PC's suitable for MXI

[Pablop]

As I speak I'm packaging up our new Dell Optiplex 320's because they don't boot once an active link is present on the PCI/MXI card.

According to http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/05B7131814A5DDA38625710F006BB098, its not NI's fault. Fine. So what computers can I buy. The salient paragraph is:

"National Instruments is testing motherboards and laptops to the PCI Specification so we can comment on compatibility with our MXI products. The list for laptops compatible with NI's ExpressCard-8360 MXI product can be found here and is linked off of the product page at ni.com. For information on motherboards, desktops, and workstations compatible with MXI products, contact National Instruments PXI Support group at ni.com/support. "

After poking around on NI, I found that Dell Optiplex 280 worked, but you can't buy those at Dell anymore. So, any good suggestions for currently approved and actually available?

[Krista H]

Hi Paul,

This is the current list of tested computers that we have for this device. We try to keep this as up to date as possible but we can only test computers that are available to us. Hopefully someone who has a ExpressCard working with a non-listed computer will update you.

[Pablop]

Thanks,

The obvious problem is I have to write up paper work to our IT department to return these Dell PC's, and now I have to advise them as to what computers to purchase instead. All the while $20,000 worth of NI hardware sits idle.

To make matters worse, the NI support engineer working on my open case # has passed this problem off to R&D because he can't find any reason why an MXI-4 communication system would have a problem. All of the articles referenced above relate to MXI Express and other systems, not MXI-4.

I have implemented this solution in at least 4 other stations, no problems, unfortunately none of those computers are still available for purchase.

Its not a tenable situation, having to take pot shots at computer systems for compatibility. Apparently this is a great opportunity for all parties to stand around and point fingers at everyone else, me included 😉

[Krista H]

Hi Paul,

I tried to find your service request so that we could work on this together. Do you know your service request number I can look up the Applications Engineer helping you with this and maybe the three of us could find a way to get you working. Thanks

[Pablop]

Sorry Krista, I didn't write it down, but the enginneer who was handling it is named Roland. Perhaps knowing that and:

Paul Johnson
Renco Encoders
Goleta, CA

That is how the software is registered. I've received no email regarding this case as I have in the past. However, I am confident that Roland is still looking into it. He called back on Friday with some questions from R&D.

On an aside, I found a Dell Optiplex 390 in the plant that I'm going to try this morning, just on the off chance it will work. These are still available from Dell, so if it works, I can get a couple more.

Thanks for your help.

[Ben]

I believe that the MXI devices act as PCI to PCI bridge and requires bus mastering to operate.

I am not sure on the above and offer these terms in the hope it may help.

Ben

[Pablop]

Ben,

I'm not sure what that is, should it be part of the BIOS? anyway, the Optiplex 390 has no problems, so for now I fade away....

[Doug]

Hi Paul,

I had a similar problem with the Dells and MXI-4.  I found I nnede to upgrade the BIOS.  I was running Rev A08, upgraded to A10 - problem solved.

Doug

[Pablop]

Hi Doug,

I don't see A08 or A10 available for the Optiplex 320. I do see a bios 1.1.10. However, I probably tried that one as its dated 9/17/07.

On a side note, the Optiplex 390 I was using ended up having intermittant problems with the MXI hardware, so I dumped that as well and have been sticking with HP.

Paul