Pre-validated modular MicroTCA platforms

Demonstrating not only the company's innovation but also its market-leading commitment to bringing the benefits of the MicroTCA standard to customers as rapidly as possible, GE Fanuc Embedded Systems has announced two new MicroTCA platforms, the MicroTCA MP-2000 and MicroTCA MP-3000. Both platforms are scalable - allowing each to be easily upgraded - and pre-validated, meaning that each has been pre-configured and pre-tested, ensuring that customer development and deployment times are kept to the minimum possible. Field-proven IPMI code is provided to ensure interoperability. Each platform is designed to deliver the performance and flexibility needed for cost-sensitive network-centric MicroTCA development applications in a variety of markets including telecom, commercial and military.

The MicroTCA MP-2000 platform features a 2U, 13-slot MicroTCA chassis while the MicroTCA MP-3000 features an 8U, 15-slot MicroTCA chassis. Both platforms come pre-configured with a Power Module, dual Cooling Units, and MicroTCA Carrier Hub (MCH) with PCI Express fabric module, together with GE Fanuc Embedded Systems Telum(tm) Intel(r)-based processor, dual SATA storage modules, multi-port Gigabit Ethernet I/O interface and VGA graphics AdvancedMCs. A Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) operating system and Linux Support Package (LSP) with CGL drivers are pre-installed on the platforms.

"MicroTCA is a strategic platform for us," said Rubin Dhillon, Global Director of Communications Product Management at GE Fanuc Embedded Systems, "It offers the performance, scalability and flexibility that is being demanded by our customers in all the markets that we serve. These two platforms demonstrate our belief that MicroTCA is here and now and ready to deliver substantial benefits to our customers - and they come with the reliability, quality and support for which GE is renowned. Best of all, they allow customers to move forward at speed with MicroTCA, confident that interoperability of every leading edge component and subsystem featured within both platforms is ready for system application development 'out of the box'."

Seven single full-size payload slots are available in the MicroTCA MP-3000, and four in the MicroTCA MP-2000 for additional AdvancedMCs. Each slot supports full-size or compact AdvancedMCs. A MicroTCA Carrier Management Controller (MCMC), using an IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) provides the low-level hardware management interface that controls the AdvancedMCs, PM, and CUs.

MicroTCA-specified IPMI management, networking, and clock infrastructure are supplied by the MCH (MicroTCA Carrier Hub). The PM (Power Module) provides power conversion, management, and distribution. Both the MCH and PM provide support for hot insertion and extraction of AdvancedMCs. Direct serial console access to the embedded management firmware is enabled via a front -panel connector on the MCH and PM. A convenient Command Line Interface (CLI) provides easy access and control of the firmware.

GE Fanuc Embedded Systems modular platform solutions are fully compliant with open standards such as PICMG MTCA.0 R1.0, AMC.0 R1.0, and the IPMI specifications. Customer specific configurations, backplane routing and chassis form factors are available upon request.

GE Fanuc Embedded Systems