The National Instruments part number 778956-01 refers to the PCI-8331 MXI-4 Bus Expansion Card, designed to facilitate seamless control of PXI systems from any PCI slot in a desktop or server configuration. This advanced MXI-4 technology enables high-bandwidth, transparent communication for superior performance when integrating PXI equipment. Supporting data transfer rates of up to 1.5 Gbit/s, the MXI-4 Expansion Card can be configured in either daisy chain or star topologies, allowing versatile connections between multiple PXI chassis and devices. With a compact design measuring 4.2 inches by 6.9 inches, this card features a user-friendly snap-on installation process and is equipped to operate effectively in varying environments, with a recommended temperature range of 0 °C to 55 °C and a humidity tolerance of up to 90% non-condensing. The card requires copper cables for data and power transmission and is optimized for installations lacking a cooling fan, relying on dual heatsinks for thermal management. It is crucial to install this card within clean environments to protect against industrial contaminants, as it has an open type enclosure with an IP 00 rating. Furthermore, it is compatible with MXI-4 software and the NI-VISA driver, enabling enhanced operational capabilities for users.