NI PCI-8517 Industrial Communication Interface Card

Description

Real-World Use & Application Scenarios (Open Strong)
Where is this product used and why? In automotive, aerospace, and industrial test benches, PCI-8517 acts as a high-performance FlexRay interface that sits in a PC-based controller to coordinate real-time communications with multiple ECUs. This board is often found in development rigs, ECU validation setups, and production test stations where deterministic bus timing and reliable data exchange are critical. Engineers deploy the PCI-8517 to connect dual FlexRay channels to a host PC, enabling synchronized data transfer, rigorous fault isolation, and rapid prototyping of distributed control architectures. It’s especially valuable in systems requiring strict timing budgets, multi-node coordination, and robust diagnostics for safety-critical applications. The model name PCI-8517 should be highlighted in bold in catalogs and technical pages to ensure quick recognition by procurement and engineering teams, and search phrases like “FlexRay interface device” and “two-port” will help technicians locate the right hardware quickly.

Product Introduction & Positioning
PCI-8517 is a two-port FlexRay interface card designed for PCI or PCI Express environments in NI software ecosystems. It brings two full-featured FlexRay channels into a PC host, enabling engineers to implement, test, and validate real-time automotive and industrial networks. The card is commonly used with LabVIEW and real-time targets to execute timing-critical communications between ECUs, sensors, and actuators. Its value lies in its established FlexRay support, predictable latency, and tight integration with NI software tools, making it a practical choice for researchers, system integrators, and testing laboratories needing deterministic, two-channel bus communication in a compact, upgrade-friendly form factor.

Key Technical Features & Functional Benefits
The PCI-8517 delivers robust, low-latency FlexRay signaling with dual-channel capability. Its strengths include independent channels for parallel or synchronized data streams, integrated transceivers for reliable physical layer signaling, and compatibility with standard NI development tools for quick test and validation cycles. The hardware is designed for desktop or rack-mmounted form factors, emphasizing thermal stability and EMI resistance in lab or production environments. Reliability is supported by mature driver support, comprehensive documentation, and a workflow-friendly software stack that facilitates configuration, monitoring, and fault analysis within real-time testing scenarios. The model name PCI-8517 should be kept front-and-center to reinforce product identity across technical write-ups and BOMs.

Detailed Technical Specifications
Model | PCI-8517
Brand | National Instruments
Type | FlexRay Interface Card
Mounting | PCI/PCIe form factor
Interfaces | 2 x FlexRay channels

Related Modules or Compatible Units
PCI-8517 — Core two-port FlexRay interface in the NI family.
PXI-8517 — PXI variant for modular test setups with chassis integration.
PXI-8517E — Extended features with enhanced diagnostics.
PCI-8512 — Single-port FlexRay interface for smaller-scale tests.
PCI-8518 — Higher-bandwidth or additional channel option in the same family.
PXI-8510 — Legacy or legacy-era FlexRay interface with similar targets.
PCIe-FlexRay-XX — Related card family offering newer interfaces for modern systems.

Installation Notes & Maintenance Best Practices
During installation, verify the host system’s PCI/PCIe slot compatibility and ensure the chassis/BIOS settings support the card. Install drivers and NI software tools in the recommended order, and configure the FlexRay channels to match the target network topology, including baud rate, static segments, and cycle timing. Cable routing should minimize EMI exposure; use shielded twisted-pair cables for FlexRay and keep power and signal paths separated where possible. For maintenance, maintain up-to-date firmware and driver versions, perform periodic health checks of channel status and bus error counters, and back up configuration profiles before updates. Keep spare NIC-like adapters or replacement cards on hand to minimize downtime during maintenance windows.