The PXIe-1083 chassis can be directly cascaded to a PXIe-1092 + PXIe-8862 via Thunderbolt ports.

Issue Details

The PXIe-1083 chassis defaults to using the PXIe-8301 for cascading to other chassis. However, some users, due to budget constraints or equipment configuration limitations, do not have a PXIe-8301. Therefore, these users want to know if it's possible to connect the PXIe-1083 directly to the host chassis's controller without using the PXIe-8301 card, and whether this will allow for normal operation.

Solution

After discussions with R&D, the conclusion was that NI recommends using PXIe-8301 as an intermediary for chassis cascading to ensure performance. Currently, all NI tests are based on a hardware configuration of PXIe-8301 cascading with PXIe-1083. However, while theoretically feasible to directly connect the PXIe-1083 to the host chassis controller via Thunderbolt cable, NI has not tested this method and therefore faces risks, such as limited transmission rates and firmware version compatibility issues.

Currently, some users have adopted similar hardware combinations, such as cascading PXIe-1083 to PXIe-1092+PXIe-8862 via Thunderbolt cable, which is currently running well and can be used as a reference. However, if problems such as performance instability or device recognition occur, it is still recommended that customers follow the official website's instructions to purchase PXIe-8301 before cascading.