LeCroy Introduces Address Translation Services Support For PCI Express® Protocol Analysis and Test

SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PCI-SIG DevCon -- LeCroy Corporation, a leading supplier of oscilloscopes and serial data test solutions, announced today a new feature added to its PCI Express® (PCIe®) protocol analyzer and exerciser line of products that will support PCI Express Address Translation Services (ATS) for testing and debugging PCI Express specification-based applications.  LeCroy had previously supported some aspects of the Address Translation Services specification from the PCI-SIG® on its protocol analyzer line.  The announcement now includes updates from the new specification and extends that functionality to LeCroy's Summit™ Z3-16 PCI Express 3.0 protocol exerciser.

"The Address Translation Services specification provides a better mechanism for controlling I/O addressing for PCI Express devices," said Al Yanes, President and Chairman, PCI-SIG.  "We are pleased that companies such as LeCroy are working to quickly deliver protocol analysis and test tools that will help bring ATS enabled products to the marketplace."

The Address Translation Services (ATS) specification provides a set of extensions or transactions that support the remote caching of address translations on an endpoint or add-in-card.  Translating or re-mapping these addresses in a PCI Express endpoint provides a more effective memory to I/O implementation to minimize latency and increase performance in I/O operations.  Devices that implement ATS can provide more functions with better response time to PCI Express-based systems.

The Summit Z3-16 protocol exerciser can emulate ATS-enabled devices.  Having access to an ATS emulated endpoint or ATS add-in-card gives system developers a controlled way to test protocol operation and check out corner case failures between host and device.  The Summit Z3-16 is programmable through a rich scripting language.  For example, the Summit Z3-16 exerciser can be configured to emulate a device that is inserted into a system under test.  An exerciser script can be written so that test software running on the system under test can execute any of the various scripted ATS procedures running on the exerciser that is emulating a device.  The system under test is actually writing to the exerciser's memory and/or configuration spaces providing an emulated programmable DMA and complete inband control of the Device Emulator's behavior.

"I/O Virtualization has been an important direction to the PCI Express development community.  Adding support for Address Translation Services widens the coverage the Summit analyzer and exerciser line of products addresses for high performance products," said John Wiedemeier, Product Marketing Manager for the Interconnect Communications Group, LeCroy Corporation. "We are committed to enhancing the Summit Z3-16 and providing the emulation tool of choice for PCI Express device development and test."

LeCroy protocol analyzers and exercisers have been at the forefront of PCI Express product development.  All LeCroy protocol analyzers feature a hierarchical display, real-time statistics, protocol traffic summaries, detailed error reports, powerful scripting, and the ability to create user-defined test reports which allow developers to troubleshoot intricate problems and finish their projects on time.

Availability

The ATS analyzer decode and exerciser support features are included, at no charge, in the PETracer™ 6.45 software release.  For additional information, contact LeCroy at 1-800-5LeCroy (1-800-553-2769) or visit LeCroy's web site at www.lecroy.com.

About LeCroy

LeCroy Corporation is a worldwide leader in serial data test solutions, creating advanced instruments that drive product innovation by quickly measuring, analyzing, and verifying complex electronic signals. The Company offers high-performance oscilloscopes, serial data analyzers, and global communications protocol test solutions used by design engineers in the computer and semiconductor, data storage device, automotive and industrial, and military and aerospace markets.  LeCroy's 45-year heritage of technical innovation is the foundation for its recognized leadership in "WaveShape Analysis" -- capturing, viewing, and measuring the high-speed signals that drive today's information and communications technologies.  LeCroy is headquartered in Chestnut Ridge, New York. Company information is available at http://www.lecroy.com.

About PCI-SIG

PCI-SIG is the Special Interest Group that owns and manages PCI specifications as open industry standards.  The organization defines and implements new industry standard I/O (Input/Output) specifications as the industry's local I/O needs evolve.  The PCI Special Interest Group was formed in 1992 and became a nonprofit corporation, named "PCI-SIG," in the year 2000.  Currently, more than 800 industry-leading companies are active PCI-SIG members worldwide.  PCI-SIG's current directors are employed by the following PCI-SIG member companies: Agilent, AMD, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, LSI, NVIDIA and Oracle.  For more information about the PCI-SIG and its membership benefits, please visit the PCI-SIG website at http://www.pcisig.com or contact (503) 619-0569 (within the United States).

© 2011 by LeCroy Corporation. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

PCI-SIG, PCI Express and PCIe are trademarks or registered trademarks of PCI-SIG.

SOURCE LeCroy Corporation