infoTECH Feature

January 09, 2009

Elma's New Low-Cost MicroTCA Chassis Line, the EcoBox

The MicroTCA computing form factor falls somewhere between the worlds of CompactPCI and AdvancedTCA (News - Alert). It ingeniously allows you to plug AdvancedMC modules (that normally plug into the baseboards that plug into AdvancedTCA backplanes) into a little backplane of its own. MicroTCA (News - Alert) systems support up to 48 single width, half-height AMC modules in a 19-inch rack. MicroTCA is designed to handle aggregate bandwidths of 612 Gbps in star, dual-star, and full-mesh topologies, and can make use of 12.5 Gbps per channel serial packet transport.
 
And now, Elma Electronic (News - Alert) Inc., a global manufacturer of electronic packaging products in Fremont, California, has announced an economic MicroTCA system platform in desktop or rackmount formats called the EcoBox. The chassis opens up MicroTCA to be competitive in more cost-conscious industrial, transportation, enterprise and other applications.
 
The first chassis in the line is a 6-slot single module unit with 1 MCH and 5 AMC slots. Instead of using a MicroTCA Power Module, which can be comparatively expensive, the system platform uses a standard 300W ATX power supply. The IPMI bus for voltage supply and control is integrated on an active backplane. The active backplane management includes 3.3V, in-rush current control and over-current protection. This design reduces the costs of having intelligence on each individual FRU (Field Replaceable Unit) such as Cooling Units and Power Modules. As low-cost MCHs (MicroTCA Carrier Hubs) with simplified switching are introduced to the market, the overall system costs can be further reduced. Elma is currently developing a low-cost MCH.

 
The EcoBox system platform is fully compatible with the MicroTCA specifications. It has been tested with various industry-standard MCHs and AMCs at Interoperability Workshop and in Elma’s labs. The chassis has direct SATA connections and PCIe links integrated on the backplane, which has been optimized via signal integrity studies.
 
Elma also offers MicroTCA backplanes in Star, Dual Star, and MicroSlim versions and chassis in 1U, 3U, 4U, 5U, 6U, 7U and 8U heights. Chassis are also available in Cube, MicroSlim, and Ruggedized versions. Elma’s MicroTCA accessories include an AMC Extender Board, AMC Load Board, AMC Air Baffle, and a MicroTCA SerDes Test Module is also planned.

Richard Grigonis is Executive Editor of TMC (News - Alert)’s IP Communications Group. To read more of Richard’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi
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