ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Six suppliers of CompactPCI systems said Wednesday (Jan. 8) they will work together to define a comms-friendly version of PICMG 2.x specifications. Unlike adherence to the PICMG 2.x specs, which is optional, the new CompactTCA standard will include mandatory elements, the companies said.
Motorola Computer Group, Force Computers, Performance Technologies, Pigeon Point Systems, StarGen and ZNYX Networks said they will combine parts of the existing PICMG 2.x specifications into the CompactTCA standard.
The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) has added a number of elements to the 2.x specification over the past year to make it comms-friendly. The PICMG 2.16 specification describes how to move existing communication backplanes from a PCI structure to an Ethernet structure, for example.
But the optional nature of the PICMG 2.x specifications has created interoperability problems for equipment from various vendors. "PICMG 2.x has all the specs," said Dick Somes, director of standardization of Force Computers. "However, what you use and what you don't use are optional."
Customers wishing to mix and match CompactPCI pieces could run into a situation where one platform or board will not interoperate properly with others in a system. CompactTCA is designed to curb that problem.
Somes said the CompactTCA initiative will define mandatory elements that are required for the development of telecommunication platforms. These include the switched Ethernet backplane defined under the PICMG 2.16 specification, the elimination of the PCI bus on the backplane, and the intelligent platform management interface layer defined under the PICMG 2.9 specification. In addition, CompactTCA will support a host of optional features, including H.110, StarFabric and mesh backplanes.
Clarity or confusion?
On paper, CompactTCA looks like a way to link the specs developed under PICMG 2.x, but it could also stir controversy. Just this past week, PICMG adopted its PICMG 3.0 or AdvancedTCA specification, which also defines a common platform for the communications sector.
"We really don't want CompactTCA to be competitive with AdvancedTCA," said Jeff Rhodes, business manager of Motorola Computer Group. The AdvancedTCA architecture is aimed at high-speed communication designs delivering data at 10 Gbits/second and faster, Rhodes said. CompactTCA, on the other hand, will be aimed at system requiring lower-speed operation, such as label edge routers and access boxes, he said.
But the challenge for the companies developing CompactTCA will be in selling the concept to the PICMG group. The companies will petition PICMG to form a CompactTCA subcommittee. If PICMG agrees, Somes said he expects the subcommittee could be formed in the first quarter of 2003. From there, it will take 12 to 15 months to iron out a final standard, he said.
