Magma EB7R-x8 User Manual

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2.  Most computers allow multiple logical bridges (and thus PCIe 
buses) to be correctly configured. Some computers, 
unfortunately, place an arbitrary limit on the number of bridge 
levels that can be traveled during power-on configuration. Your 
computer “power-on-software” should be compliant with the 
PCIe bus specification 1.1 in order to effectively use a Magma 
PCIe Expansion System. For "fan-out" and "daisy chained" 
system configurations, where more than one PCIe expansion 
system is being used, you should count all of the logical bridge 
levels to your most deeply nested PCI bus to determine the 
maximum number of bridge levels that must be traveled. 
Exceeding this number may cause software configuration 
conflicts even though hardware-wise the PCIe system is 
properly configured.  
3.  For easier understanding, a given PCI system should be 
viewed as a “Resource Toll road” that runs from the computer 
CPU (resource home), through the “Toll Booths” (the PCIe 
switches and logical PCI bridges), to the “Resource Users” 
(PCIe Cards). As in the case of a real Toll Road, the more Toll 
Booths you have to cross (even if it takes a nanosecond), the 
longer it will take you (your data) to get from the PCIe Card to 
the CPU and back again. Under most circumstances the effect 
cannot even be detected. However, under other conditions, it 
can be important to know about.