In today’s blog episode, we would like to introduce our newest White Paper: “System and Component Qualifications for VPX Solutions, Create a novel, low-cost, easy to build, high reliability test platform for VPX modules“. Over the past year, Samtec has worked with EIZO Rugged Solutions to develop the best, most cost effective, way to evaluate your new VPX system.
What is VPX?
VPX defines a module standard common to rugged, mobile applications. VPX solutions are rugged commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) modules with high-speed serial interfaces such as PCI Express and Gigabit Ethernet. VPX facilitate these modules’ cost-effective integration into larger systems. Rugged, mobile applications continue to adopt VPX infrastructure.
VPX is a broadly defined technology utilizing the latest in a variety of switch fabric technologies in 3U and 6U format blades.
These definitions also include;
- High speed connector rated up to 6.25 Gbps
- Choice of high speed serial fabrics
- PMC and XMC mezzanines
- Hybrid backplanes to accommodate VME64, VXS and VPX boards
We tend to hear more about VPX and VITA when talking with military and aerospace customers, but its architecture can be used across any Critical Embedded System going to the market. If you are unfamiliar with VPX architecture, you can read all about it on the VITA page Here.
Testing and Evaluations
EIZO and Samtec have developed a low-cost, easy to build, high reliability test platform for VPX modules. This is accomplished through sending PCIe Gen 3 Connectivity to an off-table CPU test. This new platform supports data rates up to 16 Gbps up to 100 meters, via PCIe over fiber optics. This is where the White Paper comes in to play. As you build your new system, you don’t want to wait until everything is together before you know if there is an issue. This paper explains how to do this with limited set up and real time results along the way.
Samtec and Eizo combine the following elements to make a universal approach to testing your VPX system and any stage of the build;
- EIZO supplied Condor 4000 3U VPX Series
- VPX Backplane Design by EIZO
- PCI Express®-Over-Fiber Adaptor Card
- PCI Express®-Over-Fiber FireFly™ optical cable
The Samtec Expertise
The basis of the test created focuses on the shock and vibration of the system. If you would like to learn more about how the test is conducted, here is a recent blog with an Introduction To Connector Vibration Testing.
Testing is Not an Afterthought is another blog that goes in to why we focus on not only testing our connectors, but why we are also focused on the system qualification.
If you have applications, not specifically VPX qualification, that you need support reach out to your local Samtec sales team or email in to the Technical Marketing Group at TMG@samtec.com.
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