1
Download Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical, Real-World
Transcript
3.3.2.ATCA AsuccessortothesuccessfulcPCI,AdvancedTelecommunicationsComputingArchitectureisthe name given to the architecture and platforms designed around the PICMG 3. x series of specifications.Manytop-tierhardwaremanufacturersareshippingordevelopingnewATCA-based platforms. The primary applications for ATCA platforms are carrier-class telecommunications switchingandtransportequipment,andhigh-enddata-centerserverandstorageequipment. ATCA platforms are leading the industry trend away from in-house proprietary hardware and software platforms. Many of the largest equipment manufacturers in the telecommunications and networking markets have been slowly moving away from the custom, in-house-designed hardware platforms.Thistrendisalsoevidentinthesoftwareplatforms,fromoperatingsystemstoso-called middleware such as high-availability and protocol stack solutions. Downsizing and time-to-market pressuresaretwokeyfactorsdrivingthistrend. ATCAisdefinedbyseveralPICMGspecifications.Table3-11summarizesthesespecifications. Table3-11.ATCAPICMG3.xSpecificationSummary Specification Summary Mechanicalspecifications,includinginterconnects,power,cooling,andbasesystem PICMG3.0 management PICMG3.1 EthernetandFiberChannelswitchingfabricinterface PICMG3.2 Infinibandswitchingfabricinterface PICMG3.3 StarFabricinterface PICMG3.4 PCIExpressinterface PICMG3.5 RapidIOInterface The platforms described in this section are the most relevant in any discussion of embedded Linux platforms today. Especially with ATCA, the industry is increasingly moving toward commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technology. Both ATCA and Linux play increasingly important rolesinthisindustrytrend.
