Mxi over usb 3.0

[MagnusAF]

Hi!

Has anyone used a usb adapter for mxi card to control a PXI chassis? Furthermore, I can only find usb 2.0 adapters which are inadequate in throughput. 

USB 2.0:

http://usb.brando.com/mini-usb-to-express-card-adapter-cable_p00783c0032d015.html

[janaf · Accepted solution]

Sorry, you are probably out of luck.

The PXI works as an extension of the PCI / PXI also for external PXI boards in an external mainframe. Ie the connection required is a type of PCI / PCIe bridge / extender. The devices in the external mainframe must be recognised by the computer as PXI / PXIe units at boot time or drivers won't work. 

The "native" ExpressCard slot is a direct extention of the internal PCIe and will therefore usually work. Usually, because the PC / laptop must ALSO have a BIOS that recognises external PCI/PCIe devices. Many newer laptops and stationary PCs from major manufacturers like HP and Dell support this.

An ExpressCards that connects via a USB port (external or internal) will never work. 

Your options are

- Use a PC with PCI / PCIe slots (and BIOS support for external devices) + PCI / PCIe extension card

- Use a Laptop with native ExpressCard slot and BIOS support + PCIe extension card

- Use a controller in the PXI rack

Perhaps your laptops have some un-used internal slot to mount an ExpressCard slot?

(The above is untess things have changed recently)

[MagnusAF]

Thank you for your quick response! 

The problem is that the company wants to use standard computers without the expresscard slot. I guess the solution will be to use a stationary or negoitiate an exception for the laptop

Thanks again!

[janaf]

Hi,

If you try persuade them, you might want to tell them that the ExpressCard does not require any software / drivers in addition to the normal NI drivers for the PXI devices.