Design Applications
ExpressCard™ Adapter – Forward Bridge
The PEX 8111 can be used to quickly upgrade legacy PCI
adapter board designs to be compatible with PCI Express
standard interface slots. In Figure 2, an existing CardBus™ IC
is converted for use on an ExpressCard™ with the addition of
the single-chip PEX 8111.
PCI Bus
PEX
8111
CardBus
Silicon
PCI Bus
PEX
8111
CardBus
Silicon
Figure 2. Forward Bridge in ExpressCard™
Embedded Platform – Reverse Bridge
The PEX 8111 supports Reverse bridging, enabling designers
to utilize the latest PCI Express silicon with widely entrenched
PCI host systems. Reverse bridging allows the host processor
to reside out on the PCI bus; the PEX 8111 will accept
configuration cycles from the PCI side and manage the local
PCI Express interface as a secondary entity within the PCI
software model as in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Reverse Bridge with PCI CPU
Standardized PCI Expansion – Forward and
Reverse Bridge Modes
The PEX 8111 is the ideal bridge for facilitating remote I/O
expansion in computing, communications, or data acquisition
applications (see Figure 4). The PCI SIG® PCI Express
cabling specification and the PEX 8111 offer a standards-
based extender for the parallel PCI bus. Because the
PEX 8111 supports reverse bridging operation, the PCI host
system is able to configure the PCI Express link.
Figure 4. Remote Expansion of PCI-Based Systems
Development Tools
PEX 8111 Reference Design Kits (PEX 8111RDKs) enable
rapid customer design. The Forward Bridge RDK hardware
module includes the PEX 8111 with a single x1 PCI Express
(card-edge) port and single PCI slot on the secondary side.
The Reverse Bridge RDK includes a standard PCI edge
connector (card-edge) and a standard PCI Express slot on the
secondary side. Each PEX 8111RDK can be installed in a
motherboard to test and validate customer software and to
evaluate PEX 8111 features and benefits.
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
PEX 8111-AA33BC
PCI Express to PCI Bridge
PEX 8111RDK-F
Forward Bridge Reference Design Kit
PEX 8111RDK-R
Reverse Bridge Reference Design Kit
Please visit the PLX Web site at http://www plxtech com or contact PLX sales at 408-774-9060 for sampling
© 2004 PLX Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. PLX and the PLX logo are registered trademarks of PLX Technology, Inc. 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.
PCI8111-SIL-PB-P1-1.0
06/04 500
PCI Express
Cable
P-
Bridge
PEX
8111
PCI Express
PCI Bus
PCI Express
Cable
P-
Bridge
P-
Bridge
PEX
8111
PCI Express
PCI Bus
PCI Bus
PCI
Host
CPU
PCI-to-PCI Express
Bridge
PCI Slots
PEX
8111
PEx
ASIC
PCI Bus
PCI
Host
CPU
PCI
Host
CPU
PCI-to-PCI Express
Bridge
PCI Slots
PEX
8111
PEx
ASIC
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