HDD-8261

The HDD-8261 is a PXI Data Storage Module from National Instruments, designed for high-speed data streaming, signal recording, field testing, and PXI Express storage expansion. As an in-chassis PXI Express storage module, the NI HDD-8261 provides additional high-capacity storage directly inside a PXI Express chassis. It features an onboard PCI Express SATA controller, supports multiple drive configurations, and occupies only three PXI slots. NI describes the HDD-8261 as a 4 TB, 6-drive PXI Data Storage Module and lists it as no longer available, with PXIe-8267 suggested as a replacement.

The NI HDD-8261 is designed for PXI systems that need more storage capacity or higher data streaming performance than the system controller’s internal drive can provide. It can be used to stream high-speed data, record large signal datasets, move data between multiple test setups, or supplement the storage capacity of a PXI system controller. This makes the HDD-8261 useful for applications such as RF signal recording, field testing, waveform logging, high-speed data acquisition, and long-duration measurement storage.

The HDD-8261 PXI Express Storage Module supports both hard disk drives and solid-state drives. The HDD configuration provides larger storage capacity, while the SSD configuration provides better ruggedness and higher streaming performance. According to NI documentation, the module can hold four 1 TB or greater SATA hard drives, or six 400 GB or greater SATA solid-state drives. This gives users flexibility when choosing between storage capacity and data throughput for different PXI measurement applications.

The National Instruments HDD-8261 supports software-based RAID configurations, including striped, simple, and spanned RAID arrays. Its software RAID capability allows users to configure the drives according to the needs of the test system, whether the priority is capacity, data organization, or streaming performance. The module uses a Gen 2 x8 PXI Express high-bandwidth connector to communicate with the PXI chassis backplane, helping support high-speed data transfer between the storage module and other PXI system components.

For high-speed streaming applications, the NI HDD-8261 can provide strong read and write performance depending on the drive type. NI documentation states that the module can reach up to 2 GB/s read and write speed with the SSD drive option, while the HDD drive option can reach up to 250 MB/s read and write speed for 80% of the striped RAID 0 array capacity across all four drives. These performance characteristics make the HDD-8261 suitable for high-bandwidth signal recording and data logging applications.

The HDD-8261 is especially useful in PXI Express systems where large amounts of data must be captured continuously. For example, digitizers, oscilloscopes, RF signal analyzers, and high-speed DAQ modules can generate large datasets that require fast storage. By adding the HDD-8261 to the chassis, engineers can reduce dependence on external storage devices and create a more integrated PXI test system for signal recording and data streaming.

In system integration, the NI HDD-8261 PXI Data Storage Module fits directly into a compatible PXI Express chassis and occupies three slots. It provides in-chassis storage expansion without requiring a separate external RAID enclosure. The module includes front-panel indicators for power, failure, and HDD activity, which help users monitor storage status during operation. NI documentation also notes that the supported Microsoft Windows version is Windows 7 64-bit, and using other Windows versions may reduce performance.

Overall, the National Instruments HDD-8261 PXI Data Storage Module is a high-speed in-chassis storage solution for PXI Express systems. With support for HDD or SSD configurations, software RAID, a Gen 2 x8 PXI Express connection, up to 4 TB HDD storage, up to 2 GB/s SSD read/write performance, and a compact three-slot design, the HDD-8261 is well suited for PXI data streaming, signal recording, field testing, and high-capacity measurement storage.