LeCroy - ExpressModule Interposer to Support PCI Express 3.0 Protocol Analysis

The ExpressModule specification has become an important form factor for PCI Express. Blade server systems can benefit with the easy hot swapping capability of the ExpressModule, said Al Yanes, President and Chairman, PCI-SIG. LeCroy does a great job at providing a large number of probing options for PCI Express developers.



An ExpressModule is an I/O HBA card based on the PCI Express specification that is mechanically inserted into an ExpressModule-compatible blade server backplane. The ExpressModule HBA technology enables higher reliability, performance and manageability providing high speed performance utilizing PCI Express 3.0 specification speeds of up to 8 GT/s.



Debugging the protocol traffic between the PCI Express 3.0 ExpressModule and chassis backplane can be challenging due to tight mechanical tolerances. The PCI Express 3.0 ExpressModule interposer connects between the backplane of the chassis and the ExpressModule, and enables the analyzer to capture, decode and display all traffic on the PCI Express bus for troubleshooting, debugging and monitoring system performance. This new interposer minimizes signal interference by using LeCroy's T.A.P.³ technology, allowing protocol traffic between the ExpressModule and backplane to be analyzed while inside the chassis. This insures that the equipment under test can function normally while data traffic is analyzed so that any protocol problems can be quickly identified and solved. The ExpressModule interposer is offered in x1, x4, and x8 lane widths, with data rates operating at up to 8 GT/s.



Developers that are integrating PCI Express 3.0 ExpressModule HBAs onto next generation ExpressModule based Blade servers can now utilize LeCroy's extensive suite of PCI Express 3.0 protocol analysis equipment, said John Wiedemeier, Product Marketing Manager for PCI Express Protocol Solutions, LeCroy. The ExpressModule interposer makes it possible to analyze backplane signals on ExpressModule blade servers, such as the Oracle blade server, insuring maximum interoperability and testing that results in high reliability.



LeCroy protocol analyzers have been at the forefront of PCI Express development tools. All LeCroy protocol analyzers feature a hierarchical display, real-time statistics, protocol traffic summaries, detailed error reports, powerful scripting, and the ability to create user-defined test reports, which allow developers to troubleshoot intricate problems and finish their projects on time.