PXIe-8301 Shows Solid Amber LED But Still Functioning

Issue Details

• I have a PXIe system that is connected to its respective hosts via Thunderbolt™ MXI using the PXIe-8301. The controller displays a solid amber LED, which suggests that the power is within spec, but there is no link to the chassis. On the host, I can see the device in Windows Device Manager and NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX), and the data still comes through to the DAQ cards on the chassis. 
• I have connected my PXIe-8301 to my laptop but the PXIe-8301 displays a yellow LED. The PXI system still boots without issues and my laptop appears to work. However, my PXI(e) cards do not appear in Windows Device Manager.

Solution

This behavior indicates that the driver is losing connection to the chassis at some point in time. The immediate workaround to this is shutting down the host and the PXI chassis followed by rebooting the system so that the PXIe chassis may re-enumerate on the host. It is important to understand when the LED changes from green to amber and clarify if this is tied to a particular event in order to avoid this event or behavior. 

Additional Information

Other suggested troubleshooting steps and notes:

• Update to the latest version of PXI Platform Services.
• Ensure that the Thunderbolt bus driver is installed correctly.
  • Refer to your PC manufacturer's driver download page.
• Ensure that any applicable BIOS settings or options are enabled for Thunderbolt communication.
• Verify that the BIOS is up to date.
• Avoid hot swapping to minimize the risk of affecting the reliability of the system to re-establish a connection to the PXI chassis.
• Ensure the PXI chassis is powered on before the computer is turned on.
• Verify the Thunderbolt™ 3 Security Level in BIOS Setup is set as Security Level: User Authorization. Thunderbolt™ devices have to be "approved" in order to be connected and by default, this process requires user approval in the OS. 
• Perform a full power cycle to release static energy:
  • Shutdown the host computer and PXIe system
  • Disconnect the AC power cable
  • Put out the PXIe-8301
  • Restart the computer without the PXIe connected to refresh the host system from any resource. 
  • Insert the PXIe-8301 into the chassis and connect the cable to the computer.
  • Power on the PXIe and then the host computer
• Ensure that the PXIe-8301 is connected to a USB-C port that support Thunderbolt.
  • Refer to your PC's user manual to verify this.