Press information To download a text file of this release, a 250 pixel wide low-res RGB image for web use or a 300dpi CMYK print quality image, go to www.parkfield.co.uk CompactPCI EtherPlane Backplane launched at Bus&Board, San Diego Released 15 January 2001 Continuing its long-established tradition of supporting emerging technologies with early prototypes, APW Electronic Solutions has developed a 15 Slot CompactPCI EtherPlane Backplane (EPB) for Performance Technologies Inc, the leading US system developer and integrator. The EPB extends the CompactPCI Specification with a packet-based (Ethernet) switching architecture to create an Embedded System Area Network (ESAN), integrating a scaleable LAN into the embedded systems environment with inherent hot swap and HA capability. EPB will reduce time to market through increased integration at the network/transport layers, enabling embedded system integrators to combine the power of IP with the ubiquity of Ethernet and the bandwidth of fibre. The EPB supports scaleable bit rates of 10/100/1000 Mb/s per slot, giving the choice between low cost or high performance; hot swap is provided through the standard CompactPCI specification and High Availability is enabled through redundant Ethernet switching. EPB uses only 20 pins in the J3 area per slot, it is non invasive to J1, J2, J4 and J5. The EPB provides a CAT5 equivalent connection for every slot. In its first public outing, Performance Technologies will have a running ESAN system on Booth 20 at the VITA and PICMG-sponsored Bus & Board Show, San Diego, 15/16 January; APW will be showing the hardware components on Booth 16. All system hardware is supplied by APW Electronic Solutions; a Titan thermally managed desktop enclosure contains the EPB backplane, and power is provided by APW Power Supplies' CompactPCI-optimised 350W power converter. Integrating Ethernet with CompactPCI has enormous potential; the inaugural meeting of a PICMG 2.16 sub-committee was held on 9 November 2000 to consider introducing a new subset, provisionally entitled Packet Switching Backplane, to the PICMG CompactPCI Specification. The next meeting is due to be held in San Diego on 17 January 2001, immediately after the Bus&Board Show *** Ends: 299 words *** Notes to Editors. For further information: APW Electronic Solutions contact: Trevor Lant APW Electronic Solutions Flanders Road, Hedge End, Southampton, Hants, SO30 2LG tel: + 44 (0)1489 774500 fax:+ 44 (0)1489 780978 trevor.lant@apw.com www.apw.com Agency contact: Nigel May Parkfield Parkfield House, Damerham, Hants, SP6 3HQ tel: + 44 (0)1725 518321 fax: + 44 (0)1725 518378 Nigel_May@parkfield.co.uk www.parkfield.co.uk APW Electronic Solutions (formerly VERO Electronics) is part of the $2bn APW Corporation. It has design and manufacturing facilities in Germany and the UK in Europe, and on the east and west coasts of the USA. It is supported by local offices in France, Italy, Denmark, Sweden and Finland and a worldwide network of agents. The company is a world market leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of high performance backplanes and integrated systems for telecom and other leading edge industry sectors where sophisticated hardware solutions are required to solve demanding technical requirements.