N5991ST3A SATA 3 RX Test Automation N5991ST3E SATA 3

N5991ST3A SATA 3 RX Test Automation

N5991ST3E SATA 3 Link Training Suite and Debug Tool

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Table of Contents At a Glance ...... 3 Turn Your Instruments into a Solution ...... 5 Fast and Reliable Testing ...... 5 Standardize Your Tests...... 5 Test Selection and Test Results ...... 5 Computer Bus Applications – SATA ...... 7 SATA calibration and receiver testing ...... 7 Software products for SATA ...... 8 SATA receiver tests ...... 8 SATA receiver test product add-ons ...... 9 SATA link training suite and debug tool ...... 10 Instrument requirements for SATA receiver testing ...... 10 Ordering information for software products for SATA ...... 11 System Requirements ...... 12 Software ...... 12 Requirements ...... 12 Recommendation ...... 12 Hardware ...... 12 Requirement...... 12 Recommendations ...... 12 Remote Power Cycling ...... 12 Remote Programming ...... 12 Software Maintenance ...... 13 Related Products ...... 14

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High-speed digital standards are quickly evolving to keep pace with emerging technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual Note reality (VR), and autonomous vehicles. This datasheet Each generational change introduces new test challenges for your digital designs. outlines the covered You need to test your high-speed digital designs across all product development tests, instrument stages — from design and simulation, analysis, debug, and compliance test. The requirements as well latest N5991 software solution anticipates test challenges, optimizes performance, requirements for the and accelerates time-to-market of your high-speed computing interfaces, data center PC the test connections, and consumer electronics. automation software • Supported standards include SATA, SAS, PCIe, CCIX, and USB / Thunderbolt, is running on. HDMI, MIPI C-PHY and other standards will be continuously added with the requirements for higher data speed testing • Guided setup with automated fast stress signal calibration and compliance measurement functions • Modern look and feel with enhanced functionalities • System modularity allows the user to enable only required functionalities • HTML / Excel test reports • Link training suites available that also feature debugging of DUTs • Node-locked and transportable licenses • Single and multi-lane device testing • Characterization mode for in-depth testing • Supports real-time parameter changes of amplitude levels, etc.

Figure 1. N5991 Software Solution Path

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Figure 2. Software Platform Block Diagram

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Turn Your Instruments into a Solution

An efficient test strategy is a proven competitive advantage. The Keysight Technologies N5991 is the successor of the well-known industry standard N5990A test automation software platform. It follows the same concept - combining the performance of your instruments with the convenience of your PC. The system’s software provides unprecedented test integration, high-throughput, and ease-of-use for a wide range of stimulus and response systems, providing a level of control that transforms a collection of instruments into a universal, user-friendly and highly productive test solution.

Fast and Reliable Testing

The comprehensive N5991 software platform increases test speed, reduces test costs, and ensures greater thoroughness than manual electrical testing. Using PCI Express as an example, the system can test a range of devices - transmitters, receivers and bridges, network adapters, DSP, TV, and data- acquisition cards - whether they are production-ready prototypes, development boards, or chipsets.

Standardize Your Tests

The N5991 receiver-test options provide dedicated receiver compliance tests for popular and emerging digital buses. The libraries ideally complement Keysight’s portfolio of transmitter-test software applications for computer buses like PCI Express. The user can choose compliance mode for fast reassurance, or characterization mode for in-depth analysis. The Receiver Test Automation Platform’s compliance testing capabilities have been repeatedly proven at interoperability workshops (“plug fests”).

The N5591 builds on the success of previous generations to deliver significant gains in productivity. Like its predecessor, the N5990A, the new system makes it easy to test multiple buses by using the same interface for all – SATA, SAS, PCI Express, USB / Thunderbolt, CCIX, HDMI, MIPI C-PHY and more. It delivers additional gains by using familiar HTML or Excel formats for reporting results. The N5991 software architecture is based on C# code and Microsoft .NET, which, in conjunction with on-the-fly amplitude and jitter control supported by many Keysight instruments, ensures fast interaction, calibration, and test execution for the highest possible throughput.

Test Selection and Test Results

The test automation software platform lets you select tests from an intuitive tree structure with multiple levels of detail. Select the tests you want to run, as well as the number of their repetitions. Test results are provided in HTML or Microsoft Excel format. Measuring results are reported in parameter tables and graphically in curves (see Figure 3).

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Figure 3. SJ calibration – Graphical and Tabular Results

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Computer Bus Applications – SATA

The N5991 is designed to meet the needs of the data center application space, with many high-speed links within and between servers. It utilizes the Keysight M8040A High-Performance BERT with Baud rates up to 64 GBaud and the ability to encode data in NRZ and PAM4. This makes the software the center piece of Keysight’s data center receiver test solutions. SATA data rates are on the lower spectrum of the M8040A High-Performance BERT. The M8040A High-Performance BERT can be used to test SATA 3G and 6G data rates but not 1.5G. The J-BERT M8020A High-Performance BERT can be used to test all three data rates. Both M8000 BERT systems are supported by the N5991ST3A SATA 3 RX Test Automation as well as the N5991ST3E SATA 3 Link Training Suite and Debug Tool software products.

Figure 4. SATA Receiver Test Setup based on M8040A High-Performance BERT

SATA calibration and receiver testing

The SATA specification is developed by the SATA-IO. While the SATA specification includes all the definition for SATA receivers, transmitters, connectors, channels, etc. compliance testing or interoperability testing for receivers is defined by the SATA Logo working group in the Unified Test Descriptions (UTD). Test vendors, like Keysight, develop Method of Implementation (MOI) documents which realize the tests defined in the UTD using their test instrumentation.

SATA receiver testing does not use transmitter equalization (TxEQ). Thus, no time extensive TxEQ calibration are required. The risetimes of the instruments are slowed down by using transition time converters (TTC) on the pattern generator outputs. For instance, for SATA 6G a 100 ps TTC is used. A SATA stress signal consists of three different impairments. ISI which is created using specific ISI traces. Random jitter (RJ) and sinusoidal jitter (SJ). RJ and SJ are calibrated before the ISI trace. The stress signal amplitude is calibrated after the ISI trace with RJ and SJ applied.

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Software products for SATA SATA receiver tests

The N5991ST3A SATA 3 RX Test Automation software performs the necessary stress signal calibrations and executes the receiver tests defined by the UTD. The receiver tests are labeled RSG in the UTD. Additionally, the N5991ST3A SATA 3 RX Test Automation software provides many additional receiver tests in export mode.

Data Rate M8040A J-BERT M8020A

6 Gb/s yes yes

3 Gb/s yes yes

1.5 Gb/s no yes

Figure 5. N5991ST3A Calibration Steps and Receiver Tests

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Measurement M8040A J-BERT M8020A

RSG-03 Test compliance & expert mode compliance & expert mode

6G Constant Parameter Test expert mode expert mode

6G Jitter Tolerance Test expert mode expert mode

6G Sensitivity Test expert mode expert mode

6G Data Rate Deviation Test expert mode expert mode

6G SSC Tolerance Scan expert mode expert mode

RSG-02 Test compliance & expert mode compliance & expert mode

RSG-05 Test compliance & expert mode1) compliance & expert mode

RSG-06 Test expert mode1) expert mode

3G Constant Parameter Test expert mode expert mode

3G Jitter Tolerance Test expert mode expert mode

3G Sensitivity Test expert mode expert mode

3G Data Rate Deviation Test expert mode expert mode

3G SSC Tolerance Test expert mode expert mode

RSG-01 Test - compliance & expert mode

1.5G Constant Parameter Test - expert mode

1.5G Jitter Tolerance Test - expert mode

1.5G Sensitivity Test - expert mode

1.5G Data Rate Deviation Test - expert mode

1.5G SSC Tolerance Test - expert mode

1) RSG-05 and RSG-06 are performed at 3 Gb/s in case of M8040A based setup and performed at 1.5 Gb/s in case of J-BERT M8020A based setup

SATA receiver test product add-ons

Support of the DUT integrated BER counter interface is added by the N5991ST1A-ADD add-on.

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SATA link training suite and debug tool

Figure 6. Generate Static Training Sequences for SATA using the SATA Link Training Suite and Debug Tool

The N5991ST3E SATA Link Training Suite and Debug Tool simplifies the process of creating static training sequences. Next to a graphical representation of the loopback path through configuration and the required parameters, the software tool offers a scripting language which is helpful for the creation of more specialized sequences. Additionally, the tool provides control for the most important BERT functions enabling efficient debugging. N5991ST3E SATA Link Training Suite and Debug Tools supports the J-BERT M8020A BERT system, as well as the M8040A BERT system.

Instrument requirements for SATA receiver testing

The N5991ST3 SATA 3 Receiver Test Automation supports the J-BERT M8020A BERT System as well as the M8040A 64 Gbaud High Performance BERT System. The BERT systems must cover the required data rates, be equipped with jitter injection capabilities. RX testing can be performed using a DUT built in error counter if the error counter can be accessed programmatically. This requires the N5991ST1A-ADD SATA Integrated BER Counter Interface Support add-on. In most cases an error detector will be used for RX testing. The error detector must be equipped with internal CDR and SATA ALIGN filtering.

Keysight V Series, Z Series and UXR Series real-time oscilloscopes can be used. But only the V Series and Z Series scopes are fully tested for the J-BERT M8020A based test setup and only the Z Series and UXR Series scopes are fully tested for the M8040A based test setups. The minimum bandwidth requirement is 13 GHz. But many other standards will require 25 GHz for use with the M8020A BERT system and at least 50 GHz for use with the M8040A BERT system. The oscilloscope must be equipped with embedding capabilities as well as serial data analysis capabilities. A two-channel oscilloscope is sufficient for SATA, but some other standards might require four channels.

Please ask for a complete configuration for details on instrument options, accessories, fixtures and additional software.

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Ordering information for software products for SATA

SATA receiver test software products

N5991ST3A SATA 3 RX Test Automation

SATA link training suite and debug tool software products

N5991ST3E SATA 3 Link Training Suite and Debug Tool

Licensing options for receiver test and link training suite products

1FP Perpetual node-locked license

1TP Perpetual transportable single license

SFM SW maintenance, 1-year, for -1FP license

STM SW maintenance, 1-year, for -1TP license

Add-ons for SATA receiver test products

N5991ST1A-ADD SATA Integrated BER Counter Interface Support

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System Requirements

Software Requirements • OS: Windows 10 - 64-Bit, English version • Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.7.1 or higher • Keysight IO Libraries Suite 18.1 or higher Recommendation • Microsoft Office Excel 2010 or higher, English version

Hardware Requirement

• Connectivity hardware for instrumentation, depending on configuration e.g. USB3, Ethernet Recommendations

• Multicore processor with 12 logical processors or more • 16GB RAM or higher

Remote Power Cycling

All N5991 Receiver Test Automation products can control remote power strips from Koukaam, Allnet and Synaccess to power cycle a DUT.

Remote Programming

The N5991 ValiFrame remote interface allows ValiFrame functionality (such as test setup information, calibration, and test procedures, and results) to be accessed from external programming environments. Remote interface does not need a special license to be used, it is included in the base product of the particular standards. The remote interface can thus be used to control the N5991 with external software. In typical use, a top-level external test sequencer takes advantage of ValiFrame functionality.

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Software Maintenance

The purchase of one -SFM maintenance license for -1FP product licenses or one -STM maintenance license for -1TP product licenses provides the ability to install updates for one year.

A software maintenance license is always valid for the respective RX test or Link Training Suite product only.

Maintenance updates do include updates to newer instrument firmware as well as procedure and test limit changes for the test specifications covered by the products the software maintenance license belongs to. Upgrades to a different test specification are not covered.

All N5991 RX test or Link Training Suite licenses which were purchased after October 31. 2020 will no longer include update coverage during the first year and will require a respective -SWM license to be able to install updates. This is in-line with other Keysight software offerings.

Products which do not have a software maintenance offering and are not an Add-On will not be updated but are operational still.

If software maintenance has expired a new software maintenance license can be purchased for this product. But the new software maintenance will not grant coverage starting from the purchase date but from the date the previous software maintenance coverage expired. For example, the software maintenance expired on April 30th, 2020 and a new 1-year software maintenance is purchased on August 1st, 2020, the purchased coverage will take May 1st, 2020 and will end on April 30th, 2021 of the following year

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