Introduction to the xTCA Family: ATCA - AMC - MicroTCA

High Performance Embedded Computer Series - Open Modular Multi-vendor STANDARDIZED Architectures

MicroTCA for Medium to High Performance and ATCA for Very High Performance - Redundant and Non-redundant

Large Global Ecosystem - Over 20 Vendors & ODMs - All Standardized Multi-vendor Products providing Full Mix-and-Match

Standardized + Modular + Multi-vendor = Lower Cost – e.g. The Upgrade to a New Processor is just a CPU Board swap, NOT the complete system

• The ATCA (or AdvancedTCA) Architecture was announced in 2001 to replace the CompactPCI (cPCI) boards and systems used by the TEMs (Telecom Equipment Manufacturers) as there was an urgent need for higher computer performance and more and better connectivity.
• PICMG to publish the specifications, PICMG is a nonprofit consortium of companies and organizations that collaboratively develop open standards for high performance telecommunications, military, industrial, and general purpose embedded computing applications.
• ATCA was adopted all over the world by nearly all TELCOs (Telecom Service Providers / Carriers)
• Very rapidly ATCA was selected in abundance for other applications in military/aero, hi-end industrial, research and more, in fact for sophisticated applications and redundant systems. But PICMG kept the name « Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture » which is confusing for newcomers.
• AMC or AdvancedMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card): this standard defines a family of small, hot swappable, and fully managed mezzanine cards that can be used to tailor I/O for large AdvancedTCA systems or used as the basis for building MicroTCA systems. They are commonly called “AMCs”
• MicroTCA (or µTCA): often called “AdvancedTCA’s little brother”, MicroTCA is a modular platform for building smaller and less expensive systems than ATCA while retaining the high availability architecture of AdvancedTCA. MicroTCA systems use AMC modules as their basic computing and I/O building blocks.

Comparing Architectures