Extending VXIbus systems across multiple-mainframe

There are currently three system configuration approaches to integrating a host CPU into a VXIbus mainframe system. These approaches involve the use of the standard general-purpose interface bus (GPIB), embedding a CPU module directly on the VXIbus, and use of a transparent, high-speed communication link. The author discusses each technique in detail and how each can be extended into a multimainframe system. It is noted that GPIB-to-VXI interfaces allow a mainframe full of VXI instruments to be treated as traditional GPIB instruments. Alternatively, MXIbus can be used to extend transparently the VXIbus itself to multiple mainframes that can be programmed as a single VXI system with many slots. Key software issues in a multimainframe configuration are the architecture and methodology of the software drivers through which the communication with the VXI instruments is actually accomplished and the resource manager capabilities and requirements imposed by the system.<>