National Instruments NI-8260

The National Instruments NI-8260 PXI Data Storage Module (Part Number: 780980-01) is a high-speed data storage solution designed for PXI Express systems, featuring four 2.5-inch SATA drive bays. Users can choose between hard-disk drives for greater storage capacity or solid-state drives for enhanced durability, making the NI-8260 ideal for a variety of applications including extended data storage, field data acquisition, and signal recording and playback. The module occupies three slots in a PXI Express chassis, utilizing one PXI Express peripheral slot along with two additional slots.

The NI-8260 supports two configurations for data management: software RAID-0 and JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks). RAID-0, or striped configuration, distributes data across all four drives without redundancy, maximizing throughput and storage capacity while delivering optimal performance for high-speed data streaming. It is important to note that RAID-0 does not provide fault tolerance. In contrast, the JBOD configuration concatenates the drives into a single volume, filling each drive sequentially without redundancy or fault tolerance. Both configurations are managed via the Windows operating system.

Although National Instruments has announced the obsolescence of the NI-8260, the module remains available for purchase and repair through Apex Waves. The module measures 2.4 x 5.1 x 8.5 inches and weighs approximately 770 grams in its standard configuration. Additionally, users can access detailed documentation including user and maintenance manuals via download. For pricing inquiries, please contact a sales representative.