Multiple Node Networking Using PCIe Interconnects

PCI Express (PCIe) interconnects, and how they can be used to support multiple node low latency data transfers over copper or optical cables, is gaining momentum in embedded computing solutions. Many current “out-of-the-box” solutions are being used to interconnect standard Intel-based servers in traditional commercial computer environments to shared I/O devices on Windows or Linux operating systems. Now emerging is the use of PCIe to provide box-to-box external data paths between rugged embedded systems as well as for the internal data path in backplane architectures, such as VPX. Why is this trend developing, and what implementation challenges, as well as possible solutions, is the industry seeing through the use of PCIe?