PEX 8696, PCI Express Gen 2 Switch, 96 Lanes, 24 Ports

© PLX Technology, www.plxtech.com

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5/14/2009, Version 1.1

Software Usage Model

From a system model viewpoint, each PCI Express port

is a virtual PCI to PCI bridge device and has its own set

of PCI Express configuration registers. It is through the

upstream port that the BIOS or host can configure the

other ports using standard PCI enumeration. The virtual

PCI to PCI bridges within the PEX 8696 are compliant

to the PCI and PCI Express system models. The

Configuration Space Registers (CSRs) in a virtual

primary/secondary PCI to PCI bridge are accessible by

type 0 configuration cycles through the virtual primary

bus interface (matching bus number, device number, and

function number).

Interrupt Sources/Events

The PEX 8696 switch supports the INTx interrupt

message type (compatible with PCI 2.3 Interrupt signals)

or Message Signaled Interrupts (MSI) when enabled.

Interrupts/messages are generated by PEX 8696 for hot

plug events, doorbell interrupts, baseline error reporting,

and advanced error reporting.

Figure 10. PEX8696-16U8D BB RDK

Development Tools

PLX offers hardware and software tools to enable rapid

customer design activity. These tools consist of a

hardware module (PEX 8696 RDK), hardware

documentation (available at www.plxtech.com), and a

Software Development Kit (also available at

www.plxtech.com).

ExpressLane PEX 8696 RDK

The PEX 8696 RDK (see Figure 10) is a hardware

module containing the PEX 8696 which plugs right into

your system. The PEX 8696 RDK can be used to test

and validate customer software, or used as an evaluation

vehicle for PEX 8696 features and benefits. The PEX

8696 RDK provides everything that a user needs to get

their hardware and software development started.

Software Development Kit (SDK)

PLX’s Software Development Kit is available for

download at www.plxtech.com/sdk. The software

development kit includes drivers, source code, and GUI

interfaces to aid in configuring and debugging the PEX

8696.

Both performancePAK and visionPAK are supported by

PLX’s RDK and SDK, the industry’s most advanced

hardware- and software-development kits.

Product Ordering Information

Part Number

Description

PEX8696-AA50BC F

96-Lane, 24-Port PCI Express Switch,

Pb-Free (35x35mm

PEX8696-16U8D BB

RDK

PEX 8696 Rapid Development Kit with

x16 Upstream and Ten x8 Downstream

PLX Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. PLX, the PLX logo, ExpressLane,

Read Pacing and Dual Cast are trademarks of PLX Technology, Inc. All other

product names that appear in this material are for identification purposes only

and are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their

respective companies. Information supplied by PLX is believed to be accurate

and reliable, but PLX assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear

in this material. PLX reserves the right, without notice, to make changes in

product design or specification.

Visit www.plxtech.com for more information.