News

News Releases
2002

PICMG Initiates AdvancedTCA™ Specification for PCI Express™
PICMG Publishes 2.20 CompactPCI Serial Mesh Backplane (CSMB) Specification
PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) Holds First AdvancedTCA Interoperability Workshop
PICMG Publishes CompactPCI StarFabric Specification
PICMG Revises Two CompactPCI Specifications to Include New System Availability and Management Features
PICMG Issues Advanced™ Draft Short Form Specification
PICMG Issues Embedded PCI-X Specification & ECN on COMPACTPCI Geographic Addressing
PICMG Re-elects Officers for 2002
PICMG Adopts Name for New Series of Specifications for Next-Generation Communications Equipment, “AdvancedTCA”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PICMG© INITIATES ADVANCEDTCA™SPECIFICATION
FOR PCI EXPRESS™

WAKEFIELD, Mass. - Dec. 16, 2002 - The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) has initiated development of a fourth backplane fabric specification in the new AdvancedTCA family, denoted PICMG 3.4, that will define the electrical environment for PCI Express as a fabric interface for AdvancedTCA system applications. The electrical environment described in the new specification will support PCI Express Core and PCI Express Advanced Switching silicon implementations.

PCI Express is defined in a specification from the PCI-SIG™. It describes a packetized protocol and a layered architecture. In addition to offering high bandwidth, performance and scalability in both width and frequency, PCI Express offers other advanced features. These capabilities include QoS (quality of service), native hot-plug, bandwidth per pin efficiency and error reporting, recovery and correction. A linearly scaled 16-lane PCI Express interconnect can provide data transfer rates of more than 8 Gigabytes per second. To learn more about the PCI Express specifications, visit http://www.pcisig.com.

The PICMG 3.4 AdvancedTCA PCI Express specification will map the PCI Express and PCI Express Advanced Switching signaling onto the AdvancedTCA backplane to provide switched, high-speed, low latency point-to-point connectivity among node, fabric (switch hub) and full mesh boards for PCI Express interconnects. Pin mappings for node and fabric cards/slots will be defined for the dual star, dual-dual star, and mesh fabric topologies defined in the PICMG 3.0 core specification.

The Co-Chairs of the new specification effort are Wayne Perrier of PLX and Todd Comins of StarGen, and the PICMG Executive sponsors of the effort are AudioCodes, Bustronic/Elma Electronic, Cypress Point Research, FCI Electronics, Hybricon, Intel, NMS Communications, Performance Technologies, Pigeon Point Systems, PLX, Rittal/Kaparel, and StarGen.

"The addition of PCI Express to the AdvancedTCA fabrics offers system designers the capability of implementing this new fabric technology quickly in a standard form factor," said Dick Somes of Force Computers, PICMG's technical officer. "AdvancedTCA is the ideal form factor to bring PCI Express technology to telecommunications."

PICMG 3.4 AdvancedTCA PCI Express joins other AdvancedTCA specifications now in progress: PICMG 3.0, the AdvancedTCA core specification; PICMG 3.1, AdvancedTCA Ethernet; PICMG 3.2, AdvancedTCA InfiniBand®; and PICMG 3.3, AdvancedTCA StarFabric.

When completed and adopted by vote of the PICMG Executive members, copies of the specification will be distributed to all PICMG members in good standing. Non-members can purchase copies of all released PICMG specifications from the PICMG Web site, www.picmg.org.

About PICMG
Founded in 1994, PICMG is a consortium of over 600 companies that collaboratively develop open specifications for high performance telecommunications and industrial computing applications. The members of the consortium have a long history of developing leading edge products for these industries. Recently, PICMG announced a new series of specifications for next-generation telecommunications equipment, AdvancedTCA™ (for Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture). The AdvancedTCA core specification PICMG 3.0 is targeted for completion by the end of 2002. For more information on AdvancedTCA or to view a short form version of an interim draft of the 3.0 specification, visit http://www.advancedtca.org/.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

PICMG is a registered trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. AdvancedTCA is a trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. PCI Express and PCI SIG are trademarks of the PCI SIG. InfiniBand is a registered trademark of the InfiniBand Trade Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PICMG PUBLISHES 2.20 COMPACTPCI SERIAL MESH BACKPLANE (CSMB) SPECIFICATION

New Specification Adds Cell-based Data Transport to PICMG 2.x Platforms

WAKEFIELD, Mass. - Nov. 12, 2002 - The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) has approved the release of PICMG 2.20 Revision 1.0 of its CompactPCI® Serial Mesh Backplane (CSMB) specification, which defines a high-speed serial fabric for CompactPCI platforms.

The new specification is intended to enhance CompactPCI's data transport capability for high-end applications, such as telecommunications multi-service routers and gateways, while maintaining compatibility with PICMG's existing 2.x family of CompactPCI specifications. PICMG 2.20 outlines a layered approach to provide interoperability for the mechanical, electrical, signaling and packet protocols.

The executive members of PICMG, a consortium of over 600 companies that collaboratively develop open specifications for use in industrial and telecommunication computing applications, recently voted to adopt the PICMG 2.20 specification.

"The addition of CSMB to CPSB and StarFabric further enhances the complementary relationship between the PICMG 2.x architecture and our emerging AdvancedTCA™ family of specifications," said Dick Somes of Force Computers, PICMG's technical officer. "This latest specification extends the capacity of small form factor PICMG platforms in cost effectively serving the communications marketplace, and allows additional common technology to transition between the CompactPCI and AdvancedTCA families."

The goals of PICMG's serial mesh backplane architecture are to increase backplane data transport capacities to as much as 700 Gigabits per second; to support multiple simultaneous transport protocols, such as ATM, IP, Frame Relay, GPRS Tunneling Protocol, and others; to leverage current standards in network processing and switch fabric technology; and to maintain maximum backwards compatibility with existing CompactPCI specifications.

"In PICMG's serial mesh architecture, there is no fixed protocol switch/router, which results in significant advantages in cost, scalability and traffic management," said Bruce Rosenkrantz of Motorola, who chaired the PICMG 2.20 technical subcommittee. "Multiple protocols can be supported without adding complexity, while costs are only incurred when new mesh elements, network services, or subscribers are added."

Rosenkrantz also served as secretary; Chuck Hill of Motorola served as editor. The 2.20 specification contains a complete listing of participating companies. Copies of the specification are being distributed to all PICMG members in good standing. Non-members can purchase copies of all released PICMG specifications from the PICMG Web site, www.picmg.org.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. AdvancedTCA is a trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PCI INDUSTRIAL COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS GROUP (PICMG) HOLDS FIRST ADVANCEDTCA INTEROPERABILITY WORKSHOP

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Nov. 4, 2002 -- The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) recently completed its inaugural AdvancedTCA™(Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture) interoperability workshop, for companies developing products for the pending PICMG 3.0 specification. The October 29-30 event in Tempe, Ariz. included prototype equipment from nine companies, including shelves, backplanes and boards.

First in a series of workshops, this event tested the electromechanical aspects of the draft specification, including form factor, fit, and power distribution. PICMG 3.0 is currently in its final draft stages and is expected to be published before the end of 2002. Additional interoperability workshops that focus on different areas of AdvancedTCA are planned for the future.

Participants in the October Workshop included CG Mupac, Elma Electronics, Force Computers, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Motorola, RadiSys, Rittal/Kaparel and Schroff/Pentair Enclosures - all Executive or Associate members of PICMG and participants in the 3.0 technical subcommittee. Motorola Computer Group hosted this event and contributed the necessary facilities, power, and test equipment.

"The compatibility results were very good, with little or no conflict between vendors' products," said Jeff Munch, the chair of the PICMG 3.0 subcommittee. "This is good news for AdvancedTCA users and for the success of the AdvancedTCA family of specifications."

The AdvancedTCA specifications for next-generation telecommunications equipment are aimed at further expanding the market for off-the-shelf, modular solutions for carrier grade communications equipment, a move that was begun by the highly successful CompactPCI® specifications (PICMG 2.x series).

PICMG also expects to see interest in AdvancedTCA from other industries, such as data communications and military equipment manufacturers. Additional specifications in the series include PICMG 3.1 for Ethernet fabric, PICMG 3.2 for InfiniBand®, and PICMG 3.3 for StarFabric Interconnect.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. AdvancedTCA is a trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. InfiniBand is a registered trademark of the InfiniBand Trade Association. All other brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PICMG PUBLISHES COMPACTPCI STARFABRIC SPECIFICATION

New Specification Enhances CompactPCI Architecture with StarFabric Interconnect

WAKEFIELD, Mass. - June 11, 2002 - The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) has approved the release of PICMG 2.17 Revision 1.0 of its CompactPCI® StarFabric specification. The new publication provides designers, manufacturers, and integrators with a common set of guidelines for implementing backplanes and cards to deliver the benefits of the StarFabric interconnect in the CompactPCI environment.

The executive members of PICMG, a consortium of over 600 companies that collaboratively develop open specifications for use in industrial and telecommunication computing applications, voted to adopt the PICMG 2.17 specification at a recent meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.

StarFabric is a high-speed point-to-point switched backplane and chassis-to-chassis interconnect solution targeted to meet the needs of next-generation embedded distributed processing systems in communication, imaging and clustered computing applications. It provides transparent bridging for PCI and other technologies over a switch fabric interconnect.

PICMG members showed strong interest in developing the StarFabric specification, with a large number participating in the technical subcommittee. The resulting high-energy group worked quickly, delivering the finished document as planned, in approximately 10 months.

"The strong interest in establishing a system-level specification for StarFabric on CompactPCI reflects the need to bring advanced switch fabric capabilities into the open platform world typified by PICMG efforts," said Dick Somes of Force Computers, PICMG's technical officer. "The 2.17 specification helps evolve the CompactPCI architecture toward switch fabric technology to achieve improved scalability, availability, and flexibility."

The CompactPCI StarFabric interconnect specification defines redundant, switched, high-speed point-to-point connectivity among some or all slots using StarFabric switch cards. The StarFabric interconnect uses pins on the J3 connector of CompactPCI boards and can coexist with 64 bit CompactPCI, H.110, and Ethernet backplanes as defined in PICMG 2.0, 2.5, and 2.16. A parallel specification for utilizing StarFabric in AdvancedTCA™ is being developed, called PICMG 3.3. Systems that take advantage of StarFabric features can be designed to utilize existing single board computers (SBCs) and node cards. Special slot(s) for active switching fabric element(s), which may be redundant, are also specified.
"The features inherent in StarFabric are precisely what today's designers need and the market demands to provide real-world, cost-effective solutions now," said Todd Comins, chief technical officer at StarGen. "There are a variety of designs, already in the works, to release 2.17-compliant products, in a wide range of communication and embedded applications."

Comins chaired the PICMG 2.17 subcommittee; Ed Nuber of Agere was secretary; Steve Christo, also of StarGen, served as editor. The 2.17 specification contains a complete listing of participating companies. Copies of the specification are being distributed to all PICMG members in good standing. Non-members can purchase copies of all released PICMG specifications from the PICMG Web site, www.picmg.org.

About PICMG
Founded in 1994, PICMG is a consortium of over 600 companies that collaboratively develops open specifications for high performance telecommunications and industrial computing applications. The members of the consortium have a long history of developing leading edge products for these industries. Recently, PICMG announced a new series of specifications for next-generation telecommunications equipment, AdvancedTCA™ (for Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture). The AdvancedTCA core specification PICMG 3.0 is targeted for completion by the end of 2002. For more information on AdvancedTCA or to view a short form version of an interim draft of the 3.0 specification, visit http://www.advancedtca.org/.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. AdvancedTCA is a trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PICMG REVISES TWO COMPACTPCI SPECIFICATIONS TO INCLUDE NEW SYSTEM AVAILABILITY AND MANAGEMENT FEATURES

WAKEFIELD, Mass. -- June 10, 2002 -- The PCI Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) has published two new documents, PICMG 2.12 Revision 2.0, the CompactPCI®Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface Specification, and an Engineering Change Notice, ECN 001, to the PICMG 2.9 System Management specification defining CompactPCI slot connectivity data.

The executive members of PICMG, a consortium of over 600 companies that collaboratively develop open specifications for use in industrial and telecommunication computing applications, voted to adopt both documents at a recent meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The changes to PICMG 2.12 reflect the expansion of this specification to cover more advanced system availability software aspects beyond simply hot swapping a single board in a CompactPCI system. The 2.12 specification now defines operating system and hardware independent software interfaces for Redundant Host systems. Redundant Host systems can transfer control of a chassis or a set of peripheral slots from one CPU blade to another in the event of a software or hardware failure. These interfaces are designed to be applicable to a wide range of hardware architectures, including traditional "Redundant System Slot" (RSS) systems, as well as new architectures based on recent switched PCI technologies.

Other enhancements in Revision 2.0 of the 2.12 specification include the following:

Updates arising from Revision 2.0 of the PICMG 2.1 CompactPCI Hot Swap specification
Hardware and operating system independent software interfaces for determining the geographic aspects of a system so that applications can interact with operators in a simple and precise way regarding its slots and boards
Updates reflecting the recent release of Microsoft Windows XP and the Linux 2.4 kernel.

The focus of ECN 001 to PICMG 2.9, CompactPCI System Management, is to define a way for hardware-independent software to determine important management information regarding CompactPCI backplanes, the slots they implement and the boards that occupy those slots. Specifically, software can now determine:

Geographic Addresses (or physical slot numbers) to guide a maintenance person to specific slot
Logical PCI addresses (based on the bus, device and function numbers) by which operating systems and device drivers access the boards in those slots
PCI and H.110 bus connectivity
PICMG 2.16 Ethernet connectivity
PICMG 2.17 StarFabric connectivity

The ECN addresses systems with any combination of CompactPCI buses, H.110 buses, PICMG 2.16 fabrics and PICMG 2.17 fabrics.

"These efforts illustrate PICMG's recognition of the growing importance of software standardization to the adoption of open hardware standards," said PICMG technical officer Dick Somes of Force Computers.

"The updates further enhance the modularity and interoperability of the CompactPCI architecture by enabling operating system and hardware independent management tools," said Mark Overgaard of Pigeon Point Systems, who chairs the Software Interoperability Subcommitee that developed both 2.12 R2.0 and the ECN 01 to 2.9.

Complete lists of participants are included in the documents. Copies of both documents are being distributed to all PICMG members in good standing. Non-members can purchase copies of all released PICMG specifications from the PICMG Web site, www.picmg.org.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks and AdvancedTCA is a trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PICMG ISSUES ADVANCEDTCA™ DRAFT SHORT FORM SPECIFICATION

Specs for Next-Generation Telecom Equipment Show Substantial Progress After Recent Face To Face Meetings

WAKEFIELD, Mass. -- June 3, 2002 - The PICMG 3.x technical subcommittees developing the specifications for AdvancedTCA (Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture) have just concluded their latest round of face to face meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz., with substantial progress made on the specification work. Release of the complete PICMG 3.0 specification is expected later this year, the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) has announced.

AdvancedTCA is the brand name for the PICMG 3.x series specifications for next-generation telecom equipment, with increased computing density, a new form factor and a switched fabric backplane architecture.

The PICMG 3.0 specification is the base specification that defines the mechanical form factor, power and cooling parameters, backplane interconnects and the system management architecture necessary to construct compliant backplane, chassis and plug in cards. It also defines base fabrics for system control and management. Subsidiary specifications are defining fabric protocols for control and data plane communications. These include PICMG 3.1 for 10/100/1000 Ethernet, PICMG 3.2 for InfiniBand® and PICMG 3.3 for StarFabric technologies. Other fabric definitions are expected to follow.

The meeting in Scottsdale concluded the review of the current drafts of the major sections of the specification by the subteams working on mechanicals, system management and fabric. The next step is a review of the integrated document by the larger committee. The base PICMG 3.0 specification, now over 275 pages, is by far the most detailed and comprehensive specification in PICMG's history.

"It is encouraging to see the amount of industry expertise put to work on this effort," said Jeff Munch of Motorola Computer Group, the chair of the PICMG 3.0 subcommittee. "All the work is being done in a spirit of cooperation, and everyone sees the value in this endeavor."

His statement was reinforced by Chuck Byers of Lucent Technologies, chair of the PICMG 3.2 subcommittee. "I am very encouraged by the alignment of this specification with the needs of the telecom industry. It goes much farther than any other open specification effort to incorporate the key features needed to build reliable telecom equipment."

PICMG member companies working on the 3.x initiative now number over 100 and include leading board and system vendors, as well as software companies and leading telecom equipment manufacturers such as Lucent, Nortel, Siemens and Nokia. A recent addition to the group is NTT DoCoMo from Japan, who represents the first telecom operator to join the effort.

While the work in process of the group is kept within the PICMG organization, a short form version of the current draft specification is now available on the AdvancedTCA Web site (www.AdvancedTCA.org). The short form specification is for education only and should not be used for any design decisions.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PICMG ISSUES EMBEDDED PCI-X SPECIFICATION &
ECN ON COMPACTPCI GEOGRAPHIC ADDRESSING

WAKEFIELD, Mass., March 18, 2002 -- The PCI Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) has published two new documents, the PICMG 1.2 Embedded PCI-X (ePCI-X) Specification for standard form factor PCI and an Engineering Change Notice, ECN 002, to the PICMG 2.0 CompactPCI form factor core specification, on the topic of self-describing slot geography.

The new PICMG 1.2 specification standardizes the mechanical and electrical interface to support a standard form factor PCI computer system with either two PCI/PCI-X busses or a single PCI/PCI-X bus. The document also defines the electrical and mechanical connections for a single board computer and backplane. This embedded PCI-X Specification (ePCI-X) is an evolutionary modification of the PICMG 1.0 PCI-ISA Specification; PCI-X capabilities are added to the PCI bus and the ISA bus is replaced by a second PCI-X bus. The board retains the same mechanical dimensions as PCI-ISA but the components move to the PCI side and the slot occupies a PCI position on a backplane.

The focus of the ECN to PICMG 2.0 is to enable hardware-independent software to map between the geographic addresses of CompactPCI slots and the logical PCI addresses by which operating systems and device drivers access the boards in those slots. The emphasis is on systems containing CompactPCI buses on the backplane. This logical to geographical mapping further improves the already robust system management capabilities of CompactPCI by allowing management applications to correlate faults reported through System Management infrastructure and hot swap events reported directly through the operating system.

"The adoption of PICMG 1.2 demonstrates that there is an evolving market for passive backplane products using standard form factor PCI and PCI-X options," said Dick Somes of Force Computers, PICMG Technical Officer. "The ECN addresses a long standing issue that has faced the CompactPCI community since the adoption of PICMG 2.9, the System Management specification, and it is an important step in completing the CompactPCI architecture defined by the PICMG 2 series of specifications."

The PICMG 1.2 technical subcommittee was chaired by Jan-Philippe DeBroeck of Kontron, and the ECN effort was led by Mark Overgaard of Pigeon Point Systems. The documents were approved by the PICMG Executive membership in January. They are currently being distributed to PICMG members in good standing and are available for purchase by non-members from PICMG's Web site, www.picmg.org. A list of the companies who participated in the technical subcommittee is included in each document.

About PICMG
Founded in 1994, PICMG is a consortium of over 600 companies that collaboratively develops open specifications for high performance telecommunications and industrial computing applications. The members of the consortium have a long history of developing leading edge products for these industries. Recently, PICMG announced a new series of specifications for next-generation telecommunications equipment, AdvancedTCAÔ (for Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture). The AdvancedTCA core specification PICMG 3.0 is targeted for completion in the fall of 2002. For more information on AdvancedTCA, visit http://www.advancedtca.org/.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks and AdvancedTCA is a trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PICMG RE-ELECTS OFFICERS FOR 2002
PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group Re-Energizes with Next Generation Telecommunications Initiative, AdvancedTCA

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Jan. 23, 2002 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®), a consortium of computer product vendors dedicated to the creation of open industry standards, has re-elected its incumbents to new terms as officers for 2002: President Joe Pavlat (President, Cypress Point Research); Vice President, Marketing Rob Davidson (Director Strategic Accounts, Intel Network Processing Group); Vice President, Technology Dick Somes (Technical Director for Standards at Force Computers Inc.); and Secretary-Treasurer Michael Munroe (Director of Business Development, ERNI).

Recently, PICMG announced it was beginning development of a new series of specifications, called AdvancedTCA™, for next-generation telecommunications equipment, with a new form factor and based on switched fabric architectures. PICMG members have responded with a high level of enthusiasm, with at least 70 companies registered to participate in one or more of the four technical subcommittees now getting underway.

"2002 promises to be a watershed year for PICMG,” said Pavlat, “as we introduce the first in our newest family of specifications, AdvancedTCA, which will make this an exciting place to be. We offer thanks to the members who re-elected us, and we will endeavor to serve their needs and foster PICMG’s goal: to deliver specifications that ensure consistency and clear migration paths for manufacturers and end users alike."

"I’m pleased by the confidence placed in our leadership by the PICMG membership,” said Somes. “I’m also pleased to note the high energy from our members that is driving our current specification efforts, including enhancements to our proven CompactPCI series and the initial work in our new AdvancedTCA family.”

Davidson noted, "Events of the past year have demonstrated PICMG’s leadership in the industry, as the group of choice to provide direction for new technologies. The new year should offer many more opportunities for positive impact on the communications sector in particular."

Munroe said, “PICMG is reaching new highs of productivity and influence, with the extraordinary interest in AdvancedTCA. I know I speak for all the officers in saying we will work hard to support the conscientious efforts of the members of this volunteer organization.”

About PICMG
Founded in 1994, PICMG is a consortium of over 600 companies that collaboratively develops open specifications for high performance telecommunications and industrial computing applications. The members of the consortium have a long history of developing leading edge products for these industries. PICMG developed the CompactPCI specification and continues to develop important extensions and improvements. PICMG members now number more than 600 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks and AdvancedTCA and ATCA are trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay, Virtual, Inc., (781) 876-6208
jvanderkay@virtualmgmt.com

PICMG ADOPTS NAME FOR NEW SERIES OF SPECIFICATIONS
FOR NEXT-GENERATION COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT,
“AdvancedTCA;”
LAUNCHES 3 NEW SUBCOMMITTEES for Ethernet, Infiniband, and StarFabric

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Jan. 16, 2002 – The PCI Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) has selected the name AdvancedTCA™ -- Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture -- for its 3.x series of specifications for next-generation telecommunications equipment.

The AdvancedTCA specifications, beginning with the core specification PICMG 3.0, are aimed at further expanding the market for off-the-shelf, modular solutions for carrier grade communications equipment, a move that was begun by the highly successful CompactPCI® specifications (PICMG 2.x series). PICMG’s membership has registered unprecedented interest in the new series, with more than 70 companies participating in November’s two-day kickoff meeting. PICMG is aiming for final ratification of the initial specifications before the end of calendar year 2002.

Added to the AdvancedTCA family tree are PICMG 3.1 for Ethernet fabric, PICMG 3.2 for InfiniBand®, and PICMG 3.3 for StarFabric. Calls for participation in these technical subcommittees were issued early in January 2002.

“Our members’ decisions to begin work on PICMG 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 immediately and in parallel with development of the core specification show the strong momentum that our AdvancedTCA initiative is gathering,” said Joe Pavlat, PICMG President, “as well as demonstrating high interest in these individual technologies.”

PICMG 3.1, for Ethernet Fabric
PICMG 3.1 is a co-specification that will add to the core AdvancedTCA specification the capability of supporting Ethernet data link (L2) and physical layers (L1) over the PICMG 3.0 generic backplane fabric interconnect. PICMG 3.1 will define all elements necessary for interoperability between multi-vendor PICMG 3.1 products, including but not limited to specific bit rates, bit rate negotiation, pin mapping, physical and/or logical address mapping, specific backplane topologies, mechanical/electronic keying, hot swap, powerup/initialization, fabric specific system management, signal integrity validation, low level fault detection recovery/reporting and options for both redundant and/or multi-fabric architectures.

“PICMG 3.1 will take advantage of the core PICMG 3.0 specification for its basic mechanical, thermal, electrical, power, connectivity and system management requirements,” said John Peters of Performance Technologies, organizer of the 3.1 subcommittee. “PICMG 3.1 will be defined to gracefully co-exist with the other AdvancedTCA data link specifications currently under development.”

PICMG 3.2, for InfiniBand Interconnect
PICMG 3.2 will describe a PICMG 3.0 compliant system using InfiniBand backplane interconnect. The proposed PICMG 3.2 specification uses InfiniBand physical layers and protocols in a PICMG 3.0 compliant backplane to interconnect a number of circuit boards on a shelf. Several different backplane interconnection topologies are available, including dual star, quad star and full mesh. InfiniBand signaling rates of 2.5Gb/s (and optionally up to 10Gb/s) are supported on each link.

PICMG 3.2 will define how InfiniBand transport is mapped onto the AdvancedTCA base. It will specify the link physical layers, protocols, and protocol mappings needed to implement multi-vendor, interoperable systems. Specification of: addressing schemes, virtual lane mappings, initialization, keying, hot swap support, and hardware management will be included.

PICMG 3.2 will fully comply with, and build upon, the base provided by PICMG 3.0, including mechanical design, power, cooling and hardware management framework, and will coexist with and complement the other AdvancedTCA specifications.

“PICMG 3.2 will be an excellent platform for a variety of telecom and data network elements,” said Bell Labs Fellow Chuck Byers of Lucent Technologies, organizer of the 3.2 committee. “The combination of the large, robust, infrastructure provided by the AdvancedTCA form factor with the fast, high quality of service, multi-protocol-capable links provided by InfiniBand should be particularly valuable in converged networks. PICMG 3.2 will be a natural choice for network elements such as voice gateways, core network switches, broadband access terminals, servers and storage farms.”

PICMG 3.3, for StarFabric Interconnect
The proposed PICMG 3.3 StarFabric interconnect specification will define a redundant, point-to-point, high-speed serial interconnect within a PICMG 3.0 chassis providing TDM, control, cell, and packet connectivity among all slots using a single interconnect. StarFabric is a universal switched interconnect developed by StarGen, Inc. The specification will enable system development with the StarFabric 2.5Gb/s and 10Gb/s physical layers.

The PICMG 3.3 specification will also be applicable to distributed computing systems. With its memory mapped, load store programming model, StarFabric provides both an efficient loosely coupled processor-to-processor communication as well as a processor to dumb I/O communication at multi-Gigabit rates.

A related StarFabric initiative in the highly successful CompactPCI series of specifications, PICMG 2.17, was kicked off in July 2001 and is nearing completion. When ratified, the PICMG 2.17 specification will extend the life of CompactPCI systems by adding a high speed switched interconnect technology to the standard CompactPCI chassis.

For applications requiring additional board and backplane capacity or calling for greater board spacing due to processor power requirements, the PICMG 3.3 effort will allow developers to maintain their current investment in StarFabric. StarFabric is a multi-layered protocol that provides PCI software compatibility. The higher bandwidth capability in the PICMG 3.3 specification also provides a standards-based approach for routing high speed StarFabric links on a backplane.

“By defining StarFabric in both the standard CompactPCI and PICMG 3.0 chassis, PICMG is offering flexibility to the designers of developing tomorrow’s communication equipment, such as VOIP and media gateways, wireless basestations, and broadband loop carrier equipment,” said Steve Christo of StarGen, organizer of the PICMG 3.3 effort.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks, and AdvancedTCA and ATCA are trademarks, of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group. InfiniBand is a registered trademark of the InfiniBand Trade Association. All other brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

News

News Releases 2002

News Releases
2002