Communications Platforms Trade Association and Polaris Networks Develop MicroTCA and AMC Manageability Test Tools.

CP-TA Members Work toward Interoperability For MicroTCA and AMC 

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- The Communications Platforms Trade Association (CP-TA) today announced the release of two new test tools to advance its goal of an interoperable ecosystem providing freedom of choice for Network Equipment Providers and Service Providers. CP-TA member Polaris Networks has developed a MicroTCA-Tester and an AMC-Tester to address manageability interoperability.

"CP-TA's first step was to focus on enabling AdvancedTCA interoperability," said Todd Spraggins, CP-TA Chairman. "Now, in addition to our ATCA efforts, we are looking toward enabling MicroTCA and AMC interoperability. Both of these new tools benefit the industry by promoting the interoperability of building blocks and helping to lower development and integration time."

Both testers are GUI-based for easy operation with built in message sequence charts and RMCP/IPMI decodes. Tests have a one to one correspondence with the requirement numbers in the respective PICMG specifications.

The MicroTCA-Tester is an automated test tool developed to test the hardware-management software implementation in MicroTCA-based building blocks and systems. The tester provides more than 100 test scenarios, the ability for the user to develop new tests, and interactive and automated tests. The MicroTCA-Tester is based on the PICMG MTCA.0 R1.0 specification.

The AMC-Tester has been built not only to test Advanced Mezzanine Cards, but AdvancedTCA and MicroTCA technologies as well. The tool specifically tests hardware-management software implementation in Module Management Controllers (MMC) and Carrier Managers. The AMC-Tester was built in compliance with the newest versions of CP-TA's Interoperability Compliance Document (ICD) and the Test Procedure Manual (TPM) which will be released later this year. The AMC-Tester is based on AMC.0 R2.0 specification.

"We are delighted to be associated with CP-TA's continued efforts in promoting interoperability and compliance," said Sujit Purkayastha, Vice-President, Business Development, Polaris Networks. "In fact, our newly released AMC and Micro-TCA test tools along with the earlier ATCA test tool will help manufacturers and service providers meet CP-TA's compliance requirements."

CP-TA is finalizing its interoperability documents for AdvancedTCA, and the group is beginning to look toward interoperability for MicroTCA and AMC. For more information about CP-TA's plans and the test tools, visit www.cp-ta.org.

About the Communications Platforms Trade Association

The Communications Platforms Trade Association is a global organization of communications platform and building block providers whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of SIG-governed, open specification-based communication platforms by certifying interoperable building blocks. CP-TA is currently focusing on supporting a healthy AdvancedTCA, MicroTCA and AMC ecosystem that offers many sourcing choices to Network Equipment Providers. For more information about CP-TA, visit www.cp-ta.org.

About Polaris Networks

Polaris Networks has a long history of playing critical roles in various standards bodies (ZigBee Alliance, EPCglobal, WiMAX Forum, CP-TA etc.) in terms of creating interoperability guidelines and developing test tools that help manufacturers and service providers meet compliance requirements. Additionally Polaris provides software development services to companies seeking to augment their own R & D resources with competent professional help from outside and bring new products and enhancements to the market quickly. For more information on Polaris Networks, visit www.polarisnetworks.net.