Preliminary - PLX Confidential

Software Usage Model

From a system model viewpoint, each PCI Express port

is a virtual PCI to PCI bridge device and has its own set

of PCI Express configuration registers. It is through the

upstream port that the BIOS or host can configure the

other ports using standard PCI enumeration. The virtual

PCI to PCI bridges within the PEX 8648 are compliant

to the PCI and PCI Express system models. The

Configuration Space Registers (CSRs) in a virtual

primary/secondary PCI to PCI bridge are accessible by

type 0 configuration cycles through the virtual primary

bus interface (matching bus number, device number, and

function number).

Interrupt Sources/Events

The PEX 8648 switch supports the INTx interrupt

message type (compatible with PCI 2.3 Interrupt signals)

or Message Signaled Interrupts (MSI) when enabled.

Interrupts/messages are generated by PEX 8648 for hot

plug events, doorbell interrupts, baseline error reporting,

and advanced error reporting.

Development Tools

PLX offers hardware and software tools to enable rapid

customer design activity. These tools consist of a

hardware module (PEX 8648 RDK), hardware

Software Development Kit (also available at

ExpressLane PEX 8648 RDK

The PEX 8648 RDK is a hardware module containing

the PEX 8648 which plugs right into your system. The

PEX 8648 RDK can be used to test and validate

customer software, or used as an evaluation vehicle for

PEX 8648 features and benefits. The PEX 8648 RDK

provides everything that a user needs to get their

hardware and software development started. For more

information, please refer to the PEX 8648 RDK Product

Brief.

Software Development Kit (SDK)

PLX’s Software Development Kit is available for

development kit includes drivers, source code, and GUI

interfaces to aid in configuring and debugging the PEX

8648. For more information, please refer to the PEX

8648 RDK Product Brief.

PLX Technology, Inc.

870 Maude Ave.

Sunnyvale, CA 94085 USA

Tel: 1-800-759-3735

Tel: 1-408-774-9060

Fax: 1-408-774-2169

Email: info@plxtech.com

Web Site: www.plxtech.com

Product Ordering Information

Part Number

Description

PEX8648-AA50BC G

48-Lane, 12-Port PCI Express Switch, Pb-Free (27x27mm

PEX8648-AA RDK

PEX 8648 Rapid Development Kit

© 2007 PLX Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. PLX and the PLX logo are registered trademarks of PLX Technology, Inc. ExpressLane is a trademark of PLX Technology,

Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdiction. All other product names that appear in this material are for identification purposes only and are acknowledged to be

trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Information supplied by PLX is believed to be accurate and reliable, but PLX Technology, Inc. assumes no

responsibility for any errors that may appear in this material. PLX Technology, Inc. reserves the right, without notice, to make changes in product design or specification.

PEX8648-SIL-PB-P1-0.8

09/07