PCIe Backplane Systems & Expansion Kits
PCIe backplane boards and link kits for custom-built and growing systems
Where a VSNV3 or VSN1192 chassis is a complete, ready-to-run system, the products in this category are the building blocks integrators use to construct a custom PCIe host from their own hardware, or to physically link two chassis together as a system grows. Express9-G3 and Express11-G3 are standalone PCIe switch backplanes that turn a standard PICMG 1.3 single-board computer into a 9- or 11-slot PCIe host; the Expansion Kit is the HLink-G3/SLink-G3/Ex-Cable-G3 hardware that connects a master chassis to a VSNV3 Expansion Chassis.
SKU: EXP9
Express9 — Backplane 9-Slot
- 9-slot PCIe backplane (8x4-lane + 1x8-lane)
- One PICMG 1.3 SBC slot
- 8GB/s full duplex links via HLink-G3/SLink-G3
- Compatible with standard 4U IPC chassis
SKU: EXP11
Express11 — Backplane 11-Slot
- 11-slot Gen.3 PCIe backplane, order code Express11-G3
- One PICMG 1.3 SBC slot
- Standard ATX form factor
- 8GB/s full duplex links per slot, 96-lane PCIe 3.0 switch
SKU: EXPKIT-G3
Xtreme Expansion Kit — HLink-G3 / SLink-G3 / Ex-Cable-G3
- HLink-G3 host card fits the master chassis
- SLink-G3 satellite card fits the expansion chassis
- Ex-Cable-G3 (1 metre) connects the two
- Full gen-locking across chassis — no additional cabling needed
Built for the applications that can't afford to fail
PCIe 3.0 switching gives every slot up to 8GB/s of bandwidth, whether the host is a custom SBC build or a linked expansion chassis
Star topology support — multiple backplanes can connect back to one master rather than daisy-chaining through each other
The same Express9/Express11 backplane works as a standalone host (via PICMG 1.3 SBC) or as a VSNV3 expansion, depending on which link hardware is fitted
One Expansion Kit is all that's needed to link a master chassis to one additional expansion chassis — order one kit per expansion added
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Express9 or Express11 backplane with my VSN chassis?
No — Express9-G3 and Express11-G3 are standalone expansion backplanes for building a custom PCIe host or scaling beyond one chassis's slot count, not something added to every VSN build. Only specify one if the project genuinely needs more slots than a single 5- or 11-slot VSNV3 provides.
What's the difference between Express9 and Express11?
Slot count and physical format — Express9-G3 provides 9 PCIe slots (8x4-lane + 1x8-lane), Express11-G3 provides 11 slots (all 8-lane, x16 physical connectors). Both use the same PCIe 3.0 switching and HLink-G3/SLink-G3 expansion hardware.
What does the Expansion Kit actually connect?
It's the physical link between a master VSNV3 chassis and a VSNV3 Expansion Chassis — HLink-G3 fits in the master, SLink-G3 fits in the expansion chassis, and Ex-Cable-G3 is the cable between them. Each one occupies a slot on its own chassis, so factor that into your card count.