The Prodigy PCIe Low Power Side Band Signal Analyzer (PGY-PCIeLP-SBA) measures the timing of the PCIe sideband signals on an M.2 interface (PWR, PERST#, CLKREQ# and REFCLK) against the PCIe and M.2 specifications, and reports every failure during power-on, restart and low-power entry and exit to and from L0. It runs for hours, streaming continuously to the host, and can trigger in hardware on a timing failure, which makes it a fit for long, automated M.2 SSD test runs. Pertech is the authorized Prodigy distributor.
Sideband analyzer highlights
- Plots PWR, CLKREQ#, PERST# and REFCLK, with REFCLK shown as active (100 MHz) or off
- Covers power-on, restart, power cycling and low-power entry and exit to and from L0
- Measures TCRH OFF, TCRL ON, TPVGL, TPERST#-CLK and TPERST against the specifications
- Hardware trigger on any timing parameter failure, with pre- and post-trigger data
- Continuous streaming to the host for captures lasting hours, or manual stop
- Summary statistics and detail per measurement; sort by pass or fail and jump from a result to its waveform with markers
- Latency Tolerance Report support, with the option to overwrite the T-CRON parameter
- M.2 extender board with access to all sideband signals; Windows software and report generation
Where the sideband analyzer earns its keep
- M.2 SSD validation across power states and operating conditions
- Debugging failures on low-power entry and exit to and from L0
- Long-duration automated test environments that need to be alerted to a timing failure
- Checking power-on and reset sequencing of PCIe endpoints
Timing parameters measured
- TCRH OFF: CLKREQ# de-asserted high to clock parked
- TCRL ON: CLKREQ# asserted low to clock active
- TPVGL: power valid to PERST# input active
- TPERST#-CLK: REFCLK stable before PERST# de-assertion
- TPERST: PERST# assertion time
Key Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | PGY-PCIeLP-SBA |
| Signals | PWR, CLKREQ#, PERST#, REFCLK |
| Interface | M.2 (extender board included) |
| States covered | Power-on, restart, low-power entry and exit to/from L0 |
| Measurements | TCRH OFF, TCRL ON, TPVGL, TPERST#-CLK, TPERST |
| Trigger | Hardware trigger on timing parameter failure |
| Capture | Continuous streaming to host; duration set by user |
| Reports | Summary statistics, detail, Latency Tolerance Report |
| Software | Windows PC |
Frequently asked questions
What does a PCIe sideband signal analyzer measure?
It measures the timing of the PCIe sideband signals, PWR, PERST#, CLKREQ# and REFCLK, especially during power-on, restart and low-power entry and exit, and checks each measurement against the PCIe and M.2 specifications.
Why do sideband signals matter in low-power transitions?
When a device enters or leaves a low-power state, its sideband signals must meet the required timing. A violation can affect how the device behaves, so measuring them shows engineers where the failure starts.
Can it be used to debug M.2 SSDs?
Yes. It connects through an M.2 extender board and is designed to test and debug M.2 SSD devices under different operating conditions.
Why run sideband analysis for a long time?
Some timing failures appear only after many power-state transitions. Continuous streaming lets the analyzer run for hours and trigger on the first failure in an automated test.
Where can I buy the Prodigy PCIe sideband analyzer in Israel?
Pertech is the authorized Prodigy distributor. Prodigy offers evaluation units, free online technical support and free software updates. Contact Pertech for a quote or a demo.
Related Prodigy products at Pertech
- PCIe Protocol Analyzer (Gen1 to Gen5)
- PCIe Protocol Decode Software for oscilloscopes
- Logic Analyzer for Embedded Interfaces
- Prodigy protocol analyzers at Pertech
Testing M.2 SSD power states? Contact Pertech for a quote, a demo or help choosing the right tool.
