stop blinking. Finally turn on the Master Chassis. Wait for its Status light to stop blinking before turning on the Host PC.
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Connect Multiple AXIe or PXIe Chassis to a Single Controller Multiple Chassis Operation
Connect Multiple AXIe or PXIe Chassis to a Single Controller
The Keysight Multiple PXIe and AXIe Chassis Configuration Tool helps you design a system consisting of up to four AXIe and PXIe chassis. These chassis may be connected to either an embedded controller (installed in the chassis) or an external PC connected by cable(s) to the chassis. The Multiple PXIe and AXIe
Chassis Configuration Tool allows you to interactively specify your system parameters, and then it designs a multi-chassis system according to your specifications. Once the design is presented, optionally select different components to further optimize the design to meet your specific requirements.
General Multi-Chassis Configurations
The following pages present six typical scenarios of multi-chassis operation. The first uses an external host controller with an M9049A Remote PC PCIe Host
Desktop Adapter to two M9506A chassis. The second shows PCIe connectors from the Master chassis ESM to the subordinate chassis ESM. The third configuration demonstrates the highest performance with two M9506A chassis connected to and external controller.The fourth example demonstrates the use of an embedded controller such as the Keysight M9537A. The M9536A Embedded
Controller is not supported for multiple chassis configurations.
All example configurations show multiple M9506A chassis. Other combinations are possible such as one M9506A Master chassis to a Keysight M9505A 5-slot or
M9502A 2-slot AXIe Subordinate chassis. The M9502A and M9505A chassis do not support daisy-chaining the PCIe connections. You can also connect PXIe chassis.
The Thunderbolt 3 connection does not support multiple chassis.
Keysight M9506A 5-Slot AXIe Chassis User Guide 109
Multiple Chassis Operation Connect Multiple AXIe or PXIe Chassis to a Single Controller
External PC to Two M9506A Chassis
The following two diagrams illustrate connecting two M9506A chassis to an external controller. Both connections provide x8 speed from the PC to the either chassis. There is no distinct advantage of to either connection, but might simply depend on chassis installation locations.
x8 Downstream link speed to both chassis
Figure 33 External PC to two M9506A AXIe Chassis x8 Downstream link speed to both chassis
Figure 34 Embedded PC to two Cascaded M9506A AXIe Chassis
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Connect Multiple AXIe or PXIe Chassis to a Single Controller Multiple Chassis Operation
External PC to Two Chassis Configuration
The most simple multi-chassis system consists of an external PC with a PCIe
Host Adapter card (such as the Keysight M9049A) connected to two PXIe or AXIe chassis. A PXIe chassis requires a System Module such as the Keysight M9022A.
An AXIe chassis does not require a system module interface, because a cable port is included in the ESM half height module. The link speed is determined by the chassis; for example, Gen 2 speed with the M9018 PXIe chassis or the
M9502A or M9505A AXIe chassis; Gen 3 speed is available with Gen 3 PXIe chassis such as the M9019A PXIe chassis or the M9506A AXIe chassis.
x8 Downstream link speed to both chassis
Figure 35 Simple two chassis configuration. Both connections are x8. Second chassis could be PXIe.
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Multiple Chassis Operation Connect Multiple AXIe or PXIe Chassis to a Single Controller
Multiple Chassis with an M9537A Embedded AXIe Controller
The M9537A Embedded AXIe Controller contains a x8, Gen 3 PCIe port that can connect to other chassis. The M9537A supports two AXIe chassis, the chassis housing the M9537A and a second chassis. This connection provides x16 downstream links to the second chassis.
x16 Downstream link speed to 2nd chassis
Figure 36 Two M9506A chassis using an M9537A Embedded Controller.
Figure 37
below illustrates three M9506A AXIe chassis with one M9537A
Embedded Controller.
Figure 37 Three M9506A chassis using an M9537A Embedded Controller x8 Downstream link speed to 2nd and 3rd chassis.
112 Keysight M9506A 5-Slot AXIe Chassis User Guide
Connect Multiple AXIe or PXIe Chassis to a Single Controller Multiple Chassis Operation
Figure 38
below shows one method of controlling four M9506A chassis from the
M9537A AXIe Embedded Controller. In this configuration, one chassis connects to the M9537A Controller's PCIe port, the other two connect to the ESM’s PCIe ports.
Figure 38 Four M9506A chassis using an M9537A Embedded Controller
Keysight M9506A 5-Slot AXIe Chassis User Guide 113
Multiple Chassis Operation Multi-Chassis Power Sync
Multi-Chassis Power Sync
Power Sync allows multi-chassis configurations to be powered on and off like a single chassis. A single power button push on any chassis turns on or off all chassis in the correct sequence. For example, with an embedded host controller,
Power Sync ensures that all downstream chassis are powered up before the embedded controller chassis is turned on. On power down, it ensures that the embedded controller chassis is turned off before all downstream chassis are turned off.
With an external host PC, Power Sync allows all chassis to be powered on or off by the external host automatically. When an external host is powered on, it prevents power button pushes on any chassis from turning off any chassis.
Table 1 Keysight Chassis Supporting Power Sync Capabilities
Product Type
AXIe Chassis
Keysight Product Model Numbers
M9506A 5-Slot AXIe Chassis
AXIe Embedded
Controllers
PXIe Chassis
M9537A AXIe High Performance Embedded Controller
M9010A, M9018B, or M9019A PXIe Chassis
(M9018A PXIe chassis is not supported)
M9049A PCIe High Performance Host Adapter card Desktop PC,
Host cable card
PXIe cable cards M9022A PXIe System Interface Module
M9023A PXIe High Performance System Interface Module
M9024A PXIe High Performance System Interface Module with Connectivity
Synchronized chassis power coordination requires additional cabling. Two RJ45 connectors on the chassis rear panel provide this coordination. Multiple chassis may be connected together for power sync purposes. All of the chassis listed in
Table 1
above have Power Sync connectors on their rear panels.
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Multi-Chassis Power Sync Multiple Chassis Operation
Power Sync RJ45
Connectors
Figure 39 Chassis Power Inhibit Switch, DB9 Connector, Power Sync Connectors
When multiple chassis are connected together in this way, pressing the power button on any chassis causes all connected chassis to power on. Pushing the power button on any connected chassis turns all other chassis off.
Up to four chassis may be connected together for the power sync feature to work.
Connect the cables only when all chassis are powered off to eliminate power mismatched states. If the chassis become out of sync, power all chassis down by holding the power button down for five seconds minimum. If that doesn’t work, remove AC power form all chassis and then restart the chassis.
These RJ45 connectors are for multi-chassis power-up synchronization only. Do not connect cables to a corporate or local LAN to these connectors.
In a multi-chassis system, the time base and triggering for each chassis operates independent of the other chassis. For more information, refer to Keysight's Multiple PXIe and AXIe Chassis
Configuration Tool.
This tool is available on-line at: www.keysight.com/find/pxie-multichassis .
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Multiple Chassis Operation Multi-Chassis Power Sync
Power Sync Cabling
When connected via the RJ-45 connectors, the power button on any chassis may be used to power up or power down the entire system.
If you are using an external host controller, it should remain turned off until all chassis are powered on and enumerated all slots.
Each cable used for multiple chassis power-up synchronization purposes should not exceed 2 meters in length. Straight CAT5 or better cables are required.
CAT5 or better cables
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Figure 40 Connection Sequence for Multiple Chassis Power Synchronization
Keysight M9506A 5-Slot AXIe Chassis User Guide
Multi-Chassis Power Sync Multiple Chassis Operation
Chassis Inhibit
Chassis Rear Panel Chassis Inhibit Switch
When set to MAN ual, the power sync feature is disabled. Chassis are controllable by the Inhibit signal on the rear panel DB-9 connector. See also
“Chassis Inhibit and Voltage Monitoring” on page 100
Chassis Inhibit Switch
Power Sync Connectors
DB9 connector
Figure 41 Chassis Power Inhibit Switch, DB9 Connector, Power Sync Connectors
Keysight recommends leaving the INHIBIT switch in the DEF position when connecting the AC power cord to the chassis. After inserting the power AC power cord, then move the INHIBIT switch to the MAN position.
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Multiple Chassis Operation Multi-Chassis Power Sync
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