Curtiss-Wright / VMETRO Vanguard-PCI Bus Analyzer and Exerciser

The Curtiss-Wright/VMETRO Vanguard-PCI is a PCI and PCI-X bus analyzer and exerciser designed for hardware and software development, validation, and troubleshooting. It captures and analyzes PCI bus transactions in real time, supporting both PCI and PCI-X protocols up to 133 MHz. The instrument operates via a Windows-based PC interface using the BusView graphical user interface or an application programming interface (API), and connects through 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet or USB.

Technical Specifications

Analysis Bandwidth: 64-bit or 32-bit bus activity capture up to 133 MHz

Trace Buffer: 2M Sample Trace Buffer @ 256-bits

Protocol Support: PCI (0–66 MHz), PCI-X (0–133 MHz), CompactPCI (cPCI), PMC (Peripheral Module)

Form Factors: PCI Short Card, cPCI (System Slot or Peripheral), PMC; zero-slot adapter available for PCI systems

Host Interfaces: 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet, USB

Power: 5V Adapter Card draws 33 mA @ 3.3V; LED display powered from 5V rail

Key Features

State Analyzer

Captures PCI-X/PCI bus activity with advanced triggering, filtering, and counting; three sampling modes: Standard, Clock, and Transfer

Protocol Checker (Optional)

Detects protocol errors: up to 71 errors for PCI-X, up to 45 errors for PCI; operates in background and triggers on error events

Statistics Functions

Real-time measurement of latency, throughput, and device efficiency

Dual DMA Engines

Concurrent DMA operation with target memory (I/O and memory spaces)

Command Executer

Device emulation and custom bus traffic generation

Scripting Support

Automated test scenario creation and execution

Advanced Exerciser (Optional)

Bus Master with DMA, Target interface with 8 MB memory, and Interrupter; supports 32-bit/64-bit at 66 MHz PCI and 100 MHz PCI-X

Typical Applications Protocol validation, device driver debugging, PCI/PCI-X subsystem characterization, and automated regression testing of embedded and enterprise systems.

Compatibility & Integration Available in multiple form factors including optional 6U cPCI adapter (CPCI-3U6U-ADA). Powered from target system or external supply (external supply required for Vanguard cPCI).