Ray Aldermen, VITA, opened the meeting at 8:30 AM. First item on the agenda was introduction of attendees. Welcome to all.
Review of agenda.
Wayne Fischer shortened his PMC presentation. Steve Corbesero, Mupac,
will have a live demo of BLLI. PCI discussion will be at 1PM. Additional
minor changes to schedule. Agenda was accepted as modified.
Minutes from last meeting were accepted.
There being no additions or corrections, minutes were accepted.
VME64 Status Report
John Rynearson reported that the standard has been approved by ANSI as
of April 10, 1995. The specification will be known as ANSI/VITA 1-1994, VME64.
John congratulated the VSO members and Ray Alderman for their efforts in
achieving this goal. Ray Alderman presented Kim Clohessy with a briefcase for
his outstanding efforts as document editor for VME64. In addition, Ray awarded
plaques to Frank Hom, Electronic Solutions, Dick DeBock, Matrix, Mike
Hasenfratz, Micro Memory, Jing Kwok, Dy-4, Wayne Fischer, Force, and Chau
Pham, Motorola, for their efforts as chapter editors and contributors to the
VME64 document.
Software discussion - Ray Alderman, VITA
1.635 billion microprocessors will be shipped in '95. Embedded systems is 80
times large then desktop boxes. The problem is there are NO software standards
for embedded systems. Ray presented a model of Snow White and the Seven dwarfs
that could be used to model the problem. See attached.
ESSE - Embedded Systems Software Environment
Goals and objectives (What, why, who, how, where and when). See attached.
Proposed ESSE structure
CORE GROUP (FOUNDERS) 7-10 companies
Participants 30-40 companies
Observers 300-400 companies
Discussion around the model followed. There are concerns of software
being proprietary. Interfaces and services must be defined. Another concern
is the difference in plug-n-play market. What is needed is one "common
operating system interface". Key is to define a scope that is realistic and
address the most important issues needed solved in the industry. Common object
file format is another area to address.
Ray asked if there was consensus to start a software task group. Seven VITA members indicated their interest in this effort. This meets the requirement of the VSO to start a new task group.
There were a large number of members that agreed to participate in this project. The charter, scope and definition will be defined in the afternoon session.
VSB status - Mike Hasenfratz, Micro Memory
Mike inquired about the status of this standard. It has be reballoted
by the IEEE. Some issues need clarification. Interest was expressed in
updating VSB to provide higher performance.
Ray Alderman would like the VSO to take over the IEEE 1096 document. Wayne Fischer will contact the IEEE office to see if there are willing to give it up. If they do not wish to give it up, then Ray Alderman will write a letter to the IEEE.
Regarding 1014 Ray Alderman will not contact the IEEE to rescind 1014 since this an archive document that has no impact on VME64.
VITA on the Web - John Rynearson for Ray Alderman
VITA has a web site. It will be used for general information about VMEbus and
VSO activities. VITA has plans to put the new products directory up on the
web.
VME64 Extensions Status Report - Wayne Fischer, Force
Draft 0.8 has been distributed. Wayne reported that he has visited Europe and
Japan and all have received the upgrades well. Telcom market wants 10mm space
above the handle for a label on bottom of face plate. Backplane testing was
done at Force with 5 different manufacturers of the backplane. See attached
test report.
VME64 160 Connector Report, Dave Robak, Harting
Prototypes available for purchase. Customer drawings and literature available.
Production plans - interim version II available May-October 1995, series
production planned end of 1995. See attached.
Discussion of the patent was noted. Mike Munroe will follow up with Teradyne.
What is the backplane tail length needed? 13-17mm or 15mm & 19mm. Board thickness is the issue.
Jim Koser gave overview of the EIA PN3353. June 5 meeting in Milwaukee will be editing session. Hopefully by October the document will be ready for EIA ballot. Draft 0.5 is now in print. Koser will send latest revision to VITA office after editorial changes are made at the EIA meeting.
Eike Waltz gave an update on the IEEE P1101.10. See attached schedule. Eike reviewed the minor changes that are required in the standard. Draft will be updated in about 3 weeks. New draft 3.0 will be circulated.
Wayne Fischer discussed the card guide keying. It is recommended to fill in area above the keying holes.
2EBLT- Bob Downing (VIPA) has agreed to write this revised document. This will be another chapter in the VME64 Extensions Draft Standard.
Bob McKee requested a discussion on 3.3V.
BLLI Demo - Steve Corbesero, Mupac/Bob McKee, MITRE
Bob McKee advised that the document has been edited. The document should be
ready for recirculation ballot by mid-June.
Mupac has built to the BLLI document. During the break, Steve showed a demo of the system.
FMDC/VME Report - Wayne Fischer
The group met yesterday to discuss additional requirements. See attached
report. Wayne suggested that he would work with Lou Francz, Dialogics, to
complete a detailed document for presentation by September. Goal is to keep
FMDC/VME simple and to keep cost down. No meeting is scheduled for July.
SPCI Form Factor Update- Jim Koser
See attached. Jim advised that Joe DiMartino of IBM is chair of the work
group. Joe can be reached at (919)543-9795. Draft 1.3 of the SPCI standard is
in the PCI Steering committee for SIG circulation.
TMbus- Pat McHugh, Army Research Lab
Master/slave module controller was discussed. Detailing 1149.5 standard. Only
obstacle is convincing concerned task group member that IEEE1149.5 is the
solution. Need/requires cost estimates and availability of chips.
Transition Modules - Mike Munroe, Hybricon, for Joe Norris, Technobox
See attached. Question is where to incorporate this effort? A proposal for a
study group to be formed to look at the issues and determine if it should
become a standard or a recommended practice document.
PMC Pinnout - Wayne Fischer
P1386.1 is in IEEE ballot. Pinout issue for 160 pin connector needs to be
resolved. See attached chart for pinout issues. Problem is mapping for the 5
row connector. There are 2 proposals. See attached. The second proposal was
the preferred based on a straw vote.
How to map to the P0/J0 where 64 pins are mapped to 70 pins. See attached. A subcommittee was formed to make recommendation for this mapping.
PCI- Mike Munroe, Hybricon
PCI on VME is an emerging technology. Ziatech is working on Compact PCI. Jim
Ectford. See attached presentation. Latest rev. is 0.3. Intel is driving the
standard for PCI. Connector is AMP Z-pac 5 X47 per IEC 1076. For a
contribution of $5,000.00 , the results of the testing simulation can be
purchased.
PCI fabric is being worked on to expand the slot count. PCI may allow VSO to define standard for embedded systems applications.
Software is another issue.
IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) Annoucement, Craig Lund,
Mercury
Craig Lund gave a short presentation on the current work effort called
"MessageWay" being carried out by the IETF. MessageWay is an attempt to
address the use of IP (internet protocol) within system area networks. Since
IP was not optimized for such use, many vendors create their own proprietary
protocol. MessageWay is an attempt to standardize this protocol. See attached
email for more info.
Meeting was adjourned at 5 PM.
Ray Alderman opened the meeting at 8:30 AM.
Introductions and announcements
Ray made several announcements. Ray suggested that the group consider
moving to Regal McCormick Ranch for the July meeting to provide more room. The
date would be changed to July 24-25.
Ray indicated the need to put a disclaimer on the VME64 document regarding the 160 pin connector. Bob Blau, Mercury, read the standard ANSI disclaimer. It is deemed sufficient to cover this issue.
Ray gave an update on software meeting held yesterday. Three areas were identified for possible work: tools interface, i/o interface, and kernel OS API.
The group discussed the need to write standards following the VMEbus tradition of rules, observations, permissions, etc. John Rynearson advised that there is no ANSI rule or requirement to use this structure. Wayne Fischer advised that John Black originally came up with this format. The group decided to leave it to each task group as to how they wished to write their standard as long as they followed the ANSI format.
FMDC - Wayne Fischer/Lou Franz
During the FMDC meeting in March in Orlando, the task group via a straw
vote, voted to support P1149.5 as the alternative access channel
(AAC) for FMDC/VME unless or until a better alternative could be found.
Wayne Fischer, chair, expressed concerns that P1149.5 was too complex and would be too costly to meet the cost requirements of FMDC/VME. He suggested that he would like to write a detailed draft of FMDC that may or may not support P1149.5 as the alternative access channel (AAC). He would work on the draft in cooperation with Lou Francz, Dialogics, and others on the FMDC/VME task group and they would present their results in September. He indicated that he would step down as task group chair if asked.
John Rynearson expressed concern that there should be only one standard for fault management on VME and not several oriented to specific industries. More discussion followed.
John Rynearson advised that Wayne Fischer and Lou Francz will create a detailed document with input from others for presentation at the September meeting. The requirements for an alternative access channel will be examined in more detail. P1149.5 and other methods will be reviewed to determine how well they meet these requirements. The task group will review the document at the September meeting.
VITA 4-1994, Modules - John Rynearson for Jerry Gipper,
Motorola
See attached. Version 1.0.d.0 sent to w.g. ballot in April. Response
due May 31. Target July for ANSI ballot. GreenSpring will not release the
trade name IndustryPack. Spec' is about to be released. with another name.
VITA 7-199x, QuickRing, - Paul Vena, CSPI
Paul advised that another revision draft 0.9.2 of document is now available.
Three companies now have product available. Heurikon, CSPI and Mariet Solutions.
The connector is going to EIA for a work effort.
VITA 10-199x, SkyChannel - Doug Williams, Sky Computers
See attached. Update spec' rev. 2.2 passed ballot. All negative issues
resolved. Will go to ANSI canvas ballot by July. A sample board was shown.
VITA 11-199x, Autobahn - Ray Alderman, VITA
50Mb/s chips work fine. 100Mb/s should be released this month. The 200Mb/s is
still having some problems. Best case samples in September, worst case
December '95. If more detail is needed call the VITA office.
VITA 12-199x, M-Modules - John Rynearson, VITA
A task group ballot was completed. Good comments came back and will be sent to
Europe for revision and another task group ballot based on revisions.
VITA 13-199x, HIC - Colin Whitby-Strevens - no report
VITA 14-199x, CXC & Modpacks - Ray Alderman
Document is clean except the formatting.
VITA 16-199x, MVIP - Mike Motta - no report
VITA 17-199x, FPDP - Jonathan Jones, ICS
Front panel data port. Mechanism for passing data across the front panel via
cable. First draft of the specification was sent out in April. Based on
feedback, a new draft will be sent out in about one month. Detail issues - see
attached.
VME on SEM-E - Mary Mosier, NAWC
Initial draft was distributed and copy in minutes. Two VITA members have
agreed to support and a third is sending in a letter for support of a work
group. Mary is looking for comments on the draft by June 30. Once a pinout is
agreed upon, tests will be run to confirm. This is a 396 or 250 connector.
Profibus Update - Ray Alderman, VITA
Ray wrote a letter to 29 people explaining why VSO is doing this specification.
VSO and ISA have not yet resolved this issue. Mike Bryan has spoke to ISA and
was told that ISA will oppose any VSO document. ANSI has to respond to VSO re
this standard DIN 19245. VSO submitted a declaration that this work is within
the scope of the VSO work effort.
9U Report - Bob Downing, Fermi
See attached. The first draft was sent out to interested members. More
detail will be added over the next several months. Appendix will include a
recommended practices guideline. Also transition modules will be part of the
document as an appendix.
VIPA Report- Bob Downing, Fermi and Ludwig Pregernig, CERN
Basic item is to define things that are necessary in the HEP arena. Extensions
document has addressed most of the needs in VIPA. They will develop a
guidelines type document and refer to VME Extensions.
Ludwig Pregernig, CERN - Real-time software. See attached.
Recommended Practices draft is now on the www at the following address:
http://www.cern.ch/ECP-ESS/VSC/Recommended_P
Recommended Practices, UHF Satcom - Brad Hoisington, NISE
Charleston
See attached. Satellite radio for the Navy. Need industry/government open
standard. Real time signals is the major issue. Up to 16 channels could
operate simultaneously. At the next meeting they will ask to form a study
group. The real question is what can the VSO bring to this application? A
scope and objective will be presented at the next meeting.
Configuration Management - Doug Endo, Hughes
Doug discussed various problems that Hughes has had in the past regarding
configuration management and VMEbus. See attached presentation.
3.3 V Discussion - Juergen Baumann, Force
Juergen is concerned that 3.3v is not really a standard. Microprocessors will
go to whatever voltage provides the best performance. Therefore if 3.3 v is
not really a standard, why should VME extensions have 10 3.3v pins? Proposal
for changing 5 pins to 5 v. Discussion followed. Key is what is the most
reliable voltage for the chip technology. 64 Meg will be 3.3 v. Dick Somes,
DEC, made a motion to open up the discussion on the pin out with a second by J.
Baumann. There are 30 voting members. Vote was 11 for opening, 14 against and
5 abstain. Motion failed.
VSO Policy & Procedures Review - John Rynearson
See suggested changes in draft document items (17 & 18). Ray Alderman
suggested that VITA may drop the associate membership; therefore he is
suggesting we drop voting rights for this level membership;. discussion
followed. The other issue is the forming of a software group. John Rynearson
made a motion to accept the suggested changes, there was no opposition so
changes are accepted. Ray will discuss voting issue with the board of
directors and report back at the next meeting.
Meeting Wrap-up
The group discussed the next meeting to be held in July. Ray asked the
group to choose between the following alternatives:
(1) July 26-27, Sept 20-21 & Nov 15-16 at Regal McCormick Ranch
(2) July 19-20, Sept 20-21 & Nov 15-16 at Phoenix Airport Hilton
The group chose the first alternative, Regal McCormick Ranch, unanimously. No votes were cast for the second alternative.
The meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by Jim Koser, BERG
Edited by John Rynearson, VITA