PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group --PICMG-- Publishes CompactPCI Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface Specification.Business/Technology Editors WAKEFIELD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2000 PICMG'S First Software Specification Defines Portable Software Interfaces To Hot Swap To pull out a component from a system and plug in a new one while the main power is still on. Also called "hot plug" and "hot insertion," hot swap is a feature of USB devices, allowing an external drive, network adapter or other peripheral to be plugged in without having to power down the Hardware The PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG An industry consortium that develops specifications for backplanes and interconnects for electronic equipment in the industrial and telecom fields. It was founded in 1994 as the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group, hence the acronym. (R)) has released its first software-focused specification, the CompactPCI(R) Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface Specification, denoted PICMG 2.12. "Hot swapping (hardware) hot swapping - The connection and disconnection of peripherals or other components without interrupting system operation. This facility may have design implications for both hardware and software. " refers to removing and replacing components without turning off the system. The portable software interfaces defined by PICMG 2.12 will simplify porting hot swap infrastructure software to the wide range of CompactPCI hardware produced by hundreds of PICMG member companies and other organizations. Hot swap support is increasingly important in systems used for applications such as telecommunications, which require that the system be operational at some level continuously. Hot swap infrastructure software works with a CompactPCI platform's operating system operating system (OS) Software that controls the operation of a computer, directs the input and output of data, keeps track of files, and controls the processing of computer programs. (O/S) to manage the logistics of connecting newly inserted CompactPCI boards to the O/S and disconnecting them from the O/S before removal. "This specification helps key segments of the CompactPCI community efficiently realize the software aspects of PICMG's previously adopted CompactPCI Hot Swap specification," said Richard Somes, Technical Director for Standards and Industry Relations at Force Computers, Inc. and PICMG Vice President for Technology. "First, O/S vendors (or their partners adding CompactPCI support to the O/S) can adopt a set of hardware-independent porting interfaces that are already proven across multiple operating systems Operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. and a wide range of hardware," Somes continued. "Second, platform vendors porting hot swap infrastructure software to their platforms can reuse the design of their platform-specific code for all the PICMG 2.12-compliant operating systems they support. Finally, peripheral board vendors who need to implement board-specific infrastructure software can also leverage their efforts across operating systems and platforms." The main body of the PICMG 2.12 specification defines a set of hardware- and O/S-independent porting interfaces, with OS-specific appendices for the Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. family of operating systems (including Windows 2000) and Linux. Each appendix also includes guidance for engineers porting a hot swap infrastructure to their platforms. There is guidance, for instance, on how to handle the different implementation approaches for the signal that notifies a host processor of configuration changes in the system. The Software Interoperability technical subcommittee that developed the PICMG 2.12 specification was chaired by Mark Overgaard of Pigeon Point Systems. Committee members included representatives of BSQUARE Corporation/BlueWater Systems, Force Computers, Inc., Intel Corporation (company) Intel Corporation - A US microelectronics manufacturer. They produced the Intel 4004, Intel 8080, Intel 8086, Intel 80186, Intel 80286, Intel 80386, Intel 486 and Pentium microprocessor families as well as many other integrated circuits and personal computer networking , LynuxWorks Inc., MontaVista Software MontaVista Software develops systems software, development tools and Embedded Linux-based software targeting embedded systems such as automotive electronics, communications equipment, and television set-top boxes and other connected devices and infrastructure. , Inc., Motorola, Inc., Natural MicroSystems, PEP Modular Computers, Performance Technologies, Inc., Pigeon Point Systems, StarBridge Technologies, Inc., Sun Microsystems Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA[3]) is an American vendor of computers, computer components, computer software, and information-technology services, founded on 24 February 1982. , Teknor Applicom Inc., Tyco Electronics (AMP), VMIC VMIC VME Microsystems International Corporation VMIC Vermont Maple Industry Council VMIC View and Markup Information Center and Ziatech Corporation. Several subcommittee member companies have already indicated their intent to provide hot swap infrastructure software based on the interfaces defined in PICMG 2.12, representing a wide range of operating systems. The specification was approved at the most recent PICMG Board of Directors meeting, and has been distributed to members. Non-members may purchase the specification; see the PICMG Web site for ordering information, www.PICMG.org. About PICMG PICMG was founded in May, 1994 as a consortium of industrial computer product vendors, with the mission of designing specifications for PCI-based systems and boards to be used in industrial and telecommunications applications. PICMG also conducts periodic product compatibility workshops for its membership. PICMG members now number more than 500 companies worldwide, at three membership levels: Executive, Associate, and Affiliate. For information about PICMG membership, levels and privileges, or to find out how to obtain PICMG specifications, visit the PICMG website at http://www.PICMG.org or call PICMG headquarters at (781) 246-9318. PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group. |
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