PCIe® Test – Compliance and Debugging Solutions for Electrical (PHY) Layer, CXL® and NVMe™ Testing

Cross-layer AnalysisCross-layer Analysis
ComplianceCompliance
PCIe ExpertisePCIe Expertise
PCIe 7.0PCIe 7.0
PCIe 6.0PCIe 6.0
PCIe 5.0 to 1.0PCIe 5.0 to 1.0
ResourcesResources

Complete PCI Express® Testing for Electrical Compliance and Cross-layer PCIe Debugging

Teledyne LeCroy is the only company that provides PCIe test across the layers – protocol to physical – while also providing superior instruments with sophisticated jitter, eye diagram, debug and compliance software.

  • Approved PCIe, CXL, and NVMe base and compliance test solutions
  • Simplified PCIe link testing with more visibility of complex PCIe behaviors
  • Most confidence for PCIe physical layer compliance and interoperability testing
  • Built-in PCIe physical layer test expertise using SDA Expert

PCIe Test That Crosses the Layers

Teledyne LeCroy's PCI Express, Compute Express Link (CXL), and NVM Express (NVMe) electrical test solutions combine superior instruments with sophisticated analysis software.

PCIe test equipment including WaveMaster 8000HD oscilloscope and Summit T516 analyzer connected to CrossSync PHY interposer for PCIe debugging.

Simplified PCIe Link Testing with More Visibility of Complex PCIe Behaviors

Seamlessly merge the functions of your protocol analyzer and oscilloscope.
  • Validate and debug active PCIe link operation
  • Quickly resolve PCIe interoperability issues by capturing the entire PCIe protocol stack
  • Analyze PCIe link training with integrated physical layer and protocol views
Generic PCIe compliance test and PCIe receiver calibration connection diagram

Most Confidence for PCIe Physical Layer Compliance and Interoperability Testing

Perform PCIe compliance testing with high accuracy
  • Approved solutions for all PCIe compliance tests and CXL compliance tests
  • Fully automated Transmitter, Receiver and Link Equalization testing
  • Easily transition from PCIe compliance testing to PCIe debug with SDA Expert
PCI express transmitter measurement to analyze PCIe transmitter equalizer often referred to as a PCIe preset measurement

Built-in PCIe Test Expertise Using SDA Expert

Contains specialized features for PCIe testing
  • Comprehensive PCIe eye diagrams, jitter and other PCIe measurements
  • Simple, powerful PCIe transmitter equalization analysis
  • Most complete PCIe SNDR (Signal-to-Noise-and-Distortion Ratio)

What is Cross-layer Analysis and CrossSyncTM PHY?

Cross-layer analysis is simultaneous, time-correlated analysis of physical and protocol layers. CrossSync PHY seamlessly merges the functions of your protocol analyzer and oscilloscope. It enables PCIe waveforms from Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscopes to be viewed alongside protocol analyzer traces, with complete time-correlation of electrical and protocol information.

Cross-layer analysis of protocol and electrical layers of a high-speed serial data signal using a protocol analyzer, oscilloscope and specialized equipment
How Are Layers Time Correlated
CrossSync PHY software showing PCIe link training specifically link behavior during speed changes

CrossSync PHY for PCIe uses a single interposer that connects to a protocol analyzer and provides probe inputs to the oscilloscope. A single software interface unifies oscilloscope and protocol analyzer views.

  • CrossSync PHY PCIe capable interposers enable observation of both electrical and protocol behavior without disturbing the link
  • Sideband signals, reference clock and power rails are all easily accessible to oscilloscope probes
  • High-bandwidth oscilloscope probing points for data lanes to debug during PCIe link training failure
  • Watch Video - CrossSync PHY for PCI Express Introduction

CrossSync PHY for PCIe provides cross triggering between the protocol analyzer and the oscilloscope, and built-in software makes minor timing corrections. Therefore, all protocol and oscilloscope captures are time correlated, making it easy to resolve interoperability problems.

  • Trigger protocol analyzer and oscilloscope captures on the same high-level event using the powerful triggering capabilities of the protocol analyzer.
  • Easily measure timing relationships between protocol and electrical domains
  • Faster root-cause analysis means fewer costly finger-pointing exercises
  • Watch Video – Cross-layer Analysis (CrossSync PHY) Demonstration

CrossSync PHY for PCIe provides one time-correlated view of all protocol traces and oscilloscope waveforms making it easy to gain deep insight into link training.

Simplified PCIe Link Testing, More Visibility of Complex PCIe Link Training and Power Delivery Behaviors

Seamlessly merge the functions of your protocol analyzer and oscilloscope. CrossSync PHY gives deeper insight and more visibility into the most complex behaviors in a PCI Express link. Link training, power-on operations, and power management transitions all involve interactions between protocol and electrical layers.

Block diagram of cross-layer protocol and electrical analysis using Teledyne LeCroy CrossSync PHY software, a specialized PCIe interposer, an oscilloscope, and a protocol analyzer.
CrossSync PHY software showing PCIe link training specifically link behavior during speed changes
CrossSync PHY software showing PCIe link training protocol transitions and electrical system behaviors for debugging PCIe L1 substate power management transitions
CrossSync PHY software showing PCIe link training with power rails for power integrity debug.

CrossSync PHY is the first and only capability to seamlessly merge a protocol analyzer and oscilloscope and provide simultaneous and time-correlated views of both protocol layer and electrical/physical layer waveforms while retaining all of the powerful capabilities of both instruments.

Gain further insight into the link behavior while the device negotiates through the various PCIe LTSSM and other training sequences.

Understand the impact of a PCIe power management transition on the PCIe system’s electrical behaviors as measured by the oscilloscope.

Capture PCIe system’s low voltage power rails in conjunction with link training, power management and other protocol events to find power integrity problems.

  • CrossSync PHY interposers have built-in rail voltage and current measurement points
  • Voltage and current waveforms are synchronized and time-correlated to protocol analyzer trace
  • Oscilloscope tools enable measurement of dynamic power consumption and power integrity metrics
  • Compatible with RP4060 Active Voltage Rail probe for low-noise measurement of voltage rails with high bandwidth and low loading
  • Watch Video - Dynamic Power Analysis of PCIe Power Management Transitions
  • Read App Note

The Most Confidence for PCIe, CXL and NVMe Compliance and Interoperability Test

One set of test equipment covers PCIe, CXL and NVMe electrical transmitter and receiver testing and test fixture characterization, including PCIe 6.0 with PAM4 signaling. The combination of a Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscope and an Anritsu bit error rate tester provides versatility.

Approved Solutions for all PCIe Compliance Tests and CXL Compliance Tests

Teledyne LeCroy supports the full PCI Express ecosystem using the same equipment configuration along with QualiPHY 2 automation software. Approved solutions for all PCI-SIG electrical compliance tests.

  • PCIe 6.0 transmitter, receiver, and PLL tests
  • PCIe 5.0 transmitter, receiver, and PLL tests
  • PCIe 4.0 transmitter, receiver, and PLL tests
  • PCIe 3.0 transmitter, receiver, and PLL tests
  • CXL 3.2 transmitter tests
  • CXL 2.0 transmitter tests
  • CXL 1.0 transmitter tests

Fully Automated Transmitter, Receiver, and Link Equalization Testing

QualiPHY 2 automation software provides high accuracy and repeatability for PCIe compliance testing and CXL compliance testing.

  • Transmitter testing
  • Receiver test calibration and execution
  • Link equalization testing
  • PLL bandwidth testing
  • Reference clock testing
  • Report generation

Automated PCIe Test Fixture Characterization

The PCIe test fixture characterization in QualiPHY 2 compliance test software options automates the entire test fixture characterization process and reduces errors.

  • Sets up and controls the Teledyne LeCroy WavePulser 40iX High-speed Interconnect Analyzer during measurements
  • Guides the user with a connection diagram at each step of the process
  • Automatically makes the measurements and transfers measured data to QualiPHY 2 compliance test software, then makes additional calculations
  • Generates a complete report for the PCIe test fixture characterization, equivalent to the existing manual process
  • Watch Video – PCIe Compliance Test Fixture Characterization Demo at DesignCon 2025

Built-in PCIe Test Expertise Using SDA Expert for PCIe Physical Layer Test, PCIe Eye Diagrams, Jitter and More

Transmitter characterization is a crucial process to validate the integrity of the transmitter. The best debug toolset requires specialized features found in SDA Expert Serial Data Analysis and the SDAX-PCIE6 or SDAX-PCIE-NRZ options.

PCIe transmitter equalization measurement also often call the PCIe preset measurement measures the preshoot, de-emphasis, and boost.
Test point configurator makes testing easier by automatically configuring the software dependent upon selected test point. Test point selections for PCIe compliance transmitter testing, PCIe base transmitter testing, PCIe CEM transmitter testing.
 PCIe 6.0 transition histogram including jitter measurement breakdown such as Rj, udjdd, utj, dj, and tj using the 52 UI jitter measurement pattern
Oscilloscope screen image showing PCIe Gen6 PAM4 eye diagram with SNDR measurement

Unique PCIe transmitter equalization measurements characterize the applied de-emphasis and preshoot.

Test Point configurator lets you test the link at either the transmitter or receiver and multiple pattern detection methodologies increases the accuracy of PCIe specific measurements.

  • Predefined test points automatically configures SDA Expert to specific PCIe data rates
  • Multiple pattern detection methodologies improve accuracy of PCIe specific measurements
  • Apply user defined patterns to make nonstandard PCIe measurements

Teledyne LeCroy provides the highest confidence PCIe jitter measurements for NRZ or PAM4 signals with complete measurements for PAM4 transitions.

  • Breakdown the jitter measurement composition into the 48 transitions in the 52-UI jitter measurement pattern, 12 voltage level transitions, or a single aggregated set of jitter measurements
  • Transition histogram for each of the 48 transitions in the 52-UI jitter measurement pattern
  • Each of the 52 measurement table results are locked to its respective transition histogram

PCIe 6.0 PAM4 signaling increases the impact of the noise at the receiver, requiring low noise measurements for accurate SNDR calculations.

  • Teledyne LeCroy WaveMaster 8000HD oscilloscopes have 12-bit resolution with low noise - essential for accurate PAM4 measurements
  • Highest precision and most accurate noise removal method (using attenuator) – unique to Teledyne LeCroy
  • SNDR measurement methodology stays current with evolving PCI-SIG requirements
  • Watch Webinar - PCIe Express 6.0 Electrical Compliance Test Overview

Best PCIe 7.0 Electrical Test Tools from the PCIe Industry Leader

PCIe 7.0 achieves 128 GT/s data rate using PAM4 signaling. PAM4’s multiple vertical levels requires higher resolution and lower noise at high bandwidth with additional signal fidelity measurements. Teledyne LeCroy meets these challenges with the WaveMaster 8650HD oscilloscope and sophisticated analysis tools.

Demonstration of PCIe Gen7 electrical test using Synopsys PCIe Gen 7 IP

The PCIe Industry Leader

Teledyne LeCroy is the PCIe industry leader in developing PCIe test tools
  • Proven track record of first-to-market PCIe test solutions
  • Continuous engagement with PCI-SIG working groups to closely track PCIe 7.0 base specification
  • Complete test coverage from PHY through protocol and in between
  • Watch Webinar
PAM4 eye diagram and jitter histogram including the jitter measurement results of the PCIe 6.0 jitter pattern

Most Complete Serial Data Toolbox

Simplify first silicon validation with the most complete serial data toolbox
  • 4th generation toolset covers complete needs for NRZ and PAM
  • Integrates everything – jitter, noise, crosstalk, equalization, and pulse response
  • Unique multi-view support with reference and comparison modes
PCIe7 electrical testing using an oscilloscope and testing to PCI-SIG pcie gen7 test requirements

Most accurate PAM signal characterization

High-resolution acquisitions with the most accurate noise removal method
  • 12-bit resolution at required 65 GHz oscilloscope bandwidth
  • Precise amplitude resolution for accurate measurement of PAM4 signal levels
  • Highest precision and most accurate noise removal method

Accelerate Your PCIe 6.0 Testing From First Power On to Interoperability

Teledyne LeCroy’s PCIe 6.0 electrical and protocol test solutions cover the entire design cycle from first article validation through compliance testing and the most complete interoperability validation and debug.

WaveMaster 8000HD oscilloscope and Anrtisu MP1900 bit error rate test BERT test equipment for PCIe compliance testing and PCIe debugging

PCIe 6.0 Compliance Testing in a Fraction of the time

PCI-SIG approved compliance testing using the QualiPHY® 2 automated compliance test framework
  • Unified Tx/Rx compliance test framework
  • Automated PCIe 6.0 test fixture characterization eliminates errors
  • Simplified test interface
  • Compliance on time from anywhere
  • Watch Webinar
PAM4 eye diagram and pulse response plot .PCI express 6.0 transmitter preset measurement with preset preshoot and preset de-emphasis results

Built-in PCIe 6.0 Test Expertise Using SDA Expert

Specialized PCIe 6.0 measurements for characterizing signals
  • Tx equalization analysis with pulse and step responses
  • Specialized PCIe 6.0 specific PAM4 jitter, SNDR and RLM measurements
  • Apply user defined patterns to make nonstandard PCIe measurements
  • Multiple pattern detection methodologies to increase the measurement accuracy
PCIe test using an oscilloscope and a protocol analyzer for cross-layer analysis, example shown is PCIe 6.0 debug

Simplified PCIe 6.0 Link Testing with More Visibility of Complex Behaviors

Seamlessly merge the functions of your protocol analyzer and oscilloscope.
  • Validate and debug active PCIe 6.0 link operation
  • Quickly resolve PCIe interoperability issues by capturing the entire PCIe protocol stack
  • Analyze PCIe link training with integrated physical layer and protocol views

Electrical PCIe Compliance Testing with Superior Root-cause Interoperability Analysis for PCIe 5.0 through 1.0

Go beyond PCIe compliance test and maximize your PCIe interoperability expertise for all form factors with cross-layer analysis to isolate problems to either physical layer or protocol, from the root complex (systems) to add-in cards.

PCIe compliance testing for PCIe 5.0

PCIe Compliance Testing in a Fraction of the time

PCI-SIG approved compliance testing using the QualiPHY® 2 automated compliance test framework
  • Unified Tx/Rx compliance test framework
  • Automated PCIe 6.0 test fixture characterization eliminates errors
  • Simplified test interface
  • Compliance on time from anywhere
PCIe gen5 test on an M.2 form factor device using an oscilloscope for PCIe debugging

Support for All PCIe Tests, All Form Factors, all Devices

Comprehensive PCIe embedded test and PCIe debugging
  • Support for CEM, U.2, and M.2 form factors
  • Visibility from electrical through transaction layer with decoders and protocol analysis software
  • Test the full range of PCIe device types: endpoints, add-in cards, root complex, systems, retimers and switches.
PCIe interoperability testing and PCIe debug using an oscilloscope and protocol analyzer for cross-layer analysis

Simplified PCIe Link Testing with More Visibility of Complex Behaviors

Seamlessly merge the functions of your protocol analyzer and oscilloscope.
  • Validate and debug active PCIe link operation
  • Quickly resolve PCIe interoperability issues by capturing the entire PCIe protocol stack
  • Analyze PCIe link training with integrated physical layer and protocol views

Automate PCIe Test Fixture Characterization, Reduce Errors

WavePulser 40iX High-speed Interconnect Analyzer, combined with QualiPHY 2 compliance test software options, automates the entire PCIe test fixture characterization process.

  • WavePulser 40iX provides fast and accurate S-parameter measurements up to 40 GHz
  • Automated, simple and fast instrument calibration — make one connection to the WavePulser and press “Go”
  • The QualiPHY 2 compliance test software guides the user with a connection diagram at each step of the process

PCIe Compliance Experience, Leadership, Support

Combining the Teledyne LeCroy WaveMaster 8000HD Oscilloscope, WavePulser 40iX interconnect analyzer and QualiPHY 2 automated compliance test software with the Anritsu SQA-R MP1900A BERT results in the most powerful characterization, compliance and debug solution available.

WaveMaster 8000HD oscilloscope displaying PCIe eye diagram
WavePulser 40iX high-speed interconnect analyzer functioning as a network analyzer to characterize test fixtures
PCIe compliance test reports of PCIe physical layer performance during PCIe compliance testing
Anritsu SQA-R MP1900A Signal Quality Analyzer-R / BERT commonly used for PCIe and PCI Express testing with a Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscope.

WaveMaster 8000HD series oscilloscopes supports all generations of PCIe transmitter and receiver testing at all required bandwidths

  • 65 GHz for PCIe 7.0 (128 GT/s)
  • 50 GHz for PCIe 6.0 (64 GT/s) and PCIe 5.0 (32 GT/s)
  • 25 GHz for PCIe 4.0 (16 GT/s)
  • 13 GHz for PCIe 3.0 (8 GT/s)

WavePulser 40iX High-speed Interconnect Analyzer automates the entire PCIe test fixture characterization process, reduces errors and saves time.

  • Network analysis with a frequency range from DC to 40 GHz
  • Built-in automatic calibration
  • Controlled by QualiPHY 2 compliance software to make all PCIe test fixture characterization measurements and calculations

QualiPHY 2 automated compliance test software fully automates all aspects of PCIe electrical compliance testing

  • Transmitter and receiver link equalization testing
  • Receiver calibration
  • Report generation
  • PCIe test fixture characterization

Anritsu SQA-R MP1900A series is an 8-slot modular, high-performance BERT supporting all-in-one PCIe transmitter equalization validation and PCIe receiver testing.

  • Jitter and noise generation for Rx calibration and bit error rate (BER) testing
  • High quality waveform PPG with integrated 10-tap emphasis
  • LTSSM loopback and Error detector with variable CTLE for PCIe Rx testing

Other Equipment, Technologies and Services Related to PCIe Express Deployment

Compute Express Link® (CXL®), and Nonvolatile Memory Express (NVMe) use PCIe physical layer signaling. Additionally, Teledyne LeCroy provides protocol analyzers and related equipment, training and services, and other electrical test solutions for technologies commonly deployed with PCIe. Use the links below to learn more.

Resources

Name

Complete PCI Express Electrical Test and Debug Datasheet

Teledyne LeCroy product offering and solutions for electrical compliance and cross-layer debugging from PCIe 7.0 to 1.0.

Datasheet

CrossSync PHY Datasheet

Teledyne LeCroy CrossSync PHY software and interposers seamlessly merge the functions of your Teledyne LeCroy protocol analyzer and oscilloscope.

Datasheet

How PAM4 Signaling is Changing PCIe 6.0 Jitter Measurements

PCI Express 6.0 adds multilevel PAM4 signal measurements and tighter tolerances to PCIe electrical test requirements. Here is a summary of what will be necessary to get your PCIe 6.0 designs up to speed.

Application Note

Making New PCIe 6.0 Compliance Pattern Measurements with Your Oscilloscope

PCI Express 6.0 requires measurements of SNDR, RLM and package insertion loss using a new Compliance Pattern signal. Here’s how to use Teledyne LeCroy’s SDAIII software to quickly make these measurements.

Application Note

Making Tx EQ Measurements with Your Oscilloscope

PCI Express 6.0 has 11 new presets and requires a method for measuring best-fit Tx EQ. SDAIII software can be used to easily make pulse measurements of Tx EQ for PCIe 6.0 testing.

Application Note

Measuring PCIe L1 Substate Timing with CrossSync PHY for PCIe

How to use CrossSync PHY with an oscilloscope and protocol analyzer to measure PCIe L1 substate timing.

Application Note

Measuring PCIe L1 Substate Power with CrossSync PHY for PCIe

How to use CrossSync PHY with an oscilloscope and protocol analyzer to measure PCIe L1 substate power consumption.

Application Note

Debugging PCIe Dynamic Link Behaviors with CrossSync PHY for PCIe

How to use CrossSync PHY with an oscilloscope and protocol analyzer to make measurements related to transmit-side PCIe link equalization.

Application Note
PCIe 6.0 Transmitter Equalization (Tx EQ) Testing
PCI Express Receiver Link Equalization Calibration and Test
PCI Express Transmitter Link Equalization Testing
PCI Express 5.0 Transmitter Electrical Test
CrossSync PHY for PCI Express® Introduction
Dynamic Power Analysis of PCIe Power Management Transitions
Measuring L1 Substate and Entry and Exit Timings using CrossSync PHY
Capturing PCIe Speed Changes on your Oscilloscope using Crossync PHY
Automated PCIe® Compliance Test Fixture Characterization Demo at DesignCon 2025
PCIe® 7.0 Compliance Test Demo at DesignCon 2025
PCIe® 6.0 Cross-layer Analysis Demo at DesignCon 2025

In this webinar, we showcase Alphawave Semi's IBIS-AMI performance, analyzed using Teledyne LeCroy's WaveMaster® 8650HD oscilloscope and SDAX software, targeting PCIe® 7.0. The demonstration highlights potential tests for 128 Gbps DSP-based SerDes for PCIe 7.0 signal transmission.

Join Teledyne LeCroy PCIe 6.0 physical-layer test experts explain the challenges that early adopters will face when moving from PCIe 5.0 to PCIe 6.0 and how to overcome these challenges.

PCIe® 6.0 compliance and interoperability testing has begun. Join Teledyne LeCroy as we focus on each electrical test, explain the background theory, test procedures and how electrical pass/failure is defined.

In Part Two of our PCI Express 5.0 Compliance Test Overview Webinar series we describe the new PCIe® 5.0 electrical compliance test procedures – what’s new, what’s the same as past generations, and how to avoid the most common test pitfalls.

Join Teledyne LeCroy for this live demonstration of PCI Express 5.0 Electrical Compliance Testing. In this webinar we will demonstrate everything a Test or Validation Engineer will need to do to perform PCIe® 5.0 CEM physical layer/electrical compliance testing.

Teledyne LeCroy’s PCI Express physical-layer test experts will break down each test, explaining the background theory, how the test procedure works, how passes and failures are determined, and how to track down and debug problems.

In this webinar we demonstrate everything a Test or Validation Engineer will need to do to perform PCIe 4.0 CEM compliance testing.

Join Teledyne LeCroy’s industry experts to learn new techniques to validate and debug link training and other protocol-directed electrical behaviors.

Learn new techniques to validate and debug PCIe link training, power management transitions, and other protocol-directed electrical behaviors.

In this webinar we demonstrate how to identify and debug potential signal integrity issues that may lead to poor link performance.

Name

QPHY2-PCIEn-TX-RX Instruction Manual

PCI Express Compliance Test Software Instruction Manual for PCIe 6.0 through PCIe 1.0.

Product Manual

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