User`s manual

Introduction 1
1 Introduction
The ADLINK PCIS-8580 is the PCI-to-PCI extension systems for
extending your PCI buses of the host computers. With the state-
of-art StarFabric high-speed serial link technology, you can extend
your PCI bus of the host computer to an external chassis, which
accommodates 4 (PCIS-8580-4S) or 13 (PCIS-8580-13S) addi-
tional PCI slots. This advanced technology provides full 32-bit/
33MHz PCI bandwidth (132MB/s) and maximal 10m distance
between host computer and extension chassis. In addition,
ADLINK PCI-to-PCI extension system utilizes the concept of “seri-
alized bridge” to provide complete hardware and software trans-
parency to your host system. Any hardware installed in the
extension chassis works as it’s inside the host system without any
driver/software effort.
The ADLINK PCIS-8580 PCI-to-PCI extension system is com-
posed of three major components: a PCI extension card (LPCI-
8575), an extension chassis (RK-8005 for PCIS-8580-4S or RK-
8014 for PCIS-8580-13S), and a cable (ACL-PCIEXT-2). The PCI
extension card is the core of this system. It acts as a PCI bridge
with the capability to serialize the PCI signals and maintain a
5Gbps serial link between the host system and the extension
chassis. The extension chassis, which is a 4-slot wall-mount chas-
sis (RK-8005) or a 13-slot rack-mount chassis (RK-8014), is the
platform to accommodate PCI slots. It contains a backplane, a
power supply, and a pre-installed PCI extension card. The cable,
which consists of DVI-D connector and shielding twisted pairs,
provides robust connectivity and satisfying signal quality between
the host computer and the extension chassis.