PICMG Releases New Protocol Encapsulation Specifications for AdvancedTCA Systems

WAKEFIELD, Mass.--June 14, 2005--The PICMG® executive membership has approved two new protocol specifications that will allow applications that use legacy transport protocols to be easily ported to AdvancedTCA® systems. By encapsulating these protocols on AdvancedTCA interconnects, they appear to be running over a direct connection.

SFP.0 is a layer 2 1/2 or "shim" protocol specification for low-overhead, high-speed generic encapsulation targeted at PICMG 3.1 Ethernet-based modular systems, but also has application for other PICMG 3.x & 2.16 fabric-based systems. SFP.0 is generic in the sense that it can be used to encapsulate all kinds of packet and cell-based traffic (e.g. Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)) for transport between blades or chassis on a switched fabric.

SFP.1, also known as I-TDM (Internal TDM), is a companion protocol specification to SFP.0 that is optimized for TDM traffic over high-speed fabrics such as 1 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (PICMG 3.1), Advanced Switching (PICMG 3.4), Infiniband (PICMG 3.2), etc. SFP.1 and SFP.0 together provide a complete encapsulation for TDM over Ethernet. This provides a functional replacement to the hardware-based H.110 & H.100 buses that existed in older telephony systems.

"These specifications are perfect adjuncts to the evolving family of PICMG specifications, as they meet the need for an optimized mechanism to encapsulate legacy and proprietary protocols over the high-speed switched fabrics of modern ATCA based systems," said Steve Adams of Intel, who chaired the PICMG SFP.0 & SFP.1 Subcommittee.

These two related specifications are logical extensions to the PICMG family of specifications that further enable the commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) eco-system of multi-vendor interoperable products that lower the cost of development and time to market, while fostering innovation in the dynamic market place of modular communication systems.

The PICMG Website includes a product directory where manufacturers list their PICMG-compliant product offerings. These product listings can be viewed at www.picmg.org/productlistings.stm. Copies of the complete specifications are available to PICMG members and can be purchased by non-members from PICMG. More information on new PICMG developments is available at www.picmg.org/picmgnewinitiatives.stm.

About PICMG

Founded in 1994 as the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group, PICMG is a consortium of over 400 companies that collaboratively develops open specifications for high performance telecommunications and industrial computing applications. The members of the consortium have a long history of developing and using leading-edge products for these industries. For information about PICMG membership, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at www.picmg.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318.

PICMG, CompactPCI, and AdvancedTCA are registered trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group. AdvancedMC and MicroTCA is a trademark of PICMG.