PEX 8636, PCI Express Gen 2 Switch, 36 Lanes, 24 Ports
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 8636 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).
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
8636. For more information, please refer to the PEX 8636
RDK Product Brief.
Both
performancePAK
and
visionPAK
are supported by
PLX’s RDK and SDK, the industry’s most advanced
hardware- and software-development kits.
Interrupt Sources/Events
The PEX 8636 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 8636 for hot
plug events, doorbell interrupts, baseline error reporting,
and advanced error reporting.
Product Ordering Information
Part Number
PEX8636-AA50BC F
PEX8636-16U1D BB
RDK
Description
36-lane, 24-port PCI Express Switch,
Pb-Free (35x35mm
2
)
PEX 8636 Rapid Development Kit with
x16 Upstream and 20 x1 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.
Figure 10. PEX8636-16U1D AIC RDK
Development Tools
PLX offers hardware and software tools to enable rapid
customer design activity. These tools consist of a hardware
module (PEX 8636 RDK), hardware documentation
(available at
www.plxtech.com),
and a Software
Development Kit (also available at
www.plxtech.com).
ExpressLane PEX 8636 RDK
The PEX 8636 RDK (see Figure 10) is a hardware module
containing the PEX 8636 which plugs right into your
system. The PEX 8636 RDK can be used to test and
validate customer software, or used as an evaluation
vehicle for PEX 8636 features and benefits. The PEX 8636
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