ADLINK PXES-2301 Chassis Installation Monitoring and Troubleshooting

ADLINK PXES-2301 Chassis Installation Monitoring and Troubleshooting

In the field of automated testing and measurement, the PXI Express platform has become the mainstream solution for applications such as radar, communication, semiconductor, and aerospace due to its high bandwidth, modularity, and scalability. ADLINK PXES-2301 is a compact 6-slot PXI Express chassis that complies with PXI-5 and cPCI Express specifications. It offers 1 system slot and 5 hybrid peripheral slots, all of which support PCIe x4 Gen2 links. The single slot bandwidth can reach 2 GB/s, and the total system bandwidth can reach 8 GB/s. Its industrial grade AC power supply can still output 320 W power at 50 ° C, combined with intelligent fan control and ChassisWatch ™ Monitoring software provides a stable and reliable hardware foundation for rigorous testing tasks.

Overview and Core Specifications of Chassis

The PXES-2301 adopts a half rack width and side handle design, with a net weight of only 5.85 kg, making it convenient for portable applications. Its backplane follows a 4 link x 4 lane PCIe switching structure: out of the 4 x4 links in the system slot (Slot 1), three are directly routed to the 2nd to 4th peripheral slots, and the fourth is extended to the x4 links in the 5th and 6th peripheral slots through a PCIe switching chip. At the same time, it provides a 32-bit/33 MHz PCI bus (5V I/O) through a PCIe/PCI bridge to be compatible with traditional PXI-1 modules. All hybrid peripheral slots support 3U PXI Express, CompactPCI Express, and PXI-1/CompactPCI modules that meet the definition of hybrid slots, achieving maximum flexibility.

The key power parameters are as follows:

Communication input: 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, maximum 320 W

DC output (load adjustment rate ± 5%):

+12 V/30 A (ripple 120 mV)

+5 V/20 A (ripple 50 mV)

+3.3 V / 20 A

-12 V / 0.8 A

+5 VAUX/3.5 A (standby)

The chassis is equipped with 10 MHz (PXI_CLK10) and 100 MHz differential (PXIE_CLK100) reference clocks, with slot skew of ≤ 1 ns and ≤ 100 ps respectively, and an accuracy of ± 25 ppm, meeting the requirements of multi module synchronization. The cooling capacity of each slot has been verified to be 38.2 W at an ambient temperature of 50 ° C. The total air volume of the dual fans is 200.4 CFM, and the noise is only 35.3 dBA at 25 ° C without external modules (automatic mode).

The entire process of hardware installation

2.1 Unpacking Inspection and Attachment Confirmation

After receiving PXES-2301, first check if the shipping packaging is damaged. The standard packing list includes:

Chassis host

Power cord (compliant with local standards)

Empty slot filling panel kit (5 single slot panels)

quick start guide 

If any missing or damaged items are found, the dealer should be contacted immediately. Do not install or power on any visually damaged components, keep the original packaging for future return or storage.

2.2 Cooling gap and placement requirements

The cooling air duct of PXES-2301 consists of bottom inlet and top outlet. Two 100.2 CFM fans draw in cold air from the bottom openings, which flows through the module and is then discharged from the top. The power module has an independent air duct that draws in cold air from the right side and discharges it to the rear and left sides. During deployment, it is necessary to ensure that:

Leave at least 1U (44.45mm) clearance above and below all ventilation holes;

The height of the bottom rubber feet (12.7 mm) must not be obstructed to ensure smooth air intake;

The right handle should not be placed at the bottom in the direction of the chassis, otherwise it will hinder the fan from entering the air;

All unused slots must be equipped with filling panels to maintain internal air pressure and directional airflow.

Special attention: The temperature around the chassis may be higher than room temperature due to adjacent devices or airflow obstruction. Even if the ambient temperature does not reach 50 ° C, the chassis may still exceed the limit locally. Therefore, it is necessary to install according to the above gap requirements.

2.3 System Controller Installation (Slot 1)

The system controller (such as ADLINK PXle-3985/3975/3935 embedded controller) can occupy up to 4 slot widths and is installed in the leftmost slot 1. Operation steps:

Confirm that the CPU, memory, and storage devices have been correctly installed on the controller board;

Find Slot 1 position, press the module to pop up the latch;

Align the upper and lower edges of the module with the rails inside the chassis and smoothly push it in;

Lift the latch until the module is fully engaged with the backplate;

Tighten the front panel fixing screws and connect external devices (monitor, keyboard, Ethernet cable, etc.).

2.4 Installation of Peripheral Modules (Slot 2-6)

The peripheral slot supports any mixed type module, including timing synchronization modules. The installation process is similar to the system controller:

Select an idle slot and press the pop-up latch;

Slowly push along the guide rail to avoid tilting and damaging the backplane connector;

Lift the latch to position the module;

Tighten the screws on the front panel.

Repeat the above steps to install multiple modules. After completion, it is necessary to install filling panels in all empty slots, otherwise it will significantly reduce heat dissipation efficiency and may cause overheating alarms in the chassis.

Power supply and power on process

PXES-2301 has a built-in universal power supply, eliminating the need for manual voltage switching. Correct power on steps:

Connect one end of the random power cord to the C13 power inlet at the back of the chassis;

Insert the other end into a grounded wall socket or PDU (Power Distribution Unit);

Press the power button on the front panel, and the blue Power LED should immediately light up;

Press the power button again when shutting down.

If it needs to be idle for a long time, it is recommended to disconnect the power cord and store it in a dry and clean environment.

Intelligent Monitoring System - ChassisWatch Configuration and Use

PXES-2301 integrates ADLINK ChassisWatch ™ Remote monitoring tool that communicates with the chassis management unit through the SMBus of the system slot to monitor temperature, fan speed, and all DC voltage rails in real-time. The monitoring software can be downloaded and installed from the official ADLINK PXI platform service package. After installation, it is necessary to ensure that the PXI Resource Manager is activated, otherwise the monitoring program cannot run normally.

4.1 Connection and Control Interface

After starting ChassisWatch, the interface is divided into three main areas:

Connect Control: Click "Connect" to occupy SMBus, then click "Start" to initialize communication; After completing the operation, click "Stop" to end the communication, and then click "Disconnect" to release the bus.

Chassis Status Log: supports data recording, can set the log file name (overwrite or append), sampling period (seconds), and optional "Over Threshold Statistics" to record over threshold events.

Save/Load Threshold: You can save all current threshold settings as a file, load existing configurations, and restore default thresholds with just one click.

4.2 Temperature target value and fan mode

The rear of the chassis is equipped with a physical fan switch (HIGH/AUTO):

HIGH: The fan runs at full speed, suitable for high temperature environments or full load testing, but with high noise (60.8 dBA sound pressure level).

AUTO: Dynamically adjust speed based on internal temperature sensor readings. The default fan curve is: when the temperature of all sensors is below 25 ° C, the fan runs at 30% speed; After any sensor exceeds 25 ° C, the speed increases linearly; When the maximum temperature reaches 65 ° C (i.e. "Target Temperature"), the fan reaches 100% speed.

Users can modify the target temperature value (range 25 ° C~65 ° C) in the software, for example, setting it to 55 ° C can make the fan enter full speed earlier, which is suitable for module combinations with higher heat dissipation requirements. After setting, click "Set" to take effect immediately.

4.3 Alarm threshold setting

The monitoring panel can independently set alarm thresholds for the following items:

DC voltage: 5V Standby, 3.3V, 5V, 12V, -12V;

Temperature: Equipped with three sensors T1~T3 (located at the air inlet, middle of the back panel, and air outlet), the default upper temperature limit is 70 ° C;

Fan speed: An abnormality is triggered when it falls below the lower limit of the set speed.

If any parameter exceeds the threshold, the corresponding status light will change to "Abnormal", and the corresponding LED on the front panel (blue power supply, green fan, amber temperature) will flash an alarm.

Practical Guide to Troubleshooting and Maintenance

This section summarizes common on-site fault phenomena and their systematic troubleshooting methods to help engineers quickly locate problems.

5.1 System cannot start

Firstly, confirm:

The power cord should be securely inserted into the chassis and socket, and the socket should have electricity;

The system controller is installed in place and the fixing screws are tightened;

All peripheral modules are fully inserted into the backplane without tilting;

Module type and chassis compatibility (PXI Express/CPCI Express/Hybrid PXI-1);

If all of the above are normal, remove all peripheral modules and only keep the system controller for attempting to start. If successful, insert modules one by one and restart each time to identify the faulty module; You can also try replacing the slot to rule out hardware issues with the slot.

5.2 External monitor without video output

Confirm that the power and signal lines of the monitor are connected properly;

Check the display output settings of the system controller (such as whether to switch to an external graphics card);

Try replacing the monitor or cable to troubleshoot the external device.

5.3 Abnormal LED indicator light

Blue Power LED flashing: indicates power failure or abnormal backplane communication. If it persists after restarting, please contact technical support.

Green Fan LED flashing: The fan may be blocked by foreign objects or the speed may be too low. Firstly, turn off the power and check if there is any dust or cable obstruction at the bottom fan inlet; If the signal is not restored after cleaning, the fan module needs to be replaced (removable, easy to maintain).

Amber Temperature LED flashing: First confirm that the air flow at the exhaust outlet is smooth and that the top and bottom clearances meet the requirements. If the exhaust temperature is normal (below 70 ° C) but the LED still flashes, it may be due to temperature sensor drift. ChassisWatch is needed to check the actual reading. If the reading is abnormal, it needs to be returned to the factory for calibration.

5.4 Continuous high temperature

Check if all empty slots are installed with filling panels;

Confirm that there is no heat source around the chassis (such as high-power equipment adjacent to the exhaust outlet);

If the fan is in AUTO mode, try switching to HIGH to force full speed and observe if the temperature drops. If it decreases, it indicates that the automatic speed regulation threshold is set too high, and the Target Temperature value can be appropriately reduced;

If the cooling cannot be achieved at full speed, it may be due to a decrease in fan performance or accumulation of dust on the heat sink. Internal cleaning is required (operated by professional technicians, power off, open the chassis cover, and use compressed air to clean the fan and heat sink).

5.5 Power related faults

If multiple voltage rail readings are abnormal, first check the stability of the mains power supply; If the mains power is normal, the power module may be aging and needs to be replaced (the power supply is designed to be pluggable, but it is recommended to have it replaced by authorized personnel);

Pay attention to the total power limit of the power supply (320 W) and ensure that the total power consumption of all modules does not exceed this value, otherwise the power supply will be overloaded for protection.

Maintenance and long-term reliability recommendations

6.1 Cleaning and Maintenance

After the computer case is powered off, wipe the outside with a soft dry cloth, focusing on cleaning the power inlet and bottom fan dust screen (if any). Avoid using liquid cleaner or spray to prevent short circuit caused by penetration into the interior.

6.2 Handling and Storage

When moving, be sure to use the side handle, which is designed to support the weight of the entire machine;

Avoid impact or vibration, although the chassis has passed the 30 G impact and 2.46 Grms vibration tests, frequent rough handling may still damage the connectors;

When not in use for a long time, store in an environment with a temperature of -20~70 ° C and a humidity of 10%~90% (non condensing).

6.3 Firmware and software updates

Regularly visit the ADLINK official website to check the PXI platform service package and ChassisWatch version updates. The new software may optimize fan curves, add fault diagnosis functions, or correct known issues. Before updating, be sure to save the existing threshold configuration file to avoid losing personalized settings.

Quick check of technical parameters and compliance

Working temperature: 0~50 ° C (ambient), relative humidity 10%~80%, no condensation;

Storage temperature: -20~70 ° C;

Vibration: Working state 5~500 Hz/0.21 Grms; Non working state: 5-500 Hz/2.46 Grms;

Safety certification: EN 61010-1 (CE/LVD), EMC complies with EN 61326-1 Class A (FCC/ICES-003);

Altitude: Operating ≤ 2000 meters, pollution level PD2, indoor use only.