SX2-SLIDE

Most computer systems are based on the PCI Express® standard as a high speed backbone for interconnection of peripheral components with a host CPU. Typically all PCI Express® based devices are located closely in a common enclosure.
The PCI-SIG PCI Express® External Cabling Specification addresses extended applications, such as split-systems or I/O expansion by means of a suitable copper cable, available e.g. for a x4 PCI Express® link, up to 7m length. When used with an AOC (Active Optical Cable), distances of up to 300m can be bridged between host and target systems.
The SX2-SLIDE is a CompactPCI® Serial host adapter card for PCIe x4 external cabling. The board is provided with two PCIex4 front panel connectors, for attachment of one ore two remote target systems via PCI Express® x4 links.
The SX2-SLIDE has been designed for operation in a CompactPCI® Serial fat pipe slot (PCIe x8), but will also work in standard peripheral slot (PCIe x4 preferred). The on-board PCIe packet switch splits the upstream link (x8 or x4) into two equal downstream links (x4), each delivering up to 20Gbps to an associated target system. Dual clocking is provided on the SX2-SLIDE, which allows usage of CFC cables (such as AOC) in a SSC host system.
The SX2-SLIDE allows to control a remote PCI Express® based target (downstream) system by a CompactPCI® Serial host CPU via PCI Express® external cabling. The target system may be any PCI Express® based hardware with an external cabling adapter, not necessarily a CompactPCI® Serial system.
By means of the SX2-SLIDE, a CompactPCI® Serial system backplane, with respect to its PCI Express® resources, can be virtually extended. Hence, PCI Express® based devices in a remote target system can be controlled by the CompactPCI® Serial host system CPU in an identical manner as its local resources.