
Preliminary - PLX Confidential
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
PEX 8624
x8
x4
Memory
x4
x4
x16
x16
x4
Endpoint
Chipset
Endpoint
PCIe Gen1 or PCIe Gen2 slots
Figure 3. Fan-in/out Usage
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.
10GE
10GE
10GE
10GE
x8
x4
x4
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
MAC/PHY
x4
x4
PEX 8624
Figure 4. Quad-Port 10GE NIC AMC
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.
I/O Blades
Switch
Fabric
Backplane
PEX 8624
NT
Figure 5. Bladed Embedded System
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.
x8
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
Memory
Chipset
CPU
CPU
CPU
CPU
PEX 8624
x8
PEX 8624
x4
NT
Memory
Chipset
8 Disk Chassis
PEX 8616
x4
8 Disk Chassis
Figure 6. Dual Cast in Storage Systems
FC
Control
FC
Control
FC
Control
FC
Control
NT
PEX 8616
x4
NT
x8
x4
x4
x4
x4
x4
Backup
System