A Software Suite for Validation of the X2O Board Performance

Abstract

As the Large Hadron Collider undergoes upgrades to increase luminosity, more detectors and faster data processing is needed. The X2O is a custom electronics board to support operations in the Endcap Muon System of the Compact Muon Solenoid. It has a power module, a FPGA, and 120 high speed optical links. Thoroughly testing its capabilities is necessary before full scale production. A software suite was created to test the X2O. It analyzed physical characteristics like voltage, temperature, power, and current. It also checks programming the FPGA, reading and writing register values, and the reference clock frequencies. Operating parameters were almost all within ranges, and the X2O is ready to move to production. Future work should center around tightening performance bounds, and testing the X2O at other places in the data path it will be implemented.