At the recent Embedded World conference in Nuremburg, Germany, oscilloscope and serial data test platforms provider LeCroy Corporation introduced a PCI Express 2.0 external cable interposer for its Summit PCI Express Protocol Analyzer line. The external cable interposer provides a dedicated probe that makes it easier to analyze data traffic between a host and device that are connected using an external PCI Express cable.
"We are working with developers to understand what problems they are facing and creating new probing solutions to help them solve critical interface timing issues, "says John Wiedemeier, product marketing manager, LeCroy.
PCI Express protocol analyzers are software tools for identifying, diagnosing and solving interoperability issues typically encountered when system integrators try to connect two PCI Express buses together through an external cable. Via the protocol analyzer, developers can more easily identify protocol errors and performance issues that may otherwise slow down development and testing of new or updated products. LeCroy says its "intuitive" Summit PCIe analyzer software views, and built-in protocol translations aid, engineers in rapid problem identification and rectification, thereby reducing time-to-market.
The PCI Express External Cabling Specification, developed by the PCI-SIG, is a high-speed cabling interface used for local networking and PCIe bus expansion. Applications include split systems where there are remotely connected I/O controllers, I/O expansion that connects different types of I/O form factor cards to a system, server I/O expansion card connectivity, and connecting external graphic systems.
Now available to order, LeCroy says its PCIe external cable interposer allows a protocol analyzer connection by tapping into the external cable connection. The interposer is easily connected by connecting cables from the host and devices, and the interposer then provides a connection to allow an analyzer to capture and decode data traffic between the two systems. The external cable interposer supports PCI Express data channels with lane widths of x4 and x8 at all standard PCIe data rates up to 5 GT/s.
For additional information, contact LeCroy at 1-800-5LeCroy (1-800-553-2769) or go to www.lecroy.com.
