VSO Meeting

January 21-22, 2004

Long Beach, California

 

Call to Order

Elwood Parsons, VSO Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:00 AM and asked members to introduce themselves.  After introductions the agenda was reviewed and several changes were made.  The revised agenda was approved.  The minutes from the November 2003 meeting were approved as written.  No announcements were made.

 

European Report

Herman Strass, VITA European Technical Coordinator, reported on VITA activities in Europe.  See report.

 

Standards Report

John Rynearson, VITA, gave the standards report.  See attachment.

 

Call for Patents

John Rynearson explained the VSO patent policy and asked for patent disclosures.  None were made.

 

VSO Revised Procedures

John Rynearson discussed the results of the recent ballot on revised VSO and ANSI procedures.  John will update the procedures based on the review and start another ballot shortly.  See ballot review comments for VSO and ANSI processes.

 

*** BREAK ***

 

Tim Warland, Tundra, discussed the July meeting.  Tundra would like to host the July VSO meeting in conjunction with a 2eSST plug fest.  After discussion the group decided to accept Tim¹s proposal.  VITA will work out the details and provide them to the membership.

 

VITA 1.1 Revisions

Dick DeBock, Thales, discussed the feasibility of using the 3M HSHM connector as a compatible replacement for the 2mm HM P0 connector as specified in ANSI/VITA 1.1.  See presentation.

 

Stephane Renaud, Harting, gave a presentation on the 7 row DIN.  Harting feels that it is technical possible to make this connector and that it will perform similiarly if not better than the current 5 row connector.  Harting is looking for feedback from the VMEbus community regarding the potential for this connector.  John Rynearson will conduct a survey of VITA members to determine interest.

 

VITA 41 Report

Bob Tufford gave a report on VITA 41.  See presentation.

 

VITA 41 x 9U Report

Andy Reddig, TEK Micro, briefly stated the goals of VITA 41 x 9U.  Work will commence on VITA 41 x 9U when time permits.

 

VITA 42 XMC Report

Greg Novak, Motorola, gave a report on VITA 42.  The working group is reviewing the comments from the recent ballot.  A working group meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 9 AM.

 

VITA 46 Report

Stewart Dewar, Dy4, reported on VITA 46.  See presentation.  The group discussed the impact of VITA 46 on other activities.   A working group meeting is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 PM.

 

*** LUNCH ***

 

Ray Alderman, VITA, gave a report on VITA activities.  Ray noted that the OIF has a meeting at Design Con and will discuss results of tests that indicate a significant increase in bit error rates for fabrics transmitted across a backplane with increases in temperature. 

 

Ray noted that members were concerned with whether or not activities such as VITA 46 could be called VME and what the name VME meant.  Does VME refer to a mechanical form factor or does it refer to a protocol?  After some discussion the following motion was made by Dick DeBock and seconded by Bob Tufford.

 

Motion: VITA 46 may not be called VME.

 

More discussion followed.  Stewart Dewar, Dy4, and chair of VITA 46 noted that the working group did not intend to designate VITA 46 ³VME², but that VITA 46 would contain VMEbus signals that would be compatible with the ANSI/VITA 1, VME64, and ANSI/VITA 1.1, VME64x specifications.  The group continued the discussion as to what VME is.

 

After more discussion a vote was held and the motion passed with 11 voting FOR, and 7 voting AGAINST.

 

VITA 47, Other Requirements

Jim Robles, Boeing, reported on the goals and status of VITA 47.  See presentation.  A VITA 47 working group meeting was scheduled for Thursday from 11 AM until 1 PM.

 

VITA 48 Proposal

Randy Banton, Mercury Computers, proposed to start a new working group.  See presentation.  A signup sheet was circulated.

 

The meeting was adjourned.

 

 

Thursday, February 3, 2004

 

Elwood Parsons called the meeting to order.

 

Reports from the various committees were given.

 

Hermann Strass reviewed his efforts to start a VMEbus serial group as the VITA 45S study group.  See presentation.  Hermann reported that he was unable to get three sponsors and was ceasing his effort.

 

John Rynearson noted that elections for VSO chair and vice chair were coming up at the next meeting and asked Frank Hom and Mike Macpherson to serve on the nominations committee.  Members should contact the nominations committee with potential candidates for the positions.

 

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.