News

News Releases
1998-2000

Download the Final Report of PICMG's Hot Swap Software Infrastructure Project Results for Windows 2000
PICMG Publishes CompactPCI Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface Specification
PICMG Delivers Hot Swap Software Project Results for Windows 2000
PICMG Releases CompactPCI System Management Specification
Dick Somes of Force Computers Receives Achievement Award from the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group
PICMG Releases 3 New CompactPCI® Specifications
PICMG Endorses "Open Source for Open Telecom" Initiative
PICMG Presents CompactPCI® Award to Jim Medeiros of Ziatech
PICMG Holds Second CompactPCI® Compatibility Workshop
PICMG Launches Field Test of Hot Swap Infrastructure Software for Windows NT
Three New Specifications Approved
PICMG Releases Hot Swap Specification
PICMG Endorses Affiliate Organizations in Europe, Japan, and China
PICMG Releases Computer Telephony Specification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) Publishes CompactPCI Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface Specification

PICMG’S First Software Specification Defines Portable Software Interfaces
To Hot Swap Hardware

WAKEFIELD, Mass., July 17, 2000 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG® ) has released its first software-focused specification, the CompactPCI® Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface Specification, denoted PICMG 2.12. "Hot swapping" refers to removing and replacing components without turning off the system. The portable software interfaces defined by PICMG 2.12 will simplify porting hot swap infrastructure software to the wide range of CompactPCI hardware produced by hundreds of PICMG member companies and other organizations.

Hot swap support is increasingly important in systems used for applications such as telecommunications, which require that the system be operational at some level continuously. Hot swap infrastructure software works with a CompactPCI platform’s operating system (O/S) to manage the logistics of connecting newly inserted CompactPCI boards to the O/S and disconnecting them from the O/S before removal.

"This specification helps key segments of the CompactPCI community efficiently realize the software aspects of PICMG’s previously adopted CompactPCI Hot Swap specification," said Richard Somes, Technical Director for Standards and Industry Relations at Force Computers, Inc. and PICMG Vice President for Technology.

"First, O/S vendors (or their partners adding CompactPCI support to the O/S) can adopt a set of hardware-independent porting interfaces that are already proven across multiple operating systems and a wide range of hardware," Somes continued. "Second, platform vendors porting hot swap infrastructure software to their platforms can reuse the design of their platform-specific code for all the PICMG 2.12-compliant operating systems they support. Finally, peripheral board vendors who need to implement board-specific infrastructure software can also leverage their efforts across operating systems and platforms."

The main body of the PICMG 2.12 specification defines a set of hardware- and O/S-independent porting interfaces, with OS-specific appendices for the Windows NT family of operating systems (including Windows 2000) and Linux. Each appendix also includes guidance for engineers porting a hot swap infrastructure to their platforms. There is guidance, for instance, on how to handle the different implementation approaches for the signal that notifies a host processor of configuration changes in the system.

The Software Interoperability technical subcommittee that developed the PICMG 2.12 specification was chaired by Mark Overgaard of Pigeon Point Systems. Committee members included representatives of BSQUARE Corporation/BlueWater Systems, Force Computers, Inc., Intel Corporation, LynuxWorks Inc., MontaVista Software, Inc., Motorola, Inc., Natural MicroSystems, PEP Modular Computers, Performance Technologies, Inc., Pigeon Point Systems, StarBridge Technologies, Inc., Sun Microsystems, Teknor Applicom Inc., Tyco Electronics (AMP), VMIC and Ziatech Corporation.

Several subcommittee member companies have already indicated their intent to provide hot swap infrastructure software based on the interfaces defined in PICMG 2.12, representing a wide range of operating systems.

The specification was approved at the most recent PICMG Board of Directors meeting, and has been distributed to members. Non-members may purchase the specification; see the PICMG Web site for ordering information, www.PICMG.org.

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of designing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 500 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate. For information about PICMG membership, levels and privileges, 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.

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

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) Delivers Hot Swap Software Project Results for Windows 2000

Project Results Enable Members to Add Hot Swap Support to Windows 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., April 25, 2000 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG® ) has delivered the results of the Hot Swap Infrastructure Software Project to its members, after the conclusion of a field test. Final project software, including a final summary report, are available for download by eligible PICMG members. The summary report is also posted on the PICMG Web site, www.PICMG.org, for public review.

The Hot Swap Software Infrastructure Project (HSSIP) was commissioned by PICMG to implement key components of the Hot Swap software architectural framework defined in PICMG's CompactPCI® Hot Swap specification for the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system. The software was developed by Pigeon Point Systems of Scotts Valley, Calif. under contract to PICMG.

"Hot swapping" refers to removing and replacing components without turning off the system. PICMG’s Hot Swap Specification, PICMG 2.1, defines pin sequencing and other enabling hardware technologies, as well as the software architecture required to support live insertion and extraction of boards in a running CompactPCI system. Hot Swap capability is increasingly important in systems used for applications such as telecommunications, which require that the system be operational at some level continuously.

"This project produced useful results for the PICMG membership in three areas," said Richard Somes, Technical Director for Standards and Industry Relations, Force Computers, Inc. and PICMG Vice President for Technology.

"First, it established an effective dialog with Microsoft, yielding feedback in both directions to improve the new hot swap layer and its Windows 2000 foundation, as well. Second, Application Programmer Interfaces (APIs) designed by the project to ease platform ports became the basis of the Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface Specification (PICMG 2.12), now nearing completion. Finally," Somes concluded, "the prototype infrastructure is available in source code form for members to use in their own hot swap products."

"The HSSIP APIs and their documentation provided a proven architecture for the Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface specification, which defines a hardware- and OS-independent set of porting interfaces, plus OS-specific appendices for the Windows NT family of operating systems (including Windows 2000) and Linux," said Mark Overgaard, President of Pigeon Point Systems and Chairman of the Software Interoperability subcommittee that is developing the PICMG 2.12 specification. "With the refinements accomplished by the subcommittee, these interfaces should simplify the work of PICMG members adapting hot swap infrastructure software to their platforms."

"Even though the final prototype software works only with last year’s beta 3 of Windows 2000," continued Somes, "members used it to exercise hot swap support in their hardware. Other members used the prototype software as a starting point for production quality Windows 2000 hot swap infrastructure products."

Given a hot swap infrastructure for Windows 2000, manufacturers can then qualify the hot swap capable driver-and-device combinations they will be supporting for their customers, drawing on standard PCI Plug-and-Play (PnP) hardware components and PnP-capable Windows 2000 drivers. Custom driver development projects will benefit from extensive driver development toolkits and training courses already being offered for Windows 2000.

About Pigeon Point Systems
Pigeon Point Systems (PPS) provides products and services that support the conversion of internet and other communications infrastructure to the use of open, highly leveraged platforms such as CompactPCI. The first of those products, the Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit, is immediately available to CompactPCI platform vendors to enable hot swap for Windows 2000 users of their platforms. PPS authored much of the software content of the Hot Swap Specification, chairs the Software Interoperability subcommittee and is active in many other technical subcommittees of PICMG. For more information about PPS, visit their web site at www.pigeonpoint.com or call 831-438-1565.

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

PCI INDUSTRIAL COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS GROUP (PICMG®) RELEASES COMPACTPCI SYSTEM MANAGEMENT SPECIFICATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., April 18, 2000 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) has just approved and released a new specification for a secondary system management bus for CompactPCI® , denoted PICMG 2.9 R1.0. CompactPCI is a high-performance industrial computer platform based on the standard PCI electrical specification in rugged Eurocard packaging, with a high-quality 2mm metric pin and socket connector.

"PICMG 2.9 continues the CompactPCI strategy of adapting the technologies of the volume desktop and server market to industrial grade platforms," said PICMG Vice President for Technology Richard Somes, Technical Director for Standards and Industry Relations at Force Computers Inc.

"CompactPCI has become the platform of choice for demanding telecommunications and e-commerce infrastructure applications," said PICMG President Joe Pavlat, Director of Strategic Planning, Motorola Monterey Design Center. "The incorporation of system management functions is another step in the evolution of the technology, and is a good example of PICMG's practical approach to responding to the needs of the industry."

The function of the secondary bus defined in the specification is to allow the host or other subordinate processors to interrogate and control CompactPCI cards. Serial number, revision level, and operating temperature are examples of information the cards could make available. In fault tolerant applications, for example, a host could send commands over the system management bus to reset or cut power to failed cards.

The subcommittee was tasked with investigation of the existing standards for system management busses, and selected Intel's IPMI, an emerging architecture for system management of mainstream servers and IO subsystems. Deliverables in the specification include detailed physical and electrical requirements of the system management bus as well as CompactPCI-specific enhancements to the command set.

The CompactPCI System Management Revision 1.0 technical subcommittee was chaired by Don Harrison of RadiSys, and the spec editor was Phil Navratil, also of RadiSys; committee members included representatives from Intel, Sun Microsystems, Compaq, Motorola, Force Computers, Ziatech, Natural Microsystems, Pentair, APW Electronic Solutions, Hybricon, and a number of other companies.

The new specification received approval in February 2000 by vote of the organization's Executive membership. Copies are presently being distributed to all PICMG members. The new specification is also available to non-members for a nominal fee.

PICMG Specifications

Eight specifications have previously been published by PICMG:

the original PICMG PCI/ISA specification, which first standardized a PCI/ISA compatible passive backplane and the single board computer interface to that backplane;
the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Board (PPBB) specification;
CompactPCI, a specification for an embedded version of the PCI architecture, which is based on the PCI specification but uses a Eurocard rack and card form factor and a high-density, 2mm pin and socket connector;
the Computer Telephony specification, which defines the utilization of CompactPCI user-definable pins for the computer telephony functions of a standard TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) bus;
the Hot Swap specification, which details how to implement the capability of removing and replacing components in CompactPCI systems without turning off the system;
three user-defined I/O pin assignment specifications packaged as a group, which define possible uses for CompactPCI user-defined I/O pins J2, J3, J4 and J5, mapping to existing ANSI, IEEE and VITA standards;
the CompactPCI Keying specification, which deals with overlapping uses of CompactPCI’s user-definable pins;
the CompactPCI Power Interface specification, which defines the electrical and mechanical requirements for functionality and interoperability of 3U and 6U plug-in power modules.

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of designing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 500 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate.

For information about PICMG membership, levels and privileges, 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.

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

DICK SOMES OF FORCE COMPUTERS RECEIVES ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FROM THE PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®)

Presentation Made at 2nd Bus & Board Conference in San Diego

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., March, 2000 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) has recognized Dick Somes of Force Computers for his contribution to the work of the consortium over the past several years. Somes was recently elected PICMG’s Vice President for Technology for a fourth term by the Executive Members of the group. The award was announced on February 1 at the second annual Bus & Board Conference in San Diego, Calif., which was jointly sponsored by VITA (VMEbus International Trade Association) and PICMG.

"When we considered who should receive this year’s Bus & Board awards, we looked at PICMG’s accomplishments of the past few years, and we noticed a common factor in our successful specification efforts: the careful oversight and well-reasoned involvement of Dick Somes," said Joe Pavlat of Motorola Computer Group, PICMG’s President. "Dick has worked long and hard for this organization; he’s made a real difference, and we wanted to recognize that fact."

"I was certainly surprised to be honored in this way, and I appreciate the recognition," said Somes. "My part in establishing the procedures for PICMG's specification development effort, however, is of far less importance than the hard work of the technical subcommittee chairmen, editors, and individual members who actually deliver the content of our specifications."

Somes is Technical Director for Standards and Industry Relations at Force Computers, following a series of acquisitions of Digital Equipment Corporation and its OEM Business segment. In that capacity he represents Force at PICMG, VITA, and the PCI SIG, and coordinates divisional participation in the technical subcommittees and working groups of these organizations. He represented Digital at VITA starting in 1994, and served as the VITA Standards Organization Chairman in 1996. He represented Digital at PICMG starting in 1995 and has served as Vice President of Technology since 1997. Previously, he represented Digital in the ANSI X3T9.3 (now X3T11) technical committee which is responsible for the HiPPI and Fibre Channel standards.

During his 15 years with Digital and Compaq, Somes has served in a variety of engineering management and individual contributor positions in the Laboratory Data Products, High Availability Systems, and Networks businesses, prior to joining the OEM group in 1994. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Bus & Board Conference was a two-day business and technology conference held this year at the Mission Bay Hilton in San Diego. The event drew more than 200 executives, company representatives and technology news editors.

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of developing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 500 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.

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PICMG is a registered trademark of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

PCI INDUSTRIAL COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS GROUP (PICMG) RELEASES
3 NEW COMPACTPCI® SPECIFICATIONS:
COMPACTPCI CORE REVISION 3.0, KEYING, AND POWER INTERFACE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Nov. 29, 1999 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG® ) has just approved and released three new CompactPCI® specifications. CompactPCI is a high-performance industrial computer platform based on the standard PCI electrical specification in rugged Eurocard packaging, with a high-quality 2mm metric pin and socket connector. The three new documents are PICMG 2.0 R3.0, an update of the core CompactPCI specification; PICMG 2.10 R1.0, Keying of CompactPCI Boards and Backplanes; and PICMG 2.11 R1.0, CompactPCI Power Interface.

"The new CompactPCI specifications are important because of the support they provide for enhanced I/O performance, system management, and redundant power supplies," said PICMG Vice President for Technology Richard Somes, of the Embedded Systems Division of Smart Modular Technologies.

Revision 3.0 of the CompactPCI Core Specification incorporates features from PICMG's Hot Swap and Computer Telephony specifications, such as pin sequencing. It also adds 66 MHz operation with up to five peripheral slots, support for Hot Swap at 3.3 volt signaling levels, and a reservation of pins for system management functions.

The CompactPCI Revision 3.0 technical subcommittee was chaired by Jim Medeiros of Ziatech; committee members included representatives from Adtek, AMP Inc., APW Electronics Solutions, Blue Wave Systems, Bustronic, CES, C-Mac, Compaq, Dialogic, ERNI Components, Inc., Force, Gespac, Hadco, Harting Inc., Hewlett Packard, Hybricon Corporation, I-Bus, Litton, Lucent, MicroIndustries, Molex Inc., Motorola, National Instruments, Natural Microsystems, Net Access, Nortel, Performance Technologies, Philips, Pixstream, PLX Technology, Positronic Industries, Radisys Corporation, Rittal Corporation, Schroff, Inc., Sun, Teknor, Texas Micro, TME, Todd, Toronto MicroElectronics, Transelectric, Trenew Electronic GmbH, Via Systems and Voice Board.

PICMG's Keying specification was created to deal with overlapping uses of CompactPCI’s user-definable pins, where use of the keying mechanisms defined in IEC 61076-4-101 for the J4/P4 connector and in IEEE 1101.10 for handle and cardguide hardware will be required. It provides a single reference document and reduces the risk of duplicated use. The PICMG Technical and Executive Committees will centrally administer assignment of these keys.

The CompactPCI Power Interface specification defines the electrical and mechanical requirements relating to the functionality and interoperability of 3U and 6U form factor plug-in power modules in CompactPCI systems. Gino Nanninga of Positronic Industries led the technical subcommittee that developed the specification; other members included Amp Inc., APW Electronics Solutions, ASIS, Bustronic Corporation, Condor DC Power Supplies Inc., Elcon Products International Company, Ept Inc., ERNI Components, Inc., FCI Berg, Harting Inc., Hybricon Corporation, Kaparel Corporation, Lambda Electronics Inc., Molex Inc., Motorola Monterey Design Center, PEP Modular Computers GmbH, Radisys Corporation, Rittal Corporation, Schroff, Inc., Tracewell Power Inc., Trenew Electronic GmbH, Winchester Electronics and Ziatech Corporation.

The three specifications received approval on October 1 by votes of the organization's Executive membership. Copies are presently being distributed to all PICMG members. The new specification is also available to non-members for a nominal fee.

PICMG Specifications

Six specifications have previously been published by PICMG:

the original PICMG® specification, which first standardized a PCI-compatible passive backplane and the single board computer interface to that backplane;
the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Board (PPBB) specification;
CompactPCI, a specification for an embedded version of the PCI architecture, which is based on the PCI specification but uses a Eurocard rack and card form factor and a high-density, 2mm pin and socket connector;
the Computer Telephony specification, which defines the utilization of CompactPCI user-definable pins for the computer telephony functions of a standard TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) bus;
the Hot Swap specification, which details how to implement the capability of removing and replacing components in CompactPCI systems without turning off the system;

three user-defined I/O pin assignment specifications packaged as a group, which define possible uses for CompactPCI user-defined I/O pins J2, J3, J4 and J5, mapping to existing ANSI, IEEE and VITA standards.

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of designing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 500 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate.

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

PICMG® ENDORSES "OPEN SOURCE FOR OPEN TELECOM" INITIATIVE

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group Moves to Sponsor Open Source Initiatives to Promote Usability of PICMG Specifications, Including CompactPCI®

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., March 9, 1999 — At the March 4 PICMG Executive Members meeting in Los Angeles, PICMG voted to endorse the Open Source for Open Telecom initiative recently announced by Natural MicroSystems and others. The initiative is aimed at providing the public, in source code form, the hot swap software infrastructure for CompactPCI and the software for telecom circuit switching and resource management using the CT Bus (H.100/H.110), specified in PICMG's CompactPCI Computer Telephony Specification.

"PICMG is strongly in favor of this type of initiative because it gives a great boost to the adoption of our technologies. It helps both the vendor and customer communities," said Rob Davidson of Ziatech, PICMG's Vice President of Marketing.

In addition, the PICMG Executive membership voted to authorize the officers of the organization to bring the initiative into the PICMG sphere of activities, as a model for future software enhancement efforts. This will add to PICMG's effectiveness in promoting the rapid adoption of new technologies.

In the same meeting, a new committee was proposed to specify software APIs and specific implementations of CompactPCI Hot Swap. "This is an extension of PICMG's activities in the hardware arena and, by using the same procedures, it should result in the same high caliber of specifications being defined within a short time," according to Dick Somes of Compaq, the PICMG Technical Officer.

"The Open Source model and the specification model both have their places in PICMG," said Joe Pavlat of Motorola, PICMG President. "They will complement each other in providing both definition and implementation details."

"Our customers and prospects are widely adopting CompactPCI for next-generation telecommunications systems," said R. Brough Turner, Natural MicroSystems' Senior Vice President, Technology. "We've offered our source code and started the Open Source for Open Telecom initiative in an effort to reduce interoperability issues and increase the sharing of knowledge, in order to speed deployment of CompactPCI-based Open Telecommunications systems."

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of developing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 450 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.

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

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG® ) PRESENTS COMPACTPCI® AWARD TO JIM MEDEIROS OF ZIATECH

Presentation Took Place at First Bus & Board Conference in San Jose

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Feb. 3, 1999 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG® ) recently recognized Jim Medeiros, Ziatech Product Marketing Manager, for his work in the development of the CompactPCI® specification. The award was announced on Jan. 12 at the inaugural Bus & Board Conference in San Jose, Calif., which was jointly sponsored by VITA (VMEbus International Trade Association) and PICMG.

"In planning the Bus & Board awards, it was clear that we should acknowledge CompactPCI, the technology that has fueled PICMG's growth over the past three years, and Ziatech, the company that originated the CompactPCI concept," said Richard Somes, Technical Director of OEM Business at Compaq and PICMG Vice President for Technology, who presented the award. "In selecting an individual to honor, the choice was also clear: Jim Medeiros, who has been instrumental both in the development of CompactPCI and in promoting it."

"Developing the CompactPCI concept has involved a number of people who have come together and worked collectively to create an architecture that is changing the way that embedded computers are built," said Medeiros. "In accepting this award, I would like to acknowledge all the PICMG members who have served on the CompactPCI committees and contributed their time and ideas."

Medeiros has a range of achievements to his credit, from his 12 years at Ziatech. As a design engineer, he designed several board and system-level computer products for the STD Bus, STD 32®, Micro Channel, IEEE 488, and CompactPCI architectures. Medeiros holds patents in computer architecture, and he has overseen the development of the CompactPCI product line for Ziatech. Currently, he is Ziatech's Product Marketing Manager, while also chairing PICMG's ongoing CompactPCI core specification development effort.

The inaugural Bus & Board Conference was a two-day business and technology conference held Jan. 11-12, 1999 at the Wyndham San Jose Hotel. The event drew nearly 200 executives, company representatives and technology news editors. According to attendees and organizers, the event was truly a success; plans are underway to hold an "encore" conference in the year 2000.

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of developing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 425 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate.

For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

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PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG® ) HOLDS SECOND CompactPCI® COMPATIBILITY WORKSHOP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay or Lauren Muckian
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Feb. 2, 1999 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG®) recently held its second successful CompactPCI® compatibility workshop for Executive and Associate members. The one-day event took place in November in San Jose, Calif. Like its predecessor, it was an informal opportunity for participating companies to conduct their own interoperability tests on a wide variety of platforms and plug-in cards.

"From my observations, the compatibility results were very good, with little or no conflict between vendors' products," said event organizer Rob Davidson, PICMG's Vice President for Marketing and Manager, Strategic Accounts at Ziatech. "This bodes well for our CompactPCI manufacturers' customers and reinforces the success of the PICMG CompactPCI specifications."

With the repeated success and strong participation in the workshops, PICMG will continue to stage these hands-on events. The next workshop will take place in conjunction with the PC Developers' Conference in Santa Clara in May 1999; date, venue and particulars of participation will be announced to PICMG Executive and Associate members when they have been decided.

CompactPCI is a high-performance industrial computer platform based on the standard PCI electrical specification in rugged Eurocard packaging, with a high-quality 2mm metric pin and socket connector.

Participants in the November Compatibility Workshop included Alta Technology, Analogic, Ascor, Bittware, Compaq, Datum, DPT, Electronic Solutions, Force Computers, Gespac, Hadco, Hybricon, LAN Media Corporation, Motorola, National Instruments, PEP Modular, PLX Technology, Inc., Performance Technologies, Radisys, Rittal, SBS Greenspring Modular I/O, Sun Microsystems, Technoland, Teknor, TrueTime, VMETRO, Ziatech, and ZNYX – all Executive or Associate members of PICMG.

PICMG Specifications

Six specifications have been published by PICMG to date:

the original PICMG® specification, which first standardized a PCI-compatible passive backplane and the single board computer interface to that backplane;
the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Board (PPBB) specification;
CompactPCI, a specification for an embedded version of the PCI architecture, which is based on the PCI specification but uses a Eurocard rack and card form factor and a high-density, 2mm pin and socket connector;
the Computer Telephony specification, which defines the utilization of CompactPCI user-definable pins for the computer telephony functions of a standard TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) bus;
the Hot Swap specification, which details how to implement the capability of removing and replacing components in CompactPCI systems without turning off the system;
three user-defined I/O pin assignment specifications packaged as a group, which define possible uses for CompactPCI user-defined I/O pins J2, J3, J4 and J5, mapping to existing ANSI, IEEE and VITA standards.

Additional specifications are undergoing development.

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of developing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 450 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate.

For information about PICMG membership, levels and privileges, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

###

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

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG^® ) Launches Field Test of Hot Swap Infrastructure Software FOR Windows NT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay or Lauren Muckian
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Nov. 30, 1998 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG® ) has just launched a Field Test of Hot Swap Infrastructure Software for Microsoft Windows NT 5.0 among its Executive and Associate membership. The software was developed by Pigeon Point Systems of Scotts Valley, Calif. under contract to PICMG.

"Hot swapping" is the capability of removing and replacing components without turning off the system. In July 1998, PICMG published the CompactPCI® Hot Swap Specification, PICMG 2.1, which defines pin sequencing and other enabling hardware technologies, as well as the software architecture required to support live insertion and extraction of boards in a running CompactPCI system. Hot Swap capability is increasingly important in systems used for applications such as telecommunications, which require that the system be operational at some level continuously. CompactPCI is a high-performance industrial computer platform based on the standard PCI electrical specification in rugged Eurocard packaging, with a high-quality 2mm metric pin and socket connector.

The Hot Swap Software Infrastructure Project was commissioned by PICMG to implement key components of the Hot Swap software architectural framework defined in PICMG's Hot Swap specification.

"This field test provides an opportunity for eligible PICMG members to review and provide feedback on a snapshot of the work of the project," said Richard Somes, Technical Director of OEM Business at Compaq Computer Corporation and PICMG Vice President for Technology. "At the conclusion of the project, PICMG members and others will be able to add hot swap awareness to their NT 5.0-based platforms by combining the output of the project with small platform-specific modules."

Manufacturers can then qualify the hot swap capable driver-and-device combinations they will be supporting for their customers, drawing on standard PCI Plug-and-Play (PnP) hardware components and PnP-capable NT 5.0 drivers. Custom driver development can benefit from driver development toolkits and training courses already being offered for NT 5.0.

Key components in the field test distribution include the following software items supplied in both source and binary forms, as well as preliminary documentation:

A hot swap test facility, which exercises the hardware supporting software connection control to help in assessing its compliance with the Hot Swap Specification. This software may be helpful to PICMG members who are developing or evaluating CompactPCI interface devices or boards that include hot swap support.
The primary kernel mode driver that implements support for hot swapping CompactPCI boards. This driver has two main missions: 1) interacting with software connection control hardware on CompactPCI platforms and boards, and 2) interacting with the PnP infrastructure of Windows NT 5.0 to launch software connections and/or disconnections. The second mission is necessarily addressed in prototype form during the beta period of Windows NT 5.0.
Platform miniports for certain platforms that have been provided to the project. Additional platforms will be supported in the next snapshot release.

A white paper on the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) and its relationship to Hot Swap is also included in the Field Test materials. This document is particularly relevant for CompactPCI platform vendors, since ACPI-equipped platforms are likely to allow more capable hot swap support for NT 5.0 than platforms without ACPI.

Microsoft recently announced a product name change in which NT 5.0 will become Windows 2000.

PICMG Specifications

Six specifications have been published by PICMG to date:

the original PICMG® specification, which first standardized a PCI-compatible passive backplane and the single board computer interface to that backplane;
the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Board (PPBB) specification;
CompactPCI, a specification for an embedded version of the PCI architecture, which is based on the PCI specification but uses a Eurocard rack and card form factor and a high-density, 2mm pin and socket connector;
the Computer Telephony specification, which defines the utilization of CompactPCI user-definable pins for the computer telephony functions of a standard TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) bus;
the Hot Swap specification, which details how to implement the capability of removing and replacing components in CompactPCI systems without turning off the system;
three user-defined I/O pin assignment specifications packaged as a group, which define possible uses for CompactPCI user-defined I/O pins J2, J3, J4 and J5, mapping to existing ANSI, IEEE and VITA standards.

About Pigeon Point Systems

Pigeon Point Systems (PPS) was founded in 1997 to focus on system software and services supporting highly available systems based on CompactPCI, especially in the telecommunications domain. PPS contributed significantly to the software aspects of the Hot Swap specification, PICMG 2.1, and is now applying that specification to Microsoft Windows NT 5.0 under PICMG sponsorship. PPS is also helping telephony resource and other peripheral board vendors, as well as CompactPCI platform vendors, to add availability improvement features to their products. For more information about PPS, call (831) 438-1565 or send email to info@pigeonpoint.com.

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of designing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 400 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate. For information about PICMG membership, levels and privileges, 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. Call the same number to find out how to participate in the Hot Swap Infrastructure Field Test.

###

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

THREE NEW SPECIFICATIONS
FROM PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG^®) DEFINE CompactPCI^® J2, J3, J4, J5 I/O PIN ASSIGNMENTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay or Lauren Muckian
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com; lmuckian@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Sept. 29, 1998 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG^®) has approved three new specifications that define possible uses for CompactPCI^® user-defined I/O pins J2, J3, J4 and J5, mapping to existing ANSI, IEEE and VITA standards. The new specifications enhance CompactPCI's flexibility and broaden the range of potential applications.

The three new documents are:

-- PICMG 2.2, VME64x on CompactPCI,
-- PICMG 2.3, PMC on CompactPCI,
-- PICMG 2.4, IP on CompactPCI.

PICMG 2.2 enables the configuration of hybrid CompactPCI/VME64x systems by providing an engineered pin assignment, supported by extensive simulation, for the VME64x signals on the J4 and J5 connectors. PICMG 2.3 defines the mapping of PMCs (according to IEEE P1386.1 -- PCI Mezzanine Cards) I/O to the user-defined CompactPCI I/O pins through the backplane. PICMG 2.4 does the same, except for IP modules, as defined by ANSI/VITA 4-1995 IP Modules. All three provide systems integrators with access to a variety of existing communication and data acquisition functions.

The specifications were approved in September 1998 by PICMG's Executive membership. Copies will be automatically distributed to all members of the organization, and the specifications will also be available, bound in one volume, to non-members for a nominal fee.

"These three specifications underscore the flexibility of CompactPCI systems, and the potential for interoperability with hardware conforming to existing standards," said Richard Somes, Technical Director of OEM Business at Compaq Computer Corporation and PICMG Vice President for Technology. "One of the most important factors in the success of any emerging technology is the existence of applications and options. With these specifications in place, VME/VME64/VME64x, PMC and IP options become part of the tool box with which CompactPCI solutions are built."

Force Computers chaired and sponsored the work of the three related subcommittees; other companies involved were Digital Equipment Corporation (now Compaq), Greenspring Computers, Motorola, Schroff, and Ziatech.

"These new specifications greatly strengthen CompactPCI as an architecture for industrial and embedded applications," commented Wayne Fischer, the committees' chairperson and PICMG Treasurer.

Other PICMG Specifications

Five other specifications have been published by PICMG to date:

the original PICMG^® specification, which first standardized a PCI-compatible passive backplane and the single board computer interface to that backplane;
the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Board (PPBB) specification;
CompactPCI, a specification for an embedded version of the PCI architecture, which is based on the PCI specification but uses a Eurocard rack and card form factor and a high-density, 2mm pin and socket connector;
the Computer Telephony specification, which defines the utilization of CompactPCI user-definable pins for the computer telephony functions of a standard TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) bus;
the Hot Swap specification, which details how to implement the capability of removing and replacing components in CompactPCI systems without turning off the system.

Additional active PICMG technical subcommittees currently include:

1. CompactPCI Bridging Beyond 8 Slots — Standard Practices
2. Dual CompactPCI Buses
3. PCI-Only Definition for Desktop Format
4. Hybrid VME/CompactPCI Systems
5. CompactPCI Extensions for Test and Measurement
6. Front Access Power Connectors for CompactPCI

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of designing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG members now number more than 400 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate. For information about PICMG membership, levels and privileges, 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.

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG^®)
RELEASES COMPACTPCI^® HOT SWAP Specification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information:
Lauren Muckian, Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
lmuckian@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., Aug. 17, 1998 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG^®) has just approved and released Revision 1.0 of the CompactPCI^®Hot Swap Specification. Denoted PICMG 2.1, this document details how to implement the "hot swapping" of components in CompactPCI systems; that is, the capability of removing and replacing components without turning off the system. Hot Swap capability is increasingly important in systems used for applications such as telecommunications, which require that the system be operational at some level continuously. CompactPCI is a high-performance industrial computer platform based on the standard PCI electrical specification in rugged Eurocard packaging, with a high-quality 2mm metric pin and socket connector.

The new CompactPCI Hot Swap Specification defines pin sequencing and other enabling hardware technologies, as well as the software architecture required to support live insertion and extraction of boards in a running CompactPCI system. The new specification was approved in July 1998 by PICMG's Executive membership. Copies are presently being distributed to all members of the organization. The Hot Swap specification is also available to non-members for a nominal fee.

The technical subcommittee that developed the specification was chaired by Pro-Log (now Motorola), and it included Dialogic, Digital Equipment (now Compaq), Force Computers, Lucent, NCR, Natural Microsystems, PLX, Pigeon Point Systems, Radisys, Texas Micro and Ziatech. The committee has also been working jointly with the PCI SIG's Hot Plug group to create workable Hot Swap technology.

"The potential for hot swap support was one of the keys to CompactPCI's early market appeal. With the completion of this specification, we now have a scalable approach to Hot Swap that can be used in a range of platforms from embedded industrial controllers to high availability servers. The problems of dynamic configurability and low MTTR maintenance are addressed, while maintaining compatibility with the Hot Plug software architecture developed by the PCI SIG," said Richard Somes, Technical Director of OEM Business at Compaq Computer Corporation and PICMG Vice President for Technology.

The Hot Swap Specification provides a framework for designing CompactPCIHot Swap components (boards, backplanes, ICs, platforms, etc.). This framework gives vendors some flexibility to choose the features appropriate for their products, and still operate with all other CompactPCI components (Hot Swap and non-Hot Swap).

"While proprietary Hot Swap solutions have been around for many years, this is the industry's first open, interoperable specification. Now board, platform, and software suppliers can independently develop products that will work together," said Joe Pavlat, Director, Motorola Computer Group and PICMG President.

"Accommodating the widest possible range of applications, and still maintaining interoperability, was the most difficult challenge of this whole process," said Chuck Hill, Senior Architect at Motorola Computer Group and Hot Swap specification document editor. "It is also the key to gaining acceptance and wide use of this specification."

"This specification addresses all the key aspects of live insertion and removal of boards, including software, in a way that no other open bus specification does, and the fact that it has been so rapidly adopted by so many companies is very exciting," said Rob Davidson, Manager, Strategic Accounts at Ziatech Corporation and PICMG Vice President of Marketing, "All those who have contributed to this spec should be very proud."

Other PICMG Specifications

Four other specifications have been published by PICMG to date:

the original PICMG^®specification, which first standardized a PCI-compatible passive backplane and the single board computer interface to that backplane;
the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Board (PPBB) specification;
CompactPCI, a specification for an embedded version of the PCI architecture, which is based on the PCI specification but uses a Eurocard rack and card form factor and a high-density, 2mm pin and socket connector;
the Computer Telephony specification, which defines the utilization of CompactPCI user-definable pins for the computer telephony functions of a standard TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) bus.

Additional active PICMG technical subcommittees currently include:

1. CompactPCI Bridging Beyond 8 Slots — Standard Practices
2. Dual CompactPCI Buses
3. PCI-Only Definition for Desktop Format
4. Hybrid VME/CompactPCI Systems
5. CompactPCI Extensions for Test and Measurement
6. Front Access Power Connectors for CompactPCI

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of designing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial computer applications. PICMG's purpose is to offer peripheral card and industrial equipment vendors a common set of specifications, thereby ensuring availability, interoperability and compatibility with standard PCI peripheral slot cards, while reducing costs. PICMG members now number nearly 400 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate. For information about PICMG membership, levels and privileges, or to find out how to obtain the new Hot Swap and other 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.

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG)
ENDORSES AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS IN EUROPE, JAPAN, AND CHINA

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay or Lauren Muckian
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com or lmuckian@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., May 18, 1998 — PICMG^® , the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group, today announced it has endorsed as affiliates newly established PICMG organizations in Europe, Japan, and China. These regional groups will promote the use of industrial PCI and CompactPCI^® technology and will distribute PICMG specifications among manufacturers and users. PICMG North America will continue in its role as the leading organization dedicated to developing specifications that utilize PCI technology for industrial and telecommunications applications. Any companies wishing to participate in specification working groups are welcome to join PICMG North America in addition to a regional group.

PICMG Europe, headquartered in The Netherlands, boasts a tripling of its membership since its inaugural meeting in April 1997. Current members include Analogic DCP Europe, Digital Equipment Corp., EKF Elektronik, Enea OSE Systems, ept-Gulghor Peiting, ERNI, Eurotech, Force Computers, GESPAC, Hartmann Elektronik, Hewlett Packard, I-Bus Europe, Meilhaus Electronic, MEN Mikro Elektronik, Motorola Computer Group, National Instruments, Nyquist Industrial Control, OR Industrial Computers, PEP Modular Computers, Perimos, Radisys, SBS Greenspring, SCHROFF, SUN Microelectronics, Texas Micro, Thomson CSF, Trenew, Vero Electronics, Wurth Elektronik, and Ziatech.

To promote its objectives, PICMG Europe is significantly involved in all major European technology trade shows and has its own product guide and newsletter.

PICMG Japan, established in October 1997, will promote PCI-based product technology in the rapidly expanding Japanese market, as well as translate and distribute specifications. Membership in PICMG Japan includes AVAL DATA, INTERNIX, EBRAIN, SRC, Sanritz Automation, GESPAC, Central Electronic Corporation, AMP Japan, Nihon FCI, Nihon DEC, Nihon Motorola, Hitachi Zosen, Forks, Force Computers Japan, Marubun, Meiden, Soliton Systems, Adtek System Science, Tachibana Tectron, Central Computer Services, Tokyo Electron Devices and Diasemicon Systems.

PICMG JAPAN organizes the Integrated Systems '98 Spring exhibition, conferences and presentation seminars on Open Bus Systems, Open Control Systems, Open Fieldbus Systems and Real Time Systems, to be held on May 25-27 in Tokyo.

PICMG PRC (People's Republic of China) is the newest affiliate, having held its inaugural gathering in February 1998. There is intense interest in CompactPCI technology in China, and the meeting was attended by senior government ministers and major telecommunications equipment suppliers.

Said PICMG North America's President, Joe Pavlat of Motorola Corporation, "The quick success of the PICMG affiliates in Europe and Japan and the explosive launch of PICMG PRC attest to the global acceptance of PICMG specifications, especially in the CompactPCI area. We are looking forward to working together with our international partners to design the technology for the 21st century."

PICMG Specifications

The latest PICMG specification, released in April 1998, is Revision 1.0 of the CompactPCI^® Computer Telephony Specification. Denoted PICMG 2.5, this document defines the utilization of CompactPCI user-definable pins for the computer telephony functions of a standard TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) bus, telephony rear I/O, 48 Volts DC and ringing distribution in a 6U chassis environment.

Three other PCI specifications have been adopted by the PICMG — the original PICMG specification, which first standardized a PCI-compatible passive backplane and the single board computer interface to that backplane, the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Board (PPBB) specification, and CompactPCI, which is a high-performance industrial computer platform based on the standard PCI electrical specification in rugged Eurocard packaging, with a high-quality 2mm metric pin and socket connector. Additional specification efforts are underway.

About PICMG
PICMG was founded in May, 1994, as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of designing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial computer applications. PICMG's purpose is to offer peripheral card and industrial equipment vendors a common set of specifications, thereby ensuring availability, interoperability, and compatibility with standard PCI peripheral slot cards while reducing cost.

PICMG members now number close to 400 companies worldwide. Three membership levels are available: Executive, Associate and Affiliate. Membership in PICMG is open to any organization or individual with a valid interest in helping to extend PCI technology into the industrial marketplace. For information about PICMG membership or to find out how to obtain specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG)
RELEASES COMPUTER TELEPHONY SPECIFICATION

For further information:
Judith Vanderkay or Lauren Muckian
Rogers Communications, (781) 224-1100
jvanderkay@rogerscom.com or lmuckian@rogerscom.com

WAKEFIELD, Mass., April 28, 1998 — The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG^® ) has just approved and released Revision 1.0 of the CompactPCI^® Computer Telephony Specification. Denoted PICMG 2.5, this document defines the utilization of CompactPCI user-definable pins for the computer telephony functions of a standard TDM (Time Division Multiplexed) bus, telephony rear I/O, 48 Volts DC and ringing distribution in a 6U chassis environment. CompactPCI is a high-performance industrial computer platform based on the standard PCI electrical specification in rugged Eurocard packaging, with a high-quality 2mm metric pin and socket connector.

The Computer Telephony specification was developed by a technical subcommittee chaired by Steven Hall of Lucent Technologies. Committee members included representatives from Dialogic, Force, Hybricon, Natural MicroSystems, Motorola, Texas Micro, and Ziatech. The specification received unanimous approval in early April by a vote of the organization's Executive membership. Copies are presently being distributed to all PICMG members. The new specification is also available to non-members for a nominal fee.

"The CompactPCI Computer Telephony Specification has been an impressive collaborative effort between PICMG and the Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum, involving equipment suppliers and users at several levels of the supply chain. It positions CompactPCI as the hardware platform of choice for a wide variety of telecommunications intelligent peripheral applications," said Richard Somes, Technical Director of OEM Business at Digital Equipment Corporation and PICMG Vice President for Technology.

The Computer Telephony Specification extends the capabilities of the CompactPCI architecture to support specific application needs of the industry:

Hot swappable TDM bus on J4 complying with the ECTF H.110 specification
Two and four wire I/O of J5 for analog and digital telephony
Frame grounding techniques based on IEEE 1101.11
Sub-bus and front panel keying
Geographical slot addressing and shelf enumeration

The specification provides guidance for backplane/chassis vendors, CT card vendors, and CT system integrators, so as to promote multi-vendor interoperability and the design of open, standards based components and systems.

Joe Pavlat, Director, Motorola Computer Group and PICMG President, said, "The swift development and approval of PICMG's Computer Telephony specification demonstrates the intense interest in using CompactPCI as a platform for a wide range of telephony and telecommunications applications. The new spec builds on the features in Revision 2.1 of the core CompactPCI specification, such as geographic addressing, standardized rear panel I/O connection methods, and mechanics that address tough international safety and emissions standards."

Pavlat added, "The PICMG organization has grown to nearly 400 members in the last year directly as a result of the enthusiasm the telecommunications industry and others have shown towards CompactPCI."

Other PICMG Specifications

Three other PCI specifications have been adopted by the PICMG — the original PICMG specification, which first standardized a PCI-compatible passive backplane and the single board computer interface to that backplane, the PCI-to-PCI Bridge Board (PPBB) specification, and the CompactPCI specification. Additional active PICMG technical subcommittees currently include:

1. Hot Swap for CompactPCI

2. CompactPCI Bridging Beyond 8 Slots — Standard Practices

3. Dual CompactPCI Buses

4. PCI-Only Definition for Desktop Format

5. Hybrid VME/CompactPCI Systems

6. CompactPCI Extensions for Test and Measurement

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

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