Developers needing high-performance, high-reliability computing systems have new design options becoming available. The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers' Group (PICMG) is now expanding its Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) specification to support additional applications beyond the telecom industry.

In particular, fresh options such as double-height blades, double-sided chassis entry, and significantly higher power limits promise to expand the applicability of ATCA solutions.

This expansion combined with ATCA's proven development ecosystem will bring the cost and logistics benefits of high-reliability modular computing to a wide variety of mission critical applications in markets such as the data center and military/aerospace.

While the ATCA specifications target telecom applications, they have characteristics that make the architecture of potential interest to other industries.

To be compliant with telecom's NEBS (Network Equipment Building System) standards, for instance, ATCA had to provide hardware and software mechanisms for implementation of high-availability and fault-tolerant design.

It also had to handle specified environmental conditions, including operation in 55?C ambient temperatures, shock and vibration corresponding to severe earthquakes, and the like. The specifications are now in the process of expanding to include greater power and spacing options, along with higher chassis densities to further accommodate needs beyond telecom.

The design of ATCA hardware gives it the flexibility to be applicable outside telecom. The architecture revolves around a modular blade computing structure (Figure 1, below) with blades supporting hot-swap capability for easy system maintenance.

Figure 1 " ATCA blades support several different sizes of AMC modules, giving designers considerable flexibility in customizing blade operation using off-the-shelf equipment.

Individual blades provide modularity by supporting the presence of Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) modules that can hold computing elements, I/O (input / output) interfaces, and other high-level functionality. Developers can use a standard module frame and customize it for their specific requirements simply by populating it with the appropriate AMC modules.

The AMC modules are large enough to serve as platforms for complete computing subsystems of considerable complexity and performance. Four different size modules have been defined that will mate with a standard ATCA blade.

These different possibilities allow module designers as well as system developers the flexibility to utilize only as much space as the function requires, thereby saving cost. Furthermore, developers can use AMC modules natively within a compact MicroTCA chassis to build low-profile systems with powerful computing, storage and I/O capabilities.