SerialXpress V3.3 Advanced Jitter Generation Software for AWG V3.3

SerialXpress(R) is a powerful easy-to-use software package to synthesize high speed serial data signals, for arbitrary waveform generators (AWG). It runs as an integral part of the AWG7000/AWG5000 series arbitrary waveform generators or from an external PC.

This software download offers Ten (10) fully functional free trials for evaluation. Once the ten free trials are exhausted, you cannot transfer the waveform to AWG or save the setup and data. A security key (USB dongle) may be purchased from Tektronix to permanently enable all the features of software application.

Version: V3.3
Software Type: Application

Release Date: Jul 20 2011 - 07:00 am
Part Number: 066104407

Pre-Requisites/System Requirements

Release Notes

Instructions

Prerequisites

2.0 GHz or higher processor 1 GB RAM 2 GB free disk space 1024 x 768 display resolution with 120 dpi font size

Supported operating system Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.1 Windows 7 Professional Windows Vista Business Edition (English Language)

Release Notes

Tektronix SerialXpress® Application Software - Release Notes

Product: Tektronix SerialXpress® Application Software
Version: 3.3
Last Revised: June 22nd 2011

Contents of these release notes:

1) Description
2) Target Platforms
3) Target Markets and Application
4) What is new in 3.3?
5) What is new in 3.2?
6) What is new in 3.1?
7) What is new in 3.0?
8) What is new in 2.2?
9) What is new in 2.1?
10) What is new in 2.0?
11) Key features & Benefits
12) Known Issues
13) Pre-requisite
14) Software Compatibility
15) Installation Notes
16) Viewing Sample Files
17) Contacting Tektronix
18) 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 can run on AWG5000/AWG7000, AWG5000B/AWG7000B Series arbitrary
waveform generators platform or as an offline version in a PC with the
following operating systems:

* Windows XP Professional
* Windows Vista Business Edition with English Language
* 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 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

Pre-requisite:
===============

- Microsoft .NET 2.0 runtime framework is required for SerialXpress to run.
- MATLAB Runtime version 7.6 is required for SerialXpress to run.
- TekVISA version 3.3.2.7 or above is needed to run Calibration and Import waveform
from Oscilloscopes.
- For transferring data from SerialXpress to the AWG, 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				3.3
SerialXpress Application SW	3.3
AWG Application			4.0
TekVISA				3.3.2.7
MATLAB Runtime			7.6
Microsoft .NET Framework	2.0

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?
========================================
Microsoft .NET framework can be freely downloaded from the Microsoft website:
www.microsoft.com or Application CD browser

Where to get MatLab Runtime 7.6?
==================================
MATLAB Runtime Environment can be installed from 'MATLAB Runtime' folder in the
web release package or Application CD browser.

Running SerialXpress on Windows Vista
=======================================
In Windows Vista, you must always run SerialXpress with Administrator privileges.
To do so, right-click either on the SerialXpress desktop shortcut or on the
SerialXpress application from Windows Start menu >All Programs > Tektronix SerialXpress
and select
Run as Administrator from the shortcut menu.

Does SerialXpress support 64-bit processor?
===========================================
SerialXpress runs on the PCs with 64-bit processor.

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 TekVISA, MATLAB runtime and
.Net Framework 2.0 or above 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.

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:

If you have any questions, please contact the Tektronix Technical Support Center:

Phone		1-800-833-9200*
Address		Tektronix, Inc.
14200 SW Karl Braun Drive
P.O. Box 500
Beaverton, OR, 97077
USA
Web site	www.tektronix.com
Sales support	1-800-833-9200, select option 1*
Service support	1-800-833-9200, select option 2*
Technical Support	Email: techsupport@tektronix.com
1-800-833-9200, select option 3*
6:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m. Pacific time
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This number is toll free in North America. After office hours,
please leave a voice mail message. Outside North America, contact a Tektronix sales
office or distributor; see the Tektronix web
site for a list of offices.

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.

Instructions

Installation Procedure
1. From www.tektronix.com/software, locate SerialXpress.exe and download
the file. Click SerialXpress.exe.
2. In the window that appears, select the path to unzip the contents of the
self-extractor.
3. After extracting the contents, find SerialXpress.exe from the path and
double-click it.
4. Follow the instructions given by the InstallShield wizard.
NOTE. If TekVISA is not installed, the wizard prompts you to either install
TekVISA or proceed with installing SerialXpress.
5. When the installation is complete, click Finish to exit.
6. The DK2 DESkey Drivers installation begins. Use the default options to
install the drivers. Once the installation is complete, click Finish to exit.

NOTE. In Windows Vista, you must always run SerialXpress with Administrator
privileges. To do so, right-click either on the SerialXpress desktop shortcut or on
the SerialXpress application from Start > All Programs > Tektronix SerialXpress.
Select Run as Administrator from the shortcut menu.

By downloading, you agree to the terms and conditions of the Software Download Agreement.

This software applies to: AWG710B, AWG5105, AWG7102, AWG7051, AWG7052, AWG5002, AWG5004, AWG5012, AWG5014, AWG7062B, AWG5002B, AWG5004B, AWG5012B, AWG5014B, AWG7122B, AWG7121B, AWG7122C, AWG5002C, AWG5012C, AWG5014C, AWG7082C, Automotive

SerialXpress V3.3 Advanced Jitter Generation Software for AWG V3.3

Prerequisites

Release Notes

Instructions

Related Product Information