The scalable PowerPC architecture from IBM provides a common hardware platform for all ranges of applications across the telecommunications/data communications infrastructure. Mon taVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition combines many leading technological advancements of Linux with robust carrier class features to create the most advanced open standards-based carrier-grade platform available.
“Now, network providers can couple our popular IBM PowerPC microprocessors with MontaVista Software’s carrier-grade Linux development tools and high availability features,” said Jane Munn, vice president, networking technology, IBM Technology Group. “These solutions will enable communications technology providers to develop and deploy next generation services at low cost and high flexibility. This represents another milestone for the communications industry in itsmigration to commercial-off-the-shelf products based on PowerPC technology that can provide reduced cost, more choices, and shorter time to market.”
CGE is designed specifically to address the needs of telecommunications equipment manufacturers (TEMs) and network equipment providers (NEPs) who face ever-increasing time-to-market pressures. These networking OEMs need to deliver scalable, high performance solutions with real-time support. CGE enables them to do so, while lowering their cost and time to deployment. CGE 3.0 is fully compliant with the Open Source Development Lab (OS DL) Carrier Grade Linux Specification Release 1.1 and enhances standard Linux with additional high reliability and availability features for deployment in carrier-grade environments. As NEPs begin to implement Carrier Grade Linux, they want to use a commo n product across multiple architectures that span many different projects and applications.
“The market is demanding a Linux solution for telecommunications that works with all the major hardware platforms available and MontaVista Software is being r esponsive to these market needs,” said Jim Ready, CEO and president, MontaVista Software. “MontaVista helped pioneer the first release of Carrier Grade Linux for Intel architecture-based platforms. Now, in response to customer demand, MontaVista is bringing PowerPC support to Carrier Grade Linux.”
MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition 3.0 is the second generation of the company’s carrier-grade Linux operating system and development environment. CGE enhances the leading technological advancements of Linux with robust carrier class features to create the most advanced open standards-based carrier-grade platform available.
“MontaVista Software, IBM and Force Computers have been key drivers in the Carrier Grade Linux initiative. MontaVista LinuxCar rier Grade Edition is the only Linux product that meets the Carrier GradeLinux Specification for both Intel processor and PowerPC processor-basedproducts,” said Stuart Cohen, CEO of OSDL. “OSDL lauds this new drive to expand the scope of carrier-grade Lin ux into newer architectures and applications.”
Force Computers’ PowerCore(TM) CPCI-690, which uses the 750FX PowerPC, will be the first commercially available PowerPC board supporting Carrier Grade Linux. MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition 3.0 alrea dy supports Force Computers’ Intel-based CPCI-735/736R2 single board computers (SBC). With the addition of the popular CPCI-690 customers can utilize Carrier Grade Edition across a wide range of Force Computers products. This can help companies reduce int ernal development costs by lowering overall costs of managing multiple OS products for different architectures and solutions.
“Force’s SBCs and MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Linux Edition together enables TEMs and NEPs to build high availability sol utions based on Open Standards-based operating system and platforms,” said Chris Williams, Force vice president and general manager of worldwide product marketing and engineering. “Force continues to provide leadership in the communications market by deli vering robust commercial-off-the-shelf platforms — all running MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition — which is ideal for an array of sophisticated communications applications.”
About MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition
CGE provides the scala bility, dependability, and functionality required by telecommunications and data communications applications such as Softswitches, BSC/RNC (base station controllers/radio network controllers), media gateways, control plane applications in core/edge, media servers, and core switches. Carrier Grade Edition provides essential high availability features including CompactPCI hot swap drivers, redundant Ethernet and RAID1. It also delivers a hardened driver architecture, resource monitoring and fault management services, and other carrier-grade capabilities. CGE 3.0 is also currently available for select Intel architecture platforms.
With more than a dozen major design wins since it was released last year (including Alcatel in France, Agilent Technologies in the UK and Nokia in Finland), MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition has resonated very strongly with customers in telecommunications and networking. It has been chosen and deployed by a growing number of global telecommunications companies in a wide range of cutting-edge applications including:
– Wireless Communications, specifically
— Wireless to wireline communication gateway for Rail system
— Switch for mobile infrastructure
– Scalable platform for switches and call servers
– Location registers and base station controllers for GSM operators
– Internet security products such as VPN, secure routers
– Media gateway and Softswitch – Voice over IP network solutions
– “All IP” networks with such applications as media gat eway controllers
– Managed infrastructure equipment such as DSLAMs and routers.
About IBM PowerPC: 440GX, 440GP and 750FX
The 440GX and 440GP are versatile System On a Chip (SOC) products that are being increasingly used as system-level product s in such things as rack-mount servers for edge-network based products. The PowerPC 440GX recently won the Analysts’ Choice Award and was recognized for excellence in semiconductor technology innovation, design and implementation. The IBM PowerPC 440GX wa s cited for delivering a well rounded set of features “at a price that makes it attractive for a wide range of high-volume applications.” The 750FX is a high performance PPC architecture. MontaVista will use the Force PowerCore CPCI-690 as the reference b oard for development of the 750FX PPC support in CGE.
About Force Computers PowerCore CPCI-690
The Force PowerCore CPCI-690 CompactPCI® single board computer brings new levels of flexibility and power to embedded telecommunications, data communi cations and industrial applications. Based on Force’s award-winning Sentinel “universal” PCI-to-PCI bridge technology, the PowerCore CPCI-690 can function as a high-performance system controller or an intelligent peripheral card without any need for hardw are or software reconfiguration when switching between operating modes. This, combined with its advanced PowerPC 750FX 700MHz-plus processor and broad array of interfaces, makes the PowerCore CPCI-690 an ideal choice for configuring fast-to-market, highly reliable multicomputing platforms.
Availability
MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition with support for the 440GX, 440GP, and 750FX and accompanying reference boards will be available in Q4 2003. It will provide customers with the MontaVista Linux kernel, software updates, deployment components, utilities, development tools, access to the MontaVista Zone (customer resource portal), comprehensive technical support and hands-on Linux training classes.
About MontaVista Software
MontaVista Software is a leading global supplier of systems software for intelligent connected devices and associated infrastructure. MontaVista powers the embedded revolution by providing GNU/Linux-based open-source software solutions. Founded in 1999 by real-time operating system (RTOS) pioneer James Ready, MontaVista offers a family of products under the MontaVista Linux umbrella that address broad-based software developer needs encompassing applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer electronics. Multiple editions of MontaVista Linux are available including Professional, Consumer Electronics and Carrier Grade, along with complementary technology products providing powerful Java and graphics development capabilities.
Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, Calif., MontaVista Software is a privately held company funded by leading investors such as Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co., IBM, Intel Capital, Sony, Panasonic (Matsushita), Toshiba America and Yamaha Corporation. For more information about MontaVista Software, please visit http://www.mvista.com.
About IBM Microelectronics
IBM Microelectronics is a key contributor to IBM’s role as the world’s premier information technology supplier. It develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art semiconductor and interconnect technologies, products and services. IBM Microelectronics activities are focused in three major areas: custom application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips, PowerPC-based and other standard chip products, and high-tech foundry services. Its superior integrated solutions can be found in many of the world’s best-known electronic brands.
IBM is a recognized innovator in the chip industry, havin g been first with advances like more power-efficient copper wiring in place of aluminum, faster silicon-on-insulator (SOI) and silicon germanium transistors, and improved low-k dielectric insulation between chip wires. These and other innovations have con tributed to IBM’s standing as the number one U.S. patent holder for 10 consecutive years. More information about IBM Microelectronics can be found at: http://www.ibm.com/chips.
About Force Computers
Founded in 1981, Force Computers (www.forcecomputers.com) is a leading designer and worldwide supplier of open-standards-based and custom board- and system-level embedded computing solutions. These solutions address telecommunications, data communications, medical, industrial control and defense and aerospace markets. Based on Venture Development Corporation’s independent market research among users of single board computers and embedded motherboards (published May 2003), Force Computers has the distinction of leading both product categories in terms of total revenue-generating shipments for 2002. In addition, the company led the VME subcategory in 2002. Certified ISO 9001, the company practices Total Quality Management principles in all phases of its global operations. Force’s company headquarters is located in Fremont, Calif. Force’s Europe and Asia-Pacific headquarters are located in Munich, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan, respectively.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a registered trademark of MontaVista Software, Inc. IBM and PowerPC are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. PowerCore is a trademark of Force Computers. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.
Contacts:
Joe Samagond,
Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications,
MontaVista Software, Inc.,
Phone: (408) 328-9234,
E-mail: jsamagond@mvista.com
Patricia Colby,
PR Strategy and Business Development,
Pacifico, Inc.,
Phone: (408) 293 8600 x340,
E-mail: pcolby@pacifico.com”
