Vanguard PCI0SL 133 MHz PCI-X Bus Analyzer with Expansion Slot

The Vanguard PCI0SL is a Bus Analyzer that allows testing in systems with only a single slot at up to 133 MHz. The product uses the VG-SAM module that is also used with the VG-PCI product.

The Vanguard PCI0SL works by isolating the PCI/PCI-X bus where the Device Under Test (DUT) is located from the backplane PCI-PCI-X bus by using a bridge. This means devices can be tested at full speed without introducing non compliant electrical conditions into the system being used. The companion product Vanguard PCI Bus Analyzer should be used for testing systems with multiple devices.

The unit is controlled via USB or Ethernet from a PC running Windows and VMETRO's BusView graphical user interface or an Application Programming Interface (API). The Ethernet connection adds a world of possibilities to the bus analyzer tool, by allowing the user to connect to the Vanguard analyzers situated at any location where a network connection can be made. As with all VMETRO analyzers, extensive on-line help is available.

State Analyzer
The State Analyzer of the Vanguard PCI captures and displays 64- or 32-bit PCI-X/PCI bus activity up to 133 MHz with highly advanced (yet simple to use) triggering, filtering and counting capabilities. To provide optimum bus analysis for a given problem, the state analyzer offers a choice of three sampling modes, i.e. Standard Mode, Clock Mode & Transfer Mode.

Exercisers
The two Exerciser versions (basic and enhanced) available for the Vanguard PCI Analyzer are flexible and easy to use. The Vanguard exercisers allow concurrent operation of two DMA engines, a target memory with I/O and memory spaces, and a command executer. A flexible script feature allows test scripts to be made and tasks to be automated.

Protocol Checker
The product features an optional protocol checker for PCI-X and PCI. This versatile feature automatically detects up to 71 PCI-X and 45 PCI protocol errors, helping the user to track down bus hardware errors without the need to understand the nature of the problem. The protocol checker can run in the background when other analyzer functions of the Vanguard PCI Analyzer are active. As an example, the state analyzer, and the bus utilization statistics can all be active at the same time while the protocol checker runs in the background, screening the bus for errors. If the protocol checker is used as the trigger source for the analyzer(s), the state and timing analyzers will then provide a comprehensive picture of the bus activity around the point when an error was found. This helps the user to identify and correct the problem.