SerialTek SI-Fi Modular PCIe/NVMe Interposers and Kodiak WebUI Management Interface

SerialTek LLC, an Ellisys company, introduced advancements in the PCIe and NVMe test and analysis market with the release of two SI-Fi interposers for EDSFF E1.S, E1.L, E3.S and for PCIe cable form factors, including OCuLink (SFF-8611), MiniSAS-HD (SFF-8674), and SlimSAS (SFF-8654).

SI-Fi PCIe Gen4 interposers

These PCIe interposers represent an approach using new modular ‘interposer pods’, making it to analyze different form factors and quickly change setups, and reduce costs. The company is also providing early access to a new web browser interface to more set up and remotely manage Kodiak PCIe analyzers and their connected SI-Fi interposers.

EDSFF and PCIe cable interposers add convenience, reduce costs, and simplify setup
In addition to being highly accurate electrically and simple to use like all company’s SI-Fi interposers, the new EDSFF interposer is mechanically modular and converts from E1.S to E1.L to E3.S form factors in a single unit, an industry first for E3.X. The included EDSFF host adapters are easy to change and plug into a host system. High-quality cabling (instead of lossy PCB material) from the interposer to the storage enclosure preserves signal quality while adding flexibility, saving customers money and providing for safe placement of the device under test (DUT) on a bench or in a test rack. Additionally, the firm‘s patent-pending tool-less EDSFF interposer tray easily converts to securely hold E1.S, E1.L, or E3.S SSD’s.

The PCIe cable interposer is also a modular, cost-saving design, making setup simple with captive thumbscrews to change form factors. The cable interposer supports OCuLink (SFF-8611), MiniSAS-HD (SFF-8674), and SlimSAS (SFF-8654) form factors and can use the same or different form factors at the same time (e.g. OCuLink to SFF-8674). And with the company‘s SI-Fi technology continuing to advance, all the new interposers are calibration-free, too.

Serialtek U.3 Interposer

“I’ve been using protocol analyzers for 31 years and PCIe analyzers and interposers extensively for the past 5 years. We use them for important assignments that affect revenue and customer satisfaction,” said John Wehman, principal applications engineer, Phison Technology, Inc. “With other analyzers I have had to abandon my testing many times, because I could not find a good quality signal lock. SerialTek’s Kodiak analyzer and SI-Fi interposers have changed all that. I have 100% confidence in Kodiak’s ability to achieve lock and give me the trace I need to do my job. Kudos to Ellisys and SerialTek for creating not only an electrically reliable platform, but the actual mechanical hardware itself is beautiful.“

“EDSFF, OCuLink, SlimSAS, and HDMini-SAS are increasingly present on nwer PCIe Gen4 and NVMe computing and storage platforms,” said Paul Mutschler, CEO, SerialTek. “It is important to our customers that we deliver premium interposers that deliver excellent value, are the easiest to use, the most accurate, and perform the same regardless of form factor. That is what we delivered with our initial SI-Fi interposers and the Kodiak PCIe Analysis platform, and now with these new EDSFF and PCIe cable interposers, our customers can analyze PCIe and NVMe throughout their architecture better than ever.“

Beta level support for WebUI browser interface
The company is announcing beta level support for the Kodiak PCIe Analyzer WebUI browser interface. Coupled with the Kodiak PCIe Gen4 Analysis System, users can verify proper configuration of the analyzer and interposers, including visual identification of incorrect or damaged cables, link status, and recording status.

“When we released the Kodiak PCIe Analyzer and the first SI-Fi interposers earlier this year, we were already focused on making analyzers more collaborative and easier to use from a distance,” says Simon Thomas, Sr. director, sales. “The new WebUI helps our customers in different locations view the same system at the same time and work together more efficiently. With so many engineers working remotely now, often relying on another person in the lab, we wanted to get access to these tools to them as soon as possible. There’s an exciting roadmap for SerialTek’s WebUI and we are looking forward to rolling out more capabilities there in the future.”

Available WebUI functions include: save, zip, local trace download, real-time online system status, interposer status, recording status, system and network settings (Linux), user management, REST API library, and much more.

Availability
EDSFF, SFF-8644, OCuLink, and SlimSAS interposers are available for purchase, with shipments six weeks from order placement.