Serial Protocol Tester features graphical user interface.
Share:
Press Release Summary:
Model E2960A uses GUI to reduce setup time of PCI Express transactions to test designs. GUI offers menu display of exerciser's CAPI capabilities, and allows users to select experience level that limits number of capabilities displayed. Users can set up single packets or sequences or blocks of packets, I/O memory reads and writes, configuration reads and writes, and any type of message.
Original Press Release:
Agilent Technologies' New Graphical User Interface for PCI Express Technology Test Applications Reduces Test Setup to Minutes
Tool Increases Protocol Exerciser's Capabilities, Ease of Use
SAN FRANSISCO, Intel Developer Forum, Feb. 17, 2004, Booth Nos. 623, 740 -- Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today introduced a graphical user interface (GUI) for its E2960A serial protocol tester XC for PCI Express technology that increases ease of use and dramatically reduces the setup time of PCI Express transactions to test designs.
Engineers and lab managers in R&D, validation and QA who test PCI Express drivers, BIOS, chipsets, boards, systems and platforms can now more quickly and intuitively perform various basic PCI Express packets and sequences of packets. Transaction setups now require only minutes instead of several hours of programming effort.
With this announcement, Agilent now offers a flexible approach to control the E2960A -- either through an API such as Command Application Interface (CAPI) or Tool Command Language interface, or through the GUI. This option allows very quick test setups with the GUI or more comprehensive test coverage with the API.
The existing comprehensive control via a programmable interface is ideal for users who need to create their own automated test environment. It is suitable for validating designs by repeatedly stressing all data paths of a system simultaneously. In contrast, the GUI is more suitable for using the exerciser with the protocol analyzer for debugging and bringing up designs. With the new GUI, users can quickly and easily set up packets, including packets with errors. It is also used together with the protocol analyzer GUI to troubleshoot problems and perform root-cause analysis.
The GUI offers a menu display of the exerciser's CAPI capabilities, and allows users to select an experience level that limits the number of capabilities displayed. The GUI further increases flexibility by letting users set up single packets or sequences or blocks of packets, I/O memory reads and writes, configuration reads and writes and any type of message. The exerciser can receive and react programmatically on incoming requests. The configuration space is easily programmed with the GUI, and users can view the six programmable memory or I/O decoders.
The Agilent E2960 test series was selected by Test & Measurement World for the 2004 Best in Test award for offering the most complete and innovative array of test equipment for PCI Express. (To read more about the award, go to reed-electronics.com/tmworld.)
"With the new exerciser GUI, Agilent is reinforcing its commitment to the industry's move from parallel buses to serial buses such as the PCI Express," said Siegfried Gross, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Digital Verifications Solution Division. "Agilent continues to improve, optimize and enhance its products to meet customer needs."
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Agilent Exerciser GUI for PCI Express is free of charge as part of the product and will be available March 25, 2004, as a download with the new software version.
More information about the Agilent E2960 series for PCI Express is available at www.agilent.com/find/E2960_series. For more information about Agilent's PCI Express product portfolio, visit www.agilent.com/find/pci_Express. Photos of the product are available at www.agilent.com/find/E2960_GUI.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 28,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6.1 billion in fiscal year 2003. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
