Digital Test capability of the PXI-6259 and PXI-7833

[danzimmer]

Our test system requires 130 bidirectional Digital I/O channels.  We need to transmit multiple digital patterns (e.g. 100 patterns, 64 bits wide) at a specified rate to the Unit under Test (UUT).  The instrument needs to store the patterns, and then the patterns need to be transmitted to the UUT at the specified rate.  The PXI-7833 provides 96 channels of bidirectional DIO.  The PXI-6259 provides 32 channels of bidirectional DIO and 16 PFI signals that can function as static DIO. What does Programmable Function Interface (PFI) mean?
 
Can we use a PXI-6259 + PXI-7833 together to get 96 + 32 + 16 = 144 channels of bidirectional DIO that meets the requirements noted above?  If so, how would we synchronize the two instruments?
 
Here's a simple example.  Note that in some cases, we need to transmit more than 100 patterns, and each pattern could be up to 64 bits wide.
 
1.  Stim the following patterns at a rate of 100KHz to the edge connector of the UUT:
101000101110001011100011001010111001011000110101
 
2.  Measure the response at the edge connector of the UUT.
 
3.  Mask unneeded bits.
 
4.  Compare the response data to the expected response and return an error word that indicates the mismatched bits (if any).
 
Can the PXI-6259 and PXI-7833 perform the test described above?  The mask and compare could be done in software if the instrument can't do it directly. Thanks, Dan

[danzimmer]

Hi Yi!
Thanks very much for your reply.  I understand your explanation, but need to clarify something.
We are building a new test system to replace an old system (about 20 years old) and my first task is to specify the hardware that meets the requirement.  We also have a test system that is about one year old - it was designed for a different application.  We would like to use as much of the same hardware as possible in the new system.  To keep things straight, lets assign the following:
System A - 20 year old system being replaced
System B - System to replace System A
System C - 1 year old system for other application
System C has a PXI-7833R and PXI-6259 in it.  If possible, we would like to use these two modules in System B.  However, if there's a better solution, we could specify different modules in System B.  Now that I understand how we could use the PXI-7833R and PXI-6259 to do the job, does NI have another module or modules that would do the job better (more direct), rather than using the PFI lines for something that they really weren't designed for. 
One major consideration is that we are going to port the existing test programs from System A to System B.  We have a good idea how to move the programs, but it would require some pretty tricky software and switching to make the existing code work with the hardware set up that you described.  The ideal replacement hardware would have at least 130 channels on one module.  If we have to use more than one module to get 130 channels, I'd prefer to limit the complexity to synchronizing the two modules with a single trigger line.
Thank you!
Dan