Wednesday, January 17, 1996
Meeting Opening, Introductions, and Announcements
Ray Alderman opened the meeting and asked attendees to introduce themselves.
The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and accepted with changes.
The agenda was reviewed and several changes were made.
Announcements were made. Jonathan Morris, Newbridge, announced that Newbridge
had recently spun off its semiconductor group into a new company to be named
Tundra. Tundra will be an affiliate of Newbridge.
John Rynearson, VITA, reviewed the early patent disclosure policy adopted
by the VSO at the previous meeting. Members are encouraged and expected
to disclose as early as possible any patent issues that may impact technology
currently under consideration for standardization.
Ray Alderman, VITA, discussed recent market studies that he had reviewed.
Excerpts are being provided to members via VITA's web page. VITA members
can purchase these market studies at a discount.
Ray discussed efforts by VITA to implement a VMEbus virtual trade show.
Initial graphics are up on VITA's web. Booths are being constructed. Participation
is available to all VITA members as a part of their membership fees. Non
VITA members will be charged a fee to participate. After the trade show
booths are up, the trade show will be expanded to include a technical program
and training. Additionally, VITA will set up a blind reflector for member
use only. Ray also discussed current efforts with several magazines to produce
VMEbus featured sections.
Ray passed around the meeting attendance book and asked members with meeting
fees in arrears to please pay them as soon as possible.
Joe George, Nanotek, made an announcement that the IEEE was offering standards
at a discount if they were ordered during the meeting.
Tad Kubic, Dawn, suggested that documentation be made available via an FTP
site.
Canvass Ballot Report - John Rynearson
John Rynearson gave an update on the canvass ballot status of several standards.
VITA 3, BLLI, has been submitted to ANSI for recognition. VITA 4, IP Modules,
is currently in the ballot solicitation phase to end on Jan 31 when actual
balloting will begin. VITA 10, Skychannel, is in negative ballot review.
VITA 13, IEEE 1355 (HIC) on VME, has completed the ballot solicitation phase.
Balloting will start in February.
VSO Elections for chair and vice chair will be held at the March 1996 meeting.
The nominations committee will consist of John Rynearson, chair, Elwood
Parsons, AMP, and Dennis Terry, Heurikon. The nominations committee will
present a slate of candidates prior to the March meeting for the members
consideration. Nominations from the floor will also be accepted. Voting
for chair and vice chair will take place at the March meeting.
Ray Alderman stated that he would not run for chair again, but would continue
to be active in the VSO.
Ray gave an update on ESSE activities.
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The VSO then adjourned and the VME64 Extensions Task Group ballot review
meeting was called to order by VME64 Extensions Task Group chair, Wayne
Fischer, Force.
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Wayne gave an update of the previous day's special task group meeting.
The P0/J0 connector was the first issue to be discussed. A number of connector
vendors indicated that they have no plans to tool a 70 pin connector similar
in construction to the currently proposed P1/P2 160 pin connector. Therefore
the group reviewed several alternative off-the-shelf solutions presented
by BERG Electronics, AMP, EPT, and ERNI. After consideration and further
discussion the group voted unanimous to select the Z-Pack 5 row/19 pins
per row connector.
Bob Downing, Univ. of Ill., led a discussion of the 2eMBLT protocol. Several
timing diagrams need to be fixed. Concerns were expressed by representatives
from Cypress and Newbridge regarding implementation. Additional discussion
followed and the group decided to have an off-line meeting later in the
afternoon to resolve these issues.
P1/P2 Connector Discussions
The group discussed the status of the P1/J1 and P2/J2 160 pin connectors.
Concerns regarding availability were expressed as well as concerns regarding
a rear I/O solution for P2. Dave Robak, Harting, noted that resolving certain
patent issues had slowed the process. Dave also stated that a solution for
rear I/O had not been discussed.
Klaus Heiman, EPT, introduced an alternative 160 pin connector design. This
design was one that was discussed at previous meetings.
Additional discussions regarding the 160 pin connector ensued. After comparing
the EPT alternative with the current solution the group voted with the following
results:
Continue with current solution (Harting 160 pin connector) - 13 votes
Consider EPT 160 pin alternative proposal - 11 votes
Therefore the group voted to continue with the current 160 pin Harting connector.
The group discussed several other issues including the implementation method
for front panel EMC protection. The task group voted 18 FOR and 2 AGAINST
to leave the EMC specifications as a RULE and not change it to a RECOMMENDATION.
A representative from FORCE asked that the 3.3 volt pins be changed to 5.0
volt pins. After discussion the group voted 5 FOR and 11 AGAINST changing
3.3 volt pins to 5.0 volt pins. Thus the 3.3 volt pins will remain in the
specification.
Istvan Vadasz, FORCE Computers, asked the group to consider developing a
comprehensive power supply voltage specification. After discussion, the
task group voted unanimously not to consider this issue.
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With no additional business to conduct, the VME64 Extensions Task Group
ballot review meeting was adjourned and the VSO meeting was called to order.
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Eike Waltz, Rittal, gave a report on the status of the IEEE P1101.10
sponsor ballot.
CCPMC Task Group Recognition
Bob McKee, MITRE, presented the necessary information required to form a
task group and was granted recognition. The task group will be designated,
VITA 20-199x, and the title of the effort will be Conduction Cooled PCI
Mezzanine Card.
The main VSO meeting was adjourned until Thursday morning and several related
meetings convened in separate rooms to work on specific issues. Groups that
held meetings were: SCSA Ext. Task Group, 2eMBLT discussion group, and those
individuals interested in IEEE P1101.10
Introductions and Agenda Review
Ray Alderman called the meeting to order and asked attendees to introduce
themselves. The agenda was reviewed and approved as modified.
Announcements
Ray asked attendees if they were satisfied with the hotel and it meeting
facilities. No objections to the facilities were made.
VITA 7-199x, Quickring - Paul Vena, CSPI
Paul summarized CSPI's efforts to date with Quickring and stated that they
had decided to withdraw from the task group because their company's plans
had changed. Paul indicated that Dennis Terry, Heurikon, had offered to
accept the chair.
Rich Hovey, National Semiconductor gave a short report on the status of
the QR1001 QuickRing chip.
VITA 12-199x, M-Modules, John Rynearson
John indicated that VITA 12, M-Modules, was currently in a task group ballot
that would conclude on January 31. At that time the task group was hoping
to gain VSO approval and then move to ANSI canvass ballot.
VITA 11-199x, Autobahn, Hermann Strass
Hermann gave a report on Autobahn and indicated that he was ready to start
a formal task group ballot. A list was passed around for those who were
interested in signing up for the task group ballot.
VITA 14-199x, CXC/Modpack, Hermann Strass
Hermann gave a report on CXC/Modpack and indicated that he was ready to
start a formal task group ballot. A list was passed around for those who
were interested in signing up for the task group ballot.
Study Group Report - VME on SEM-E, Mary Mosier
Mary gave an update on the VME on SEM-E study group effort and reviewed
the comments received from Wayne Fischer. The main issue discussed involved
pinouts. Wayne and others in the VSO expressed concern with the current
pinout definition and felt that the VSO could not approve the current layout.
Mary indicated that she could not arbitrarily change the pinouts without
approval from the group that was sponsoring her effort. She indicated that
she would confer with her sponsor and report back to the VSO in March.
VME64 Extensions, Wayne Fischer
Wayne Fischer, FORCE, presented a motion to add a new chapter called "Rear
I/O Transition Boards". This chapter will point to IEEE P1101.11 for
the mechanical definition. Connectors with 13 mm tails will be recommended
for I/O through the backplane. 80 mm deep boards will be recommended for
6U applications. The motion was seconded by Lou Francz, Dialogics, and discussed
followed. After the discussion the motion was approved unanimously.
Wayne summarized the results of the VME64 Extensions ballot review. A compliance
section will be added and several outstanding issues with 2eMBLT need to
be resolved. Wayne indicated that he would update the draft document and
that a new task group ballot would begin on February 9 to end on March 11.
VITA 16-199x, MVIP - Bob Grochmal, Xircom
Bob reviewed the results of the recently completed MVIP task group ballot.
Comments were received from Bruce Wallace, Nortel, John Rynearson, VITA,
and Istvan Vadasz, Force. The comments will be compiled and changes will
be sent to balloters for review. Bob indicated that baring no objections
he hoped to be able to move to ANSI canvas ballot during the March meeting.
VITA 17-199x, FPDP, Jonathan Jones, ICS
Jonathan Jones reported on the task group meeting held on November 28, 1995.
The group discussed the need to better define bus timing and loading parameters
due to changing from point to point to multidrop capability. Additional
areas needing attention included the use of sync signals and framed data
plus the front panel connector. Jonathan stated that he plans to have the
next revision ready by March 1, 1996.
ISIS Presentation, Joost Verhofstad, Stratus
Joost Verhofstad gave a presentation on ISIS, a software tool kit to implement
fault tolerant computing.
Profibus Update - Ray Alderman
Ray Alderman, as initiator of this effort, requested that this study group
be disbanded. A motion was made and seconded to disband the study group.
After discussion the group voted unanimously to disband the study group.
ESSE Status Report, Kim Clohessy
Tools chain group - Motorola will bring coldfire into the group. Next ESSE
meeting will be at ESC in Boston in April. Probably no meetings in Orlando.
Future Meetings
Meeting for March (Orlando, 20-22) and May (Phoenix, 8-10) have been scheduled.
A place for the July meeting is still being determined. VITA will see if
facilities for Jackson Hole, Wyoming are available.
Ray thanked all those who attended and adjourned the meeting.