ATCA Platform Reduces Development Time

Partnering with Tundra Semiconductor, the company has unveiled Ensemble, a serial, rapid IO advanced telecom computing architecture (ATCA) development system. The platform combines Mercury’s serial RapidIO technology and system-level expertise with Tundra’s parallel RapidIO Tsi500 multi-port switch device, a combo that promises reduced integration costs and development times. A standards-based platform, it is capable of supporting up to 15 simultaneous RapidIO endpoints, such as Motorola PowerQUICC III processors, switched over RapidIO. The platform consists of five mesh-enabled carrier boards, each with an aggregate bandwidth of 100 Gb/s. The carrier boards provide three parallel interfaces and one serial interface brought to three mezzanine sites for processor XMCs or front-panel I/O. Additionally, the mezzanine sites accept IEEE 1386.1 standard PMCs or XMC cards. A fully configured system can house 15 mezzanine modules per chassis and up to 20 separate endpoints. Ensemble is testing with beta customers now and is expected to be available in August. MERCURY COMPUTER SYSTEMS INC., Chelmsford, MA. (978) 256-1300.