N5991ST3A SATA 3 RX Test Automation N5991ST3E SATA 3 Link Training Suite and Debug Tool

At a Glance

High-speed digital standards are quickly evolving to keep pace with emerging technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and autonomous vehicles.

Each generational change introduces new test challenges for your digital designs. You need to test your high-speed digital designs across all product development stages — from design and simulation, analysis, debug, and compliance test. The latest N5991 software solution anticipates test challenges, optimizes performance, and accelerates time-to-market of your high-speed computing interfaces, data center connections, and consumer electronics.

• Supported standards include SATA, SAS, PCIe, CCIX, and USB / Thunderbolt, 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 

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 dataacquisition 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

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.