VSO Minutes

Wednesday, May 16, 2001

Resort Suites, Scottsdale, AZ

Elwood Parsons, Tyco and VSO chair, called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM and asked members to introduce themselves. After introductions, the minutes from the March VSO meeting were approved as written. Elwood asked the members to review the agenda. Times for the VITA 34 mechanicals meeting were added on Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon. Elwood called for general announcements. Jim Botte noted that he was now with DY4.

John Rynearson, VITA, reviewed the VSO’s patent policy and asked for patent disclosures. Mike Munroe, ERNI, stated that intellectual property (IP) issues with the new ZD connector were being reviewed and that he hoped to report on any issues at the next meeting. Jim Koser, FCI, reviewed the IP issues surrounding the Metral and PowerBlade.connectors. These connectors are second sourced and available for licensing under terms that are reasonable and non-discriminatory.

Carl Cargill, Sun Microsystems, gave a presentation titled “New Paradigms in Standards Development”. See attachment. Carl contrasted Sun’s experiences in developing standards in the Java™ Community process with previous standards efforts under ANSI and other standards organizations. Carl noted an important difference in the definition of open technology. ANSI defines open as everyone can participate while Carl defines open as everyone can use it.

Lou Francz, Intel, introduced a project to develop new standards for Eurocard mechanics utilizing the 2mm ZD connector. Brian Peebles, Intel, discussed what was envisioned. See presentation. Mike Macpherson asked how this effort would impact VITA 34. John Rynearson stated that there could well be synergies between the two efforts. VITA 34 is a revolutionary approach to a new embedded framework while Lou’s proposed effort would be more evolutionary. After more discussion it was decided to revise ANSI/VITA 30 to include this new format. A signup list was passed around for the new working group. Sponsors for this activity will include Intel, Tyco, ERNI, and Sky Computers.

Elwood adjourned the VSO general meeting at 9:36 AM and the group took a break.

Bob Downing, VITA 34 Chair, called the VITA 34 working group meeting to order. Minutes from the VITA 34 Working Group are available to VITA members at the following URL: http://www.vita.com/vso/vitamembers/vms.html VITA members should contact John Rynearson techdir@vita.com or Lollie Wheeler lollie@vita.com if they need the user ID and password.

Thursday, May 17, 2001

Elwood Parsons called the VSO meeting to order at 8:30 AM. The order for the VITA working group reports and the VITA 34 working group meeting was swapped. A ZD presentation by Mike Munroe was added to the agenda.

Ray Alderman, VITA, reported that no new patent issues had surfaced with Nortel and he discussed his views regarding VITA 34 and VITA 30.

John Rynearson, VITA, gave the canvass ballot report. See presentation. John reported on the preliminary results of the recent ANSI 5 year audit. A report on the final results of the audit will be given at the July meeting.

Elwood asked for working group reports.

VITA 1.4, System Level Live Insertion – no report

VITA 2.1, ETLx – Bob Downing is working on a draft document. VITA is looking for volunteers to test the new transceiver chip when samples become available. Anyone interested should contact Ed Barsotti or John Rynearson.

VITA 17.1, Serial FPDP – Ron Taulton, Systran, has received comments on the current draft and will be generating a new draft soon.

VITA 29, PC•MIP – Larry Smith, SBS, noted that the gasket issues had been resolved and that both negative ballots had been turned affirmative in the recirculation ballot. Larry was working on comments from Mark Taylor and would supply a new draft to John Rynearson shortly. If there are no significant changes in this draft, it will be submitted to ANSI for recognition.

VITA 31, Serial I/O on 2mm – no report

VITA 31.1, Switched Ethernet – this effort will be patterned after the 2.16 specification in PICMG.

VITA 32, Processor PMC – Mac Rush, Motorola, reported for Greg Novak. Comments on the latest draft have been received and another ballot will be taken when the new draft is available.

VITA 36, PMC I/O Modules – no report

VITA 37, PIRMA – Jim Botte has restarted this effort. A structure for a document has been developed.

VITA 38, System Management Bus – A revised draft has been posted and a working group ballot will begin shortly.

VITA 39, PCI-X on PMC – Steve Krueger, Artesyn, reported that another sponsor for this effort has been added. The group is investigating the need for simulations.

Dick Somes, Force Computers, conducted a negative ballot review for VITA 30.1, Conduction Cooled 2mm Eurocard. All issues were resolved. The draft will be revised and a recirculation ballot will be held.

With no other issues to discuss, the VSO meeting was adjourned.

Bob Downing called the VITA 34 working group meeting to order. Minutes from the working group are available to VITA members at: http://www.vita.com/vso/vitamembers/vms.html.

Submitted by

/s/ John Rynearson, VITA