Dulce Systems PRO Mini - Manual (Page 22)

PRO MINI Installation and User’s Manual
5. PCI Express Expansion Feature
5.1. PRO Mini PCI Express (PCIe) Card Slot
The PRO Mini features a PCIe Bus Connector Card Slot to accommodate an
additional PCIe Card. This feature is provided as many computer motherboards,
including the Mac Pro, provide a limited number of PCIe Card connectors. In
most situations were a PCIe Card was removed to install the PRO Mini; the
removed PCIe Card can be inserted into the PRO Mini PCIe Bus Connector Slot.
The PRO Mini PCIe Bus Connector provides PCIe Gen 2 with x8 lanes, allowing
the PRO Mini to accommodate higher performance PCIe Cards. The PRO Mini
internal PCIe Bus Switch provides the featured PCIe Bus Connector Card Slot
with over 2GB/S of PCIe Bus bandwidth, while simultaneously providing the PRO
Mini internal RAID Controller with sufficient PCIe Bus bandwidth to continue
operation at full video data read/write performance.
The PRO Mini’s PCI Express Card Slot, allows the Host Computer to essentially
operate the PCIe Card as if the PCIe Card is directly inserted into the Host
Computer motherboard. The PCIe Card drivers and software utilities continue to
be appropriate.
5.1.1. PCI Express (PCIe) Card Installation
For simplified installation of a PCIe Card, it is best if the PCIe Card is previously
(or has been previously) verified for proper operation with the Host Computer.
The PCIe Card is connected directly into the Host Computer motherboard, the
PCIe Card driver and utilities installed, and the PCIe Card operation/performance
verified. Once verification is complete, the PCIe Card is ready for PRO Mini
installation.
PCIe Card installation is diagrammed in the eight following steps. If the PCIe
Card was previously verified, the PCIe card will be available at the next Host
Computer boot-up. If the PCIe Card’s drivers and software utilities are not
currently installed, the PCIe Card will not be available until after the appropriate
drivers and utilities are installed.
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