VSO Minutes

Wednesday Morning – May 18, 2005

 

Subject

Presenter

Comments

Call VSO meeting to order

Introductions, Agenda Review

Announcements, Minutes Approval

Elwood Parsons, VSO Chair

The meeting of the VSO was opened at 8:00am on May 18, 2005 by chair Elwood Parsons of Foxconn.  Individual introductions were made and the agenda reviewed.  Minutes of the March meeting were approved by acclimation after a motion to approve by Andy Reddig and a second by Danny Cohen. 

IP Issues

-        Patent Policy Review

-        Call for Patent Disclosures

 

Elwood Parson, Chair

A statement regarding patent policy was given by the chair and a request for intellectual property disclosures was responded to by Rex Harvey of Parker Hannifin who stated that they had applied for a patent on the dual purpose alignment pin/quick disconnect device being considered for use in VITA 48.  The patent is pending and Parker Hannifin will RAND license the technology.

 

Platform Mgmt Proposal

Ken Boyette, Critia

(Presentation)  The VITA Standards Organization meetings were started by a presentation on a platform management architecture proposal by Ken Boyette of Critia Computers.  The original VSO specification on this subject was ANSI VITA 38,  VITA 41 has inherited this work and VITA 46 is now actively investigating how and to what degree IPNE adds benefits and at what cost in real estate and cost per unit.  VITA 48 will drive enhanced environmental monitoring will need to utilize this technology to a greater degree.  AMD has just publicly introduced the Open Platform Management Architecture Specification (OPMA) which builds on the IPMI foundation.  This was developed specifically for the server market.  It provides IPMI based platform management using SODIMM socket technology.  There are 4 option levels and supports new IPMI technology (serial over LAN, keyboard video mouse over IP).  Ken is proposing a standard in the form of a mezzanine card using the AMD devices to provide an embedded centric mix of sensor and control signals for system monitoring and maintenance.  This could be used on VME, VITA 42 or 46 and other boards and could be used on an as needed basis either initially, later or selectively on these systems.  A sign-up sheet was circulated to start a new group and received sufficient sponsor level supporters to become a VSO working group.  This is being titled "EPMA Platform Management Architecture".

VITA 17.2, 10 Gbit Serial FPDP Report

Dean Holman, Mercury

VITA 17.2 – 10Gbit Serial Front Panel Data Port– Dean Holman of Mercury reported that the group is holding bi-weekly teleconferences and has decided to break out the 10 Gbaud portion into a future dot specification. Anyone interested in joining this group is to contact John Rynearson to be added to the reflector.

VITA 41, VXS Report

Bob Tufford, Motorola

VITA 41 –VXS (Presentation) VITA 41.0, 41.1, 41.2 and 41.10 have been finalized per the VSO process and have been stable for some time and will be submitted for ANSI balloting per Bob Tufford of Motorola. 

 

VITA 41.11 (RearTransition Module) has been the focus of the working group for the last two months and version 0.65 is in working group ballot. 

 

Plans/schedule for ANSI balloting include: VITA 41.0 (Base Spec), 41.1 (Infiniband), 41.2 (Serial Rapid I/O), and 41.10 (Live Insertion) are to be submitted for ANSI balloting within a month.

 

VITA 41.3 (Gigabit Ethernet) and 41.4 (PCI Express) are to be sent to ANSI within 3 months.  VITA 41.11 (Rear Transition Module) is to be forwarded to ANSI within 6 months. 

 

Andy Reddig of Tekmicro proposed another dot specification in the VITA 41 family.  (See Presentation).  This is a protocol specification similar to the .1, .2, etc. which will add Xilinx Aurora protocol.  A sign-up sheet was circulated to start a new group and received sufficient sponsor level supporters to become a VSO working group.  This is being titled "Protocol Specification: Aurora" and will be numbered VITA 41.5.

VITA 42, XMC Update

Andy Reddig, Tekmicro

VITA 42 – XMC (Presentation)  This subcommittee is struggling with a connector issue. Samtec proposed at the last meeting that the current version be replaced with an improved connector.  This has raised concerns centered on performance (environmental testing, etc.), IP conflicts, and schedule impact.  The group will be deciding whether to use the current connector as is, modify the current connector or use the "improved" connector with the associated schedule impact.  Of note is that several companies are currently building product to the standard as written.  Andy Reddig of Tekmicro substituted for chair Greg Novak and conducted a straw poll of the VSO as a whole which showed no support for continuing with the specification with the current connector.  Instead the group was divided into two factions who wanted to proceed with the standard as currently written with the anticipation of connector improvements (to the current connector) or those who wanted to delay the specification until the modifications to the current connector are completed and tested.  There was no support for the new Samtec connector or for restarting the standard with a totally new connector.  There is a final decision scheduled for the VITA 42 working group meeting scheduled for Thursday morning.

 

A new sublevel specification (VITA 42.5 – Xilinx Aurora Protocol) was proposed by Andy Reddig of Tekmicro and a sign-up sheet circulated to start a new group and received sufficient sponsor level supporters to become a VSO working group.  This is being titled "Xilinx Aurora Protocol" and will be numbered VITA 42.5.

VITA 46, VPX Status Report

Stewart Dewar, Curtiss-Wright

VITA 46 – VPX (Presentation) Stewart Dewar of Curtiss Wright gave the VITA 46 committee update.  VITA 46.10 (Rear Transition Module) has had the concept defined but the first draft has not yet been written.  This is underway.  There is also an effort to record and control the keying definitions and combinations for VITA 46 plug-in modules and backplanes.  This will be VITA 46.12 and there will be a preliminary draft by the end of May.  Open issues for VITA 46 include the availability of 50 micro inch gold plated contacts and the associated cost impact, plating options for the alignment/guide pins and the current rating of the power wafer contacts.  Final testing of the MultiGig connectors is in process with a modified salt fog and SO2 environmental test program.  The final test report is anticipated in 2 to 3 weeks.  Lastly, the group is working on the extent and complexity of electrical modeling and simulation that needs to be done.

*** BREAK ***

 

 

VITA 48, ERDI

Randy Banton, Mercury Computer

VITA 48 – ERDI (Presentation) Randy Banton of Mercury Computers gave the VITA 48 update. VITA 48.0 (Base specification), .1 (Air and Conduction Cooled) and .2 (Liquid Flow Through) drafts have been published, although a vote was taken to split the air and conduction cooled dot specification into two documents.  Current work involves discussion of alignment and tolerances, two level maintenance, and integration of a combination quick disconnect/guidance mechanism.  A section has been added to the document listing essential and nonessential patents in an effort to clarify the topic.  There have been no new patents or IP issues added in this listing. Richard Hodges and Rex Harvey of Parker Hannifin showed examples of the new quick disconnect/guide pins.

VITA 49, Digital IF

 

VITA 49 – Digital IF – Randy Banton of Mercury informed the group that the Digital IF working group is holding weekly telecons, occasional face to face meetings and are making progress on their standard.  The group is planning to attend the July meeting and give a tutorial and status report on the work to date.

VITA 50, Cooling

Rex Harvey, Parker Hannifin

VITA 50 – Cooling – Rex Harvey outlined the work to date.  The group is developing a handbook or manual to describe the various methods of cooling electronic devices.  This will be a "what can be done, not how to do it" document.  An outline has been developed and work is proceeding on the first draft.

VITA 51, Reliability Prediction

Lori Bechtold, Boeing

VITA 51 – Reliability Prediction (Presentation) Lori Bechtold from Boeing updated the VSO on the work to date.  There have been several fact finding and organizational telecons since the last VSO meeting and VITA 51 has decided to hold a full working group meeting in conjunction with the July VSO meeting.  They are developing their charter and have established four subgroups – WG1 will develop the charter, WG2 is responsible for document development, WG3 is working on certification and control mechanisms, and WG4 is responsible for promotion of the effort. 

 

 

The VSO was adjourned for the day at 11:15am and resumed at 8:30 am on

Thursday, May 19, 2005.

VITA 46 Working Group Meeting

 

See working group minutes.

*** LUNCH ***

 

 

VITA 46 Working Group Meeting (continued)

 

 

VITA 48 Working Group Meeting

 

See working group minutes.  2 level maintenance presentation by Mike Gust.

VITA 50 Working Group Meeting

 

See working group minutes.

VITA 52, Lead Free Report and Working Group Meeting

Pat Amic, Boeing

See Presentation.

Adjourn Meetings

 

 


Thursday, May 19, 2005

 

Subject

Presenter

 

Call Meeting to Order

Announcements, etc.

Elwood Parsons

The VSO meetings resumed at 8:30am on Thursday, May 19, 2005.  There was an announcement about a correction for the toll free phone number for the Plaza 500 Hotel in Vancouver where the next VSO meeting will be held.  The correct phone number is 800-473-1811. Ray Alderman gave an update on the recently held MEECC conference and the results of the VITA Board of Directors meeting held on May 18.  There has been an almost finalized agreement with Motorola regarding the patent issues affecting VITA 41 and 42.  The formal results will be forthcoming within the next several weeks.

Other Business

 

Steve Cecil of NSWC Crane updated the group on the Commercial Technology Management Subcommittee (VITA 53S).  They are trying to standardize market surveillance questions, improve communication between government and industry regarding life cycle support and improve the quality of responses to market surveys.  A subcommittee session is being scheduled for July in Vancouver.

Adjourn VSO Meeting

 

Steve Cecil moved to adjourn and Bob  Patterson seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.  The VSO meeting was adjourned at 9:00am on May 19, 2005.

VITA 42 Working Group Meeting

 

See working group minutes.

Side Bar Meeting – Connector Shell & RT2

Rodger Bird, Boeing

Contact Rodger Bird at Boeing.

 

Submitted by John Rynearson, VITA Secretariat, from minutes taken by Elwood Parsons, VSO Chair