Bob Downing, VSO Chair, called the meeting to order at 8:30 AM and asked members to introduce themselves. After introductions the minutes from the last meeting was approved as written. Then the agenda was presented for review. No changes were made in the agenda.

Bob Downing stated the ANSI and VSO policy regarding early patent disclosure. Drew Berding noted that a patent (US Patent 5,930,119 issued 7/27/99) regarding improvements to the VME320 backplane technology has been issued. See attached patent. See Arizona Digital web site (www.arizonadigital.com) for more information.

Ray Alderman, VITA Executive Director, gave the VITA report. He noted that IEEE 1101.2 needs to be reaffirmed. After some discussion it was decided that Jing Kwok, DY4, and John Rynearson, VITA, would work together to determine how to make sure 1101.2 was reaffirmed. Ray also informed attendees re: the details for the Jan 2000 Bus&Board Conference. The conference is scheduled for Mon/Tue, Jan 31/Feb 1 in San Diego at the Hilton San Diego Resort. Ray has made arrangements for cheap airfares that will be available to attendees. More information will be made available via email and on the www.busandboard.com web site.

John Rynearson, VITA Technical Director, reported on several issues. He noted that he had been informed by Wolfgang Eisenbarth, PEP, that they were no longer interested in supporting the Autobahn spec. John received an email from Joe George, Clearpoint, regarding the transfer of a number of BASC (Bus Architecture Sub Committee) developed IEEE standards to the MSC (Microprocessor Sub Committee). John passed out several prototype CD's containing all of VITA's approved ANSI standards.

John noted an issue with P1386 CMC. Figure 5.1 shows a 3 mm notch that is required in the carrier board for proper mounting. A user of PMC's called and noted that many carrier boards did not have this notch. John noted that this was part of the spec and was required for compliance. See attached figure.

John gave the canvass ballot report. VITA 30 is in ANSI canvass ballot solicitation. VITA 29 is in ANSI ballot. VITA 1.6 and VITA 18 are in VITA canvass ballot review. VITA 5.1 was approved on August 31, 1999 as an American National Standard. John presented a LandsEnd attache case to Tony Lavely as chair of the VITA 5.1 task group. John also recognized Mike Thompson, Pentair Electronic Packaging (Schroff), for his volunteer efforts in helping configure and maintain the VITA internet server. Mike was presented with a VITA logo polo shirt.

Drew Berding, Arizona Digital, along with Tony O'Brien shared their perceptions of the regeneration of VME. See attached overheads. Tony supported Drew's views and noted that partnership arrangements were being made with other VMEbus companies to promote VME320 technology. Drew announced that the February 2000 issue of VMEbus Systems magazine would focus on VME320 products and urged members with such products to contact either him or John Black of VMEbus Systems magazine to help coordinate and provide a balanced representation.

Ray Alderman, VITA, echoed Drew's observations that a resurgence of interest was being seen in VME.

*** BREAK ***

Mike Fogg, AMP, gave an update on his presentation of two meetings ago on 2.5 Gbit connector data rates. See attached presentation.

Jim Koser, FCI, presented their work on gigabit connector products. See attached presentation. Jim asked members with technical questions to contact Lisa Huffman at lhuff@fciconnect.com.

A discussion on high speed connectors followed. Bob Downing asked what speeds were envisioned for the future. Mike indicated that 5-10 Gbit speeds on shorter lengths of copper were very possible. Bob Downing noted that while such speeds on copper remain doable at some point physics will require the use of fibre. Mike Fogg stated that different modulation techniques could also be used to increase data rates.

Bob Downing adjourned the main VSO meeting for individual task group meetings.

[Please note. Task group chairs are responsible for keeping minutes of their respective task group meetings.]

VITA 31. Mike Thompson called the VITA 31 task group meeting to order and proceeded to review draft 0.2. Mike suggested that a 2mm Eurocard could be used to provide a crossbar switch module for both cPCI and VME systems. The task group discuss the proposed pin assignment. Jing Kwok, DY4, asked why a staggered layout was being used if the fully populated connector had to work anyway. Danny Cohen stated that staggered configurations would allow maximum cable lengths or less costly cables for 2 or 4 port applications whereas a full 8 port configuration might require a more costly cable or restrict the cable length. More discussion ensued. The group decided to reassign pins based on either a 4 port or 8 port layout and to acquire more data on the impact crosstalk on signal layout. Mike Fogg offered to provide additional data. VITA 31 will be viewed as a "plumbing" specification to be referenced by applicable serial protocol documents.

*** LUNCH ***

John Rynearson announced that he had received an email over lunch from Wayne Fischer regarding the status of P1386 and P1386.1. Wayne has revised both documents and will be converting them into PDF format shortly. The documents will then be submitted to a second IEEE sponsor ballot.

VITA 34 Task Group Meeting

Bob Downing called the VITA 34 task group meeting to order. Ed Barsotti, FERMI, joined the VSO meeting via teleconference. Bob Downing presented the revised VITA 34 document and talked about such issues as power, board pitch, chip voltages, and board size. See attached overheads. Bob noted that although the 6U x 160 mm was the standard VMEbus board size the 220mm deep Eurocard board did provide more space especially if power converters were going to be required. A 6U x 220 size would also allow the use of a small converter board for legacy VMEbus designs. Tom Hall, PEP, questioned the need for larger boards which would add more heat and more complexity. John Rynearson questioned having components on both sides of the printed circuit board which adds more heat and complexity. Both Danny Cohen and Mike Macpherson cautioned the group not to continue to think in terms of the limits imposed by the standard backplane architecture that were developed in the 60's and 70's to support single function boards. In other words do we have the wrong packaging paradigm. Bob asked members to review the draft and to provide him with their comments. Bob would like to bring in experts to talk to the area of DC to DC converters for a future meeting.

VITA 1.5 and VITA 2.1 Joint Task Group Meetings

Mac Rush called the VITA 1.5 meeting to order. Most of the issues with the current draft have been resolved. The remaining issue is how to specify timing. Currently the document references VITA 2.1. After much discussion the task group decided to go ahead with a 14 day task group ballot. Mac will revised the draft and Mac and John Rynearson will review the task group ballot list.

VITA 2.1 Report.

Bob Downing gave a report on the status of VITA 2.1. The task group is working with TI on defining a transceiver chip with better edge characteristics that would allow 2eSST to work in a wider range of environments. TI requires participants to sign an NDA (non disclosure agreement). The group expects to have simulation results by the next VSO meeting. After definition, a strong business case will have to be made to convince TI to make the part.

VITA 36, PMC Interface Module (PIM)

Greg Novak, Motorola, reviewed the draft. The discussion included pin assignments and voltage questions. Greg will continue to refine the draft with input from the task group and ready it for a task group ballot.

VITA 32, PPMC - Processor PMC

Greg Novak, Motorola, reviewed the PPMC draft. Most issues concern what to put on the carrier board and what to put on the PPMC module. The group discuss how to handle arbitration. Greg noted that some customers want to be able to have arbitration on both the carrier and the PPMC module. While adding flexibility, such options would increase cost and complexity. After much discussion the group decided to keep arbitration on the carrier board and not make it optional on the PPMC board. The draft will be revised and a task group ballot will be held with results available for the next VSO meeting in November.

Other task group meeting that were held included: VITA 20, CCPMC; VITA 30.1, 2mmCC Module, and VITA 33, Serial FPDP.

Thursday, September 23, 1999

Bob Downing called the VSO meeting to order. There were no announcements.

Bob asked task group chairs to make their reports.

VITA 1.5, 2eSST, Mac Rush - The draft will be revised and a 14 day task group ballot will be held before the next VSO meeting.

VITA 2.1, Enhanced ETL, Bob Downing gave the report for Ed Barsotti. The VME2000 LLC has been closed out and remaining funds have been allocated to simulations for VITA 2.1. The group expects to have preliminary results by the next VSO meeting.

VITA 20, CCPMC, Mac Macpherson

Draft 1.9 is on the web. It will require some editorial changes.

VITA 27, P2CI, no report was given.

VITA 29, PC*MIP is currently in a 90 day ANSI canvass ballot.

VITA 30, 2mm Connector Practice for Eurocard. This effort is currently in ANSI canvass ballot solicitation. The solicitation process will close on Oct 14. So far 11 balloters have been obtained.

VITA 30.1, 2mm Connector Practice for Conduction Cooled Eurocard.

There remain some issues with the mechanicals that will require some revisions.

VITA 30.2 Separable Power Connector Practice

Elwood Parsons and Frank Hom has been putting a lot of effort into creating the initial draft which has been posted on VITA's web site. Mike Munroe, ERNI, brought up an issue re: patents on IEC 1076-4-101 3 bladed Power Connector arose. After discussion Elwood Parsons and Bob Patterson said they would review it and comment at the next meeting. See attachments.

VITA 32, PPMC. Greg Novak will revise the draft and conduct a task group ballot for review at the next VSO meeting.

VITA 33, FPDP. Ron Taulton, Systran, noted that the group discussed whether or not the designation should be changed from VITA 33 to VITA 17.1 since it builds on the work of VITA 17. Ron will contact Jonathan Jones, ICS, and unless he has any objections the draft will be re-designated.

VITA 35, PMC Mapping

Jing Kwok reported that the draft has been updated and requested that VITA 35 be moved to canvass ballot.

VITA 36, PMC Interface Module

The draft will be revised for review at the next VSO meeting.

Venues for future meetings were discussed. The March 2000 meeting will be held in Orlando on March 22-23. The May 2000 meeting is tentatively scheduled for Scottsdale on May 17-18. The group discussed the July meeting and voted to consider either Vancouver or Seattle.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

Submitted by,

/s/ John Rynearson, VSO Secretariat