pex8624 PLX, pex8624 Datasheet - Page 3

• Manufacturer Part Number: pex8624
• Description: Pcie Gen2, 5.0gt/s 24-lane, 6-port Switch Technology
• Manufacturer: PLX

Advanced Mezzanine Cards
The PEX 8624’s fan-out capabilities can be utilized on
Advanced Mezzanine Cards (AMC) for I/O expansion.
In the example shown below in Figure 4, the PEX 8624
is used on a Quad-Port Network Interface Card (NIC) in
an AMC form factor. The PEX 8624 uses a x8 upstream
link to the host and four x4 downstream links to to fan-
out to the four MAC/PHY controllers.
Embedded Systems
The PEX 8624 is well suited for embedded applications
as well. Embedded applications, like the example shown
in Figure 5, commonly use a number of independent
modules for functions such as control plane processing,
data acquisition, or image processing to name a few
possibilities. Figure 5 represents a bladed embedded
system utilizing a PEX 8624 to fan-out to the I/O
Modules. The PEX 8624’s NT port isolates the
processors on the two switch fabrics.
10GE
10GE
10GE
10GE
Endpoint
Endpoint
Endpoint
Endpoint
Figure 4. Quad-Port 10GE NIC AMC
Endpoint
Endpoint
Endpoint
Endpoint
Figure 3. Fan-in/out Usage
x16
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
x16
PCIe Gen1 or PCIe Gen2 slots
Chipset
Chipset
Chipset
Chipset
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
x4
x4
x4
x4
x4
x4
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
x8
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
x4
x4
Memory
Memory
Memory
Memory
Preliminary - PLX Confidential
x8
Failover Storage Systems with Dual Cast
The PEX 8624’s Dual Cast feature proves to be very
useful in storage systems. In the example shown in
Figure 6, the Dual Cast feature enables the PEX 8624 to
copy data coming from the host to two downstream ports
(see yellow traffic patterns) in one transaction as
opposed to having to execute two separate transactions
to send data to the redundant chassis. By offloading the
task of backing up data onto the secondary system,
processor and system performance is enhanced. The
PEX 8624’s NT port is used to isolate the backup system
from the primary system.
x4
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
Chipset
Chipset
Chipset
Chipset
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
Figure 6. Dual Cast in Storage Systems
x8
Control
Control
Control
Control
Figure 5. Bladed Embedded System
8 Disk Chassis
x4
FC
FC
FC
FC
PEX 8616
PEX 8616
PEX 8616
PEX 8616
PEX 8616
PEX 8616
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
Control
Control
Control
Control
FC
FC
FC
FC
NT
NT
x4
x4
Memory
Memory
Memory
Memory
I/O Blades
Backplane
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
x8
Control
Control
Control
Control
8 Disk Chassis
PEX 8616
PEX 8616
PEX 8616
PEX 8616
x4
FC
FC
FC
FC
x4
NT
NT
Switch
Fabric
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
Control
Control
Control
Control
PEX 8624
PEX 8624
Chipset
Chipset
Chipset
Chipset
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
NT
FC
FC
FC
FC
x8
x4
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
x4
Memory
Memory
Memory
Memory
Backup
System