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For many applications, it is desirable to have additional general-purpose outputs that can be controlled from the SPI Adapter.

Why is that?

- SPI Adapter are used to access chips and embedded systems with a serial protocol. They are used to write parameters and stream data to a system under test.
The data that is written from the SPI Adapter allows configuring the system registers, bringing stimulus patterns into the system, filling in a memory and collecting parameters and trace data from it.

In short: SPI Host Adapters lets you use a PC to access and interact with a ASIC / SoC / FPGA / µC-based / ...  embedded system.

- Controlling one serial port of the system under test is not always sufficient:
* static digital signal lines are often used to place the system under test;
* it is often desirable to generate digital stimulus onto other I/Os of the system together with the control of the serial port.
* controlling global ports like the global reset of the system might help automate the testing.

In brief, there are numerous situation where controlling a single serial port is not enough.

Which SPI Adapter offers more than a serial port?

SPI Storm features an extra 8-bits general-purpose output port.

This port can be used to generate arbitrary digital patterns (digital data) up to 8 bits at 100 MHz.

In addition, the 'GPO port' can optionally be used synchronously with the data generated onto the 'serial port' (see port pins below)

Note: SPI Xpress DOES NOT feature extra output lines at all.

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