Tektronix SerialXpress® Application Software - Release Notes Product: Tektronix SerialXpress® Application Software Version: 4.0.11 Last Revised: October 24th, 2014 Contents of these release notes: 1) Description 2) Target Platforms 3) Target Markets and Application 4 What is new in 4.0? 5) What is new in 3.3.1? 6) What is new in 3.3? 7) What is new in 3.2? 8) What is new in 3.1? 9) What is new in 3.0? 10) What is new in 2.2? 11) What is new in 2.1? 12) What is new in 2.0? 13) Key features & Benefits 14) Known Issues 15) Pre-requisite 16) Software Compatibility 17) Installation Notes 18) Viewing Sample Files 19) Contacting Tektronix 20) Copyright Description: SerialXpress® is a powerful easy to use software package to synthesize high speed serial data signals, for arbitrary waveform generators (AWG). Target Platforms: SerialXpress runs on PC and communicates with AWG70000A or as an integral part of AWG5000/AWG7000 Series arbitrary waveform generators. On a PC, runs on following operating systems: (Both 32 and 64 bit versions are supported) * Windows 7 Professional Target Markets and Applications: * Design, debug, characterization and compliance testing of high speed serial data receivers SATA, PCI-E, SAS, Display Port, Fiber Channel, HDMI, MIPI, USB 3.0 Receiver Testing What is new in 4.0? a) SerialXpress has been changed so that it can run under non-admin privileges also. b) Added support to communicate and send waveforms to AWG 70000A series. c) SerialXpress can communicate with AWG 70000A instrument only through TekVISA. d) TekVISA 4.0 needs to be installed on PC to communicate with AWG 70000A series. e) Added a configuration utility, which lets the user configure different models of AWG 70000A series. f) Added support to generate waveform length up to 1G samples and the sampling rate up to 50 GS/s g) Version 4.0 is recommended and tested for AWG 7000/5000 "C" series and AWG 70000A series of instruments. h) PI commands will not work when SerialXpress is configured to work with AWG70000A series instruments. i) A new file format called .sxd can be used to save and import compiled waveform. j) The maximum samples that can be created from SerialXpress are up to 2G samples. k) The maximum size of saving the data as .wfm format is restricted to 198M samples. What is new in 3.3.1? Bug fixes What is new in 3.3? a) Support for single tone (Sine) Noise is added. This is in addition to the full-bandwidth Noise supported in earlier versions. Users can specify the frequency of the single tone noise. b) SerialXpress now supports one sample per UI. When SPUI is set to one, the application ignores all jitter parameters while creating the waveform. What is new in 3.2? a) Advanced Pre/De-emphasis and Pre-shoot signal generation. Existing Pre-emphasis option in SerialXpress is enhanced to allow users to apply advanced Pre-emphasis types like UI-Linear and fractional and also Pre-shoot can be applied. b) Support for PWM (Pulse width modulation) signal generation. PWM signals which are part of MIPI standard can be generated along with impairments applied like jitter using SerialXpress. c) Support for 4-PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) encoding. d) Annotated text input support for Symbol and Binary input file. e) Ability to generate Random Jitter with crest factor. f) Support for introducing skew between waveforms. Users can introduce an additional delay at the start for waveforms. This feature can be used to introduce skew between waveforms coming out of two channels of AWG. Example- Can be used in HDMI standard to introduce skew between CK and D0 in Sink Jitter Tolerance test. g) Inverse filter file can be generated with sampling rate of 50Gs/s when applying S-parameter filter (previously 25GS/s). What is new in 3.1? Support for AWG5000C\AWG7000C series of instruments. What is new in 3.0? a. Direct sequencing from SerialXpress Users will be able to select a set of patterns and arrange them in to a sequence. When compiled, the SerialXpress creates a AWG sequence and transfers them into AWG sequence. Application automatically takes care of the sequencer needs of the AWG and optionally adjusts for wrap-around effects between the sequence elements. b. Support for cross-talk: Users can simulate a cross talk using an 8-port touchstone file. The cross talk could be defined by defining the aggressor signal that includes amplitude, data rate, rise time and pattern c. Cascading touchstone files: Users will be able to cascade up to 6 similar touchstone files to simulate the real-life scenarios where multiple channels and connectors are all connected serially. d. Support for scrambling: You could define a polynomial to scramble the input pattern e. Marker settings: User can chose different ways of creating markers including all high, all low and clock patterns. f. Presets: A set of "ready to use" SerialXpress setups are provided in the form of Presets. Presets are available for SATA-Gen1, SATA-Gen2, SATA-Gen3, Displayport, HDMI and USB 3.0. Selecting Preset for a given standard loads the appropriate setup into SerialXpress saving the users the trouble of setting up each parameter. g. Improved Idle state support Idle state could be defined as a part of the pattern definition along with binary / symbol / Hex formats (by using the word "z"). You could also give an offset to Idle state h. You could define the compiled waveform length in "time" i. Up to 3 band limited Random Jitter (Rj) can be defined What is new in 2.2? Support for long waveforms: Users create large waveforms (greater than 32M samples) and transfer them to AWG Random seed: Users can select random seed to generate random jitter. This helps to create same random jitter with each waveform compilation. Repetition count: Using repetition count, the waveform length can be controlled. This will decide how many times the base pattern is repeated. SSC Frequency deviation increased up to 200,000ppm Create Pre/De-emphasis up to 20dB Amplitude of the output waveform can be specified by min and max values USB3.0 patterns added under USB standard What is new in 2.1? Bug fixes What is new in 2.0 Programmatic interface: The application can be controlled using SCPI commands when it's running on the Arbitrary Waveform Generator instruments. The programmatic interface can be used either with GPIB or on LAN. Improved SSC support: a.Frequency deviation increased up to 60000 ppm b.Frequency modulation increased up to 500 KHz c.Support for Custom Modulation - Custom SSC profile allows you to import your own user defined profile by literally allowing any kind of shape to be added as SSC to the base pattern. d.Ability to define the exact location and duration of df/dt on the SSC slope. Marker output support: Ability to directly configure Marker outputs to input base pattern or clock. Support for symbol input in base pattern: You can now create a base pattern using symbols (K and D words) instead of zeroes and ones. This simplifies creation of base patterns. USB Pattern support: USB 2.0 patterns are pre-packaged with this version of SerialXpress Key Features & Benefits Flexibility: Jitter generation has now become so flexible that now the user has the freedom to try various permutations and combinations of Jitter parameters like Pj, Rj, ISI, Noise, etc. Replicate scenarios: The signals are digitally synthesized. All Arbitrary Waveform Generator setups can be recalled and the scenarios can be replicated on any other Arbitrary Waveform Generator within seconds. Analog nature of digital signals: In reality all digital signals are analog in nature and hence SerialXpress exploits the capabilities of an Arbitrary Waveform Generator to generate real world signals. Ease of use: It is easy to integrate a multitude of Sj tones into the waveforms at no additional cost. Band-limited Rj can be injected with ease. Simple test set-up: The generation of Pre/De-emphasis or arbitrary impairments is a purely numerical process and so is virtually unlimited in the types of signal generation that can be achieved. It also eliminates the need for equipments like power combiners, power dividers and their associated complexities. Channel emulation through S-parameter filter: Touchstone files can easily be inserted to simulate the exact behavior of cable emulators, which can be again controlled and modified by adding Jitter and other parameters. You can also tweak the imported touchstone file data to adjust the ISI to see how the receiver responds to those variations. The effect of the channel can also be de-embedded by selecting the Inverse filtering option. Closed EYE can be opened up by adding right amount of pre-emphasis or by varying the Rise Time. ISI Direct Dial-in: ISI can be directly dialed-in at ease. It's no longer necessary to use FR4 traces which are inflexible and need frequent calibration when switching from one to another. Supports a wide variety of standards: SerialXpress can cater to any emerging standard from 500 Kbps to 6 Gbps when teamed with the appropriate Tektronix AWG. Offlinemode: SerialXpress application can run on an external PC, thereby reducing the time taken to synthesize large waveforms and leaving the Arbitrary Waveform Generator free for continued testing. Known Issues: - For symbol input in User Pattern textbox, symbol 'K' is interpreted as symbol 'D'. The workaround is to input the symbols as symbol file in From File textbox. - For dialed in ISI the signal amplitude is not attenuated as expected and will be equal to the minimum and maximum amplitude specified in base pattern tab. - Since ISI is a Data Dependent Jitter, it needs manual calibration based on Input Pattern, Rise Time and the Data Rate. Calibration feature in SerialXpress works only for Random Jitter (Rj) and Periodic Jitter(Pj) - Waveform greater than 35M record length cannot be imported using Import from Tektronix Oscilloscope option - When importing a Math or Ref waveform from Tektronix Oscilloscope, a math equation must be created on the Oscilloscope and Reference memory must contain a valid waveform. Otherwise the application will crash. - PRBS equation is not restored when Reset to default button is clicked on PRBS Dialog - If v3.3 or earlier is uninstalled and a newer version is installed, user has to re-enter the user name and option key string. Pre-requisite: - Microsoft .NET 4.0 runtime framework is required for SerialXpress to run. - Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 SP1 redistributable package(x86) is required for SerialXpress to run. - MATLAB Runtime version 7.17 is required for SerialXpress to run. - TekVISA version 4.0.4 or above is needed to run Calibration, Import waveform from Oscilloscopes and communicate with AWG 70000A instrument. - For transferring data from SerialXpress to the AWG 7000/5000 series, you must first run the AWG application before starting the SerialXpress application. Software Compatibility: The following table shows the individual components of the Tektronix SerialXpress Application Software, other software components required by SerialXpress, and their version numbers. Also shown are the other major SerialXpress software components that are external to the application Software (that are installed separately). Release 4.0 SerialXpress Application SW 4.0 TekVISA 4.0.4 MATLAB Runtime 7.17 Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 AWG 7000C/5000C 4.6.0.7 AWG 70000A 3.0.366 Where to get TekVISA? TekVISA compatible with SerialXpress can be downloaded from the following link: www.tek.com/site/sw/search or Application CD browser To define the search criteria, use TekVISA in the search by Keyword field Where to get Microsoft .NET Framework? SerialXpress will automatically install .Net4.0 if it is not present in the system Where to get MatLab Runtime 7.17? SerialXpress will automatically install Matlab runtime v7.17 if it is not present in the system. Installation Notes: You need to have administrator privileges to install Tektronix SerialXpress software in your system. If you have not installed the required version of MATLAB runtime, Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable and .Net Framework 4.0 then the SerialXpress installation program will detect and prompt you to install them. If you want to reinstall your Tektronix SerialXpress application software, you must first uninstall the existing software. You can uninstall the software by going to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs and selecting SerialXpress. You can also uninstall SerialXpress from Start > Programs > Tektronix SerialXpress. If a failure occurs at any point during the installation of SerialXpress, the installer will not perform a complete uninstall. For this reason, it is important not to pre-maturely close the installer application by clicking on its close box in the upper-right corner of the background window; the installer will automatically close the background window. If v3.3 or earlier is uninstalled and a newer version is installed, user has to re-enter the user name and option key string. For details regarding the installation and use of SerialXpress software, refer to the SerialXpress Installation Manual.pdf file. Viewing Sample Files The installation program will copy several SerialXpress sample files onto the target folder. You can open this folder from target folder\Samples. Contacting Tektronix One method to receive timely information on new software updates, new products from Tektronix and other useful information is through a MyTek account. To join MyTek, please visit www.tektronix.com/mytek to become a member. For application-oriented questions about a Tektronix measurement products, please call Product Support. In North America call 1-800-833-9200 option 3, Monday-Friday, 6:00AM - 5:00PM Pacific Time or contact us by email at techsupport@tektronix.com. For service support call 1-800-833-9200 option 2, Monday-Friday, 5:00AM-5:00PM Pacific Time or contact us by email at meas-svc-feedback@tektronix.com Outside of North America: please contact your local Tektronix Sales or Distributor office. Refer to our web site at www.tektronix.com for listings of those offices. For all other information call 1-800-833-9200, visit our web site at www.tektronix.com, or write to us at: Tektronix, Inc. P.O. Box 500 Beaverton, OR 97077 USA Copyright Copyright © Tektronix. All rights reserved. TEKTRONIX and TEK are registered trademarks of Tektronix, Inc. The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. MATLAB(R) Copyright 1984 - 2014 The MathWorks, Inc.