NI-TClk
Configuring PXI Chassis with Multiple Bus Segments
(18-Slot Chassis)

Synchronizing modules in a PXI chassis that has multiple bus segments (for example, the NI PXI-1045) requires configuring the crosspoint switches through Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX). The crosspoint switches are the routing modules used to drive PXI triggers across segments. Using the niTClk Configure For Homogeneous Triggers VI or the niTClk_ConfigureForHomogeneousTriggers function to route triggers automatically configures the crosspoint switches. However, if you want to manually route the triggers and the master and slave devices are in different segments (as is necessary in a multi-chassis system), you must manually configure the crosspoint switches.

To manually configure the crosspoint switches in the chassis, complete the following steps:

1. Launch MAX.
2. Identify the chassis by following the procedures described in the Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for PXI.
3. Select the identified chassis name in the configuration tree and click the Triggers tab in the right pane. The Triggers tab contains the PXI trigger line reservations and routing options for the crosspoint switches.
4. Click the Trigger Routing tab and verify that all PXI trigger lines that carry manually configured triggers driven by the master device (for example, Start, Stop, and Exported Sync Pulse) have routing configured as away from the segment containing the master device. Also, verify that these PXI trigger lines are reserved so that no other devices can use them. You can change the configurations by using the list boxes next to each line to select Towards Slot 1, Outwards from Middle, or Away from Slot 1 for each manually configured trigger.
5. If you are using a Slot 2 controller to resynchronize the Exported Sync Pulse from the master device and send it back to all the devices as the Sync Pulse, you must configure the routing for the PXI trigger line with the Sync Pulse as away from the first segment. The first segment should contain the Slot 2 controller.

Note   Do not reserve the PXI trigger line with the Sync Pulse—the Slot 2 controller automatically reserves that line.