Patent ID: 7000149

Claim:
A method for testing transmitter and receiver links of an I/O node, the method comprising: initiating a test mode by driving a test signal to the I/O node inputting test data into the I/O node through a peripheral bus interface, wherein the peripheral bus interface is operatively coupled to a test system, and wherein inputting the test data is performed synchronous to a first clock signal; transmitting the test data from a transmitter of the I/O node, wherein transmitting the test data is performed synchronous to a second clock signal, the second clock signal having a frequency greater than the first clock signal; receiving the test data in a receiver of the I/O node, wherein during said testing, the receiver of the I/O node is coupled to the transmitter by the loopback mechanism; outputting the test data from the I/O node through the peripheral bus interface; and determining results of said testing, said determining performed by the test system.