VME, VPX, and VXI Bus Interfaces and Adapters Specifications

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VME System / Form Factor

Technology:

See table at the end of this help module.

Your choices are...

VMEbus

The original VMEbus specification (IEEE-1014-1987). Some features:

Asynchronous transfer
Addressing range between 16 and 32-bits
Data path widths: between 8 and 32-bits
Bandwidth: 40 MBps

VME64

VME64 is a mechanical and electrical superset of the original VMEbus specification (IEEE-1014-1987). Some new features:

Asynchronous transfer
Addressing range between 16 and 40-bits
Data path widths: between 8 and 64-bits
Bandwidth: 80 MBps

VME64x

The VME64 Extensions (VME64x) specifications were adopted in 1997 by the VITA (VMEbus International Trade Association) Standards Organization (VSO). This new standard adds new capabilities to the VME64 bus:

A new 160-pin connector family
3.3 V power supply pins
Bandwidth: up to 160 MBps
Injector / ejector locking handles
Live insertion (hot-swap capability)

VME160

VME160 is a version of the VME320 standard. The VME320 can transfer data from 320 MBps to over 500 MBps. The VME160 is the 160 MBps version.

VME320

VME320, a new modified VMEbus architecture, was developed in 1997 by Arizona Digital, Inc. Some features:

Allows synchronous data transmission
Bandwidth range: from 320 MBps to over 500 MBps
Also comes in 160 MBps version

VPX

VPX (aka VITA 46) is an ANSI standard based on the VME bus with support for switched fabric using a high speed connector.

VXI^TMCompliant

VXIT^M (VMEbus eXtensions for Instrumentation) is a platform trademarked by National Instruments and a Consortium of other companies in order to define a multivendor instrument-on-a-card standard for industrial applications. The VXIbus specifications combine the VMEbus with the popular GPIB to create a modular instrumentation platform to meet the needs of instrumentation applications.

Other

Other unlisted technology types.

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All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Form Factor:

Card format is given in terms of (height x length). The height is expressed in units of 'U', and the length in mm (millimeters). The most popular heights are:

3U = 100mm
6U = 233mm
9U = 360mm (Not part of the VMEbus specifications)

The VMEbus specifications recognize two types of cards: A single height board, also known simply as a 3U card, is 100mm x 160mm with one 96 pin DIN connector (the P1 connector) on the rear that plugs into the backplane. A double height board, also known as a 6U card, is 233mm x 160mm and may have a second 96 pin DIN connector (the P2 connector). There are 9U boards in existence but they are not part of the VMEbus specification. For VXI systems the cards are referenced by assigning a letter to the card: Size A, Size B, Size C, etc. VME systems reference the card by naming the height and the length: 3U x 160mm, 6U x 340mm, etc. The front edge (width) of a typical board is 20mm wide and may incorporate connectors, indicator lights and switches. (See table at the end of this help module.)

Your choices are...

3U x 160 mm (Size A)

Size A cards have a height of 100 mm (3U) and a length of 160 mm.

6U x 160 mm (Size B)

Size B cards have a height of 233 mm (6U) and a length of 160 mm.

6U x 340 mm (Size C)

Size C cards have a height of 233 mm (6U) and a length of 340 mm.

9U x 340 mm (Size D)

Size D cards have a height of 360 mm (9U) and a length of 340 mm.

9U x 400 mm

Cards have a height of 360 mm and a length of 400 mm.

Other

Other unlisted form factor.

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Tables:

VMEbus Data transfer Speeds

VMEbus Data Transfer Speeds
Bus	Maximum Speed
VMEbus	40 MBps
VME64	80 MBps
VME64x	160 MBps
VME160	160 MBps
VME320	320 to over 500 MBps

Card Form Factors (Sizes):

VME / VXI Card Form Factors (sizes)
Height	Length (mm)	VXI Name	VME Name
3U	160	Size A or 3U x 160mm	3U (Eurocard)
6U	160	Size B or 6U x 160mm	6U (Eurocard)
6U	340	Size C or 6U x 340mm	6U x 340mm
9U	340	Size D or 9U x340mm	9U x 340mm
9U	400	9U x 400mm	9U x 400mm

Operating System Support


	Operating System Support:
	Your choices are...
	DOS		Disk operating system (DOS®) is a command-line operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation.
	Windows® 95/98		Operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation.
	Windows® NT		Operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation.
	Windows® 2000		Operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation.
	Windows® XP		Operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation.
	Linux®		An open-source implementation of UNIX used on many platforms, including Intel-based PCs, Macintosh, SPARC^TM workstations, etc. Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
	Solaris^TM		Solaris^TMis a Unix-based operating environment that includes the SunOS^TMoperating system. Solaris and SunOS are trademarks of Sun Microsystems.
	QNX®		QNX® is a microcomputer operating system which is especially useful for controlling real-time operations. This includes things like assembly lines, position monitors, chemical plants, and industrial robots.
	VxWorks®		A real time operating system (RTOS) from Wind River Systems.
	LynxOS®		LynxOS® is a real-time operating system (RTOS) based on the open source Linux OS. Developed by LynuxWorks, it is used extensively in embedded systems.
	None		The device comes without any operating system support.
	Other		Other unlisted operating system such as MAC OS, RTX, Embedded NT, Embedded Linux, pSOS+, etc.
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Interface to Other Buses


	Interface to Other Buses:
	Your choices are...
	SCSI		Small computer systems interface (SCSI) is an intelligent I/O parallel peripheral bus with a standard, device-independent protocol that allows many peripheral devices to be connected to the SCSI port. A single SCSI bus can drive up to eight devices or units: the host adapter or controller, and seven other devices. Each device is assigned a different SCSI ID, ranging from 0 to 7. SCSI formats include SCSI-1, SCSI-2, SCSI-3, Wide SCSI, Fast SCSI, Wide Fast SCSI, Ultra SCSI, Ultra2 SCSI, Ultra3 SCI (Ultra160), Ultra 320 SCSI, and Ultra640 SCSI.
	PCMCIA (PC Card)		PCMCIA devices or PC cards are credit card-sized peripherals used mainly in laptop and notebook computers. They plug into a 68-pin host socket that is connected either to the motherboard or an expansion bus. An adapter takes the place of a COM port and translates the PCMCIA signals into a format that is usable by the computer’s bus. PC cards adhere to standards developed by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA). Originally, these standards were designed for adding memory to portable computers; however, standards now apply to many types of devices. There are three types of PC cards: Type I, Type II, and Type III. All types have the same width (54 mm) and length (85.6 mm), but vary in thickness.
	VME / VXI		VersaModule Eurocard bus (VMEbus) is a popular, 32-bit bus used in industrial, commercial and military applications. The VMEbus is based on the VME standard, which defines mechanical specifications such as board dimensions, connector specifications and enclosure characteristics, as well as the electronic specifications for sub-bus structures, signal functions, timing, signal voltage levels, and master/slave configurations. The VMEbus uses 3U and 6U Eurocards, rugged circuit boards that provide a 96-pin plug instead of an edge connector for durability. Several VMEbus varieties are available. VME extensions for instrumentation (VXI) are an electrical and mechanical standard used mainly with automatic test equipment (ATE). VXI allows equipment from different vendors to work together in a common control and packaging environment.
	PMC		PCI mezzanine card (PMC) is a form factor, not a bus. It is electrically equivalent to the PCI bus, but has a different shape and bus connectors. PMC is designed for rugged applications and provides a secure mounting platform for VME mezzanine boards. It is connected as a daughter card to a special connector on a PCI board as a peripheral device.
	GPIB (IEEE 488, HPIB)		The general-purpose interface bus (GPIB) is designed to connect computers, peripherals and laboratory instruments so that data and control information can pass between them. It was originally developed by Hewlett Packard (HP) and called the HPIB bus. GPIB is also know as the IEEE 488 bus, and is electrically equivalent to the IEC 625 bus.
	Ethernet		Ethernet is a local-area network (LAN) protocol developed by Xerox Corporation in cooperation with DEC and Intel in 1976. It uses a bus or star topology and supports data transfer rates of 10 Mbps. The Ethernet specification served as the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. Ethernet uses the CSMA/CD access method to handle simultaneous demands. It is one of the most widely implemented LAN standards.
	CANbus		Controller area network bus (CANbus) is a high-speed serial data network designed for harsh electrical environments and real-time control applications. It operates at data rates up to 1 Mbps and provides excellent error detection and confinement capabilities.
	DeviceNet		Utilizing CAN protocol, DeviceNet is a network designed to connect industrial devices such as limit switches, photoelectric cells, valve manifolds, motor starters, drives, and operator displays to PLCs and PCs.
	Other		Other unlisted bus types.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Additional Specifications


	Number of Ports:		Number of channels supported.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

	Transfer Rate		The speed that data can be transmitted. Transfer rate is specified in megabits per second (Mbps) or megabytes per second (MBps), for serial and parallel communications respectively.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

	Hot swappable?		The board can be inserted into a running system without disturbing the performance of the system.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	RAM Memory:		Main memory. There are many types of RAM: DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

	ROM Memory:		Read Only Memory. There are many types of ROM: PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

	LED Indicators?		Indicators for power or status of the bus.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	Card is CE / FCC Certified?		The card conforms with the U.S. requirements of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and with the European CE Marking (Conformite Europeene or European Conformity) system, which is helpful for exports to the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

VME, VPX, and VXI Bus Interfaces and Adapters Specifications

Technology:

Form Factor:

Interface to Other Buses:

Number of Ports:

Transfer Rate:

RAM Memory:

ROM Memory:

Help with VME, VPX, and VXI Bus Interfaces and Adapters specifications: