Redundant-CPU System Targets Control Apps

Designed for demanding, 99.999% control applications, the ZT 5083 NEBS high-availability system features the company's Intel-based redundant processor architecture (RPA), which is claimed to be the first such architecture to support VxWorks. This RPA achieves a switch-over time from an active processor to a standby processor in less than 10 ms. According to the company, this is much faster than competing architectures and less expensive than duplicating I/O boards.
System scalability is provided with 12 peripheral slots and options that include dual PMC sites, floppy- and IDE hard-disk drives, AGP video, and built-in system management and alarming features. The system is housed in a 15U NEBS-compliant enclosure and operates in either single- or dual- redundant configurations. Processors may be hot swapped and support is provided for hot-swap peripheral cards. Prices start at $19,695 and the VxWorks board-support package costs $2450.