Curtiss-Wright / VMETRO VG-SAM Vanguard State Analyzer Module

The Curtiss-Wright/VMETRO VG-SAM (Vanguard State Analyzer Module) captures and analyzes digital state transitions on PCI and PCI-X bus architectures up to 133 MHz. This specialized analyzer enables engineers to diagnose hardware and software interactions through advanced triggering, filtering, and real-time statistics. The module operates as part of the Vanguard Bus Analyzer family, delivering protocol-level visibility and error detection for complex embedded systems.

## Technical Specifications

**Bus Analysis Capabilities**
• Captures 64-bit or 32-bit PCI-X/PCI bus activity up to 133 MHz
• 2M sample trace buffer at 256 bits
• Three sampling modes: Clock Mode (sample per PCI clock cycle), Transfer Mode (Address to Data latching), and Standard Mode (rising edge sampling)

**Triggering and Filtering**
• Trigger sequencer with 16 levels and 8 events of 256 bits each
• Conditional triggering using “if-then-else” logic programming
• Advanced store qualifiers and delay conditions

**Protocol Support and Validation**
• Full PCI and PCI-X protocol support
• Optional Protocol Checker detects up to 71 PCI-X errors or 45 PCI errors

**Real-Time Statistics Engine**
• Event counting, bus utilization, and bus transfer rate measurement
• Block length distribution and arbiter latency analysis
• User-defined statistics capability

**Optional Exerciser Functionality**
• Bus Master with DMA support
• Target interface with memory
• Interrupter capability
• Supports 64-bit and 32-bit at 66 MHz PCI and 100 MHz PCI-X
• Enhanced version: 133 MHz PCI-X with error injection

## Key Features

**Control and Connectivity**
• USB or Ethernet host interface
• 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet for networked analysis
• Windows PC control via BusView GUI or API

**Power Management**
• 5V Adapter Card: 33 mA @ 3.3V
• Powered from target system or external supply (cPCI excluded)
• On-board LED display powered from 5V rail

## Typical Applications

Debugging and validation of PCI/PCI-X boards, system-level protocol analysis, hardware-software interaction diagnostics, real-time bus performance monitoring.

## Compatibility & Integration

Component within the Vanguard Bus Analyzer family. Interfaces via USB or Ethernet to Windows-based analysis platforms.