VMETRO introduces Freescale Power Architecture-based single-board computers

VMETRO in Houston is introducing two 6U VPX-REDI single-board computers. The MPE730 is a 6U VITA 46/48 Quad-Core PowerPC multiprocessing engine, while the SBC731 is a 6U VPX-REDI single-board computer (SBC). The MPE730, which is for radar, sensor, and signal processing, integrates dual Freescale Power Architecture MPC8641D processors and Serial RapidIO fabric connectivity, and the SBC731, which is for mission and control processors, supports one MPC8641D processor and the Serial RapidIO fabric. Both boards incorporate PCI Express and Serial RapidIO switches for on-board interconnects as well as backplane communication with support for Serial RapidIO on the P1 fabric connector and one x8 or dual x4 PCI Express (PCIe) connection(s) to the P3 connector, providing for multiprocessing systems and expansion I/O. To meet a wide range of application needs, there are two XMC/PMC sites on the MPE730 and SBC731. Each site supports PCI/PCI-X up to 64-bit/133 MHz, PCIe x4/x8, and Serial RapidIO x4. Each XMC/PMC site also supports VITA 46.9 I/O connections through the Jn4/6 connectors, providing maximum I/O density and flexibility in a 6U form factor. The MPE730 supports two front-panel Gigabit Ethernet ports and two Gigabit Ethernet ports to the backplane; the SBC731 supports one Gigabit Ethernet port to the front panel and one Gigabit Ethernet port to the backplane. To provide interoperability with legacy VME boards, the boards provide VME 2eSST interfaces. For system control and chassis management, the boards use a Xilinx Virtex-5 LX FPGA known as the System Control Node that controls power and temperature monitoring, bit-stream encryption, and routing of I/O. For more information, visit VMETRO online at www.vmetro.com.