Magma PE6R4 User Manual download pdf (Page 46)

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38 Appendix B Need More Slots?

Fan-Out

For reasons described in bullet #3 above, we recommend using a fan-

out configuration when you need to add successive PCI expansion

systems to the host computer. This addition to the PCI bus hierarchy is

at the "peer" level of other existing expansion buses, thus adding

"breadth" to the PCI bus hierarchy, since these buses will be at the

same hierarchical level within the system configuration.

You may use either PCIe or PCI host cards in your host

computer, depending on available slots and your performance

requirements. You must ensure that you have the

corresponding PCIe to PCI Expansion System, or PCI

Expansion System, chassis to connect with your host card and

support your desired configuration.

In this configuration, you have fewer “Toll Booths” (PCI Bridges) to pass

through; therefore there are fewer opportunities for concern.

For clarification, it is necessary to understand that the amount

of latency caused by any PCI Bridge (even those built into a 3

Party PCI card or the computer motherboard itself) is negligible

(“nanoseconds”) and will not produce any visible effect on most

systems. It is only mentioned here because on a few rare

configurations which use some unique PCI cards with special

software drivers, the total number of PCI buses that the data

must pass through COULD make a difference. See

Chapter 6

Troubleshooting

for more information if you suspect this could

be an issue with one of your specialty PCI cards.

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Magma PE6R4 User Manual Page 46