Following the emergence of the MicroTCA.0 Rev 1.0 specification, ranges of switched fabric and dual star configured backplanes have been introduced for developer systems. These backplanes enable higher speed interconnection in multiple function systems, where the function is now held on an AMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card), which can be directly plugged into the backplane.
Backplanes from Rittal now utilise press fit connector technology for long-term reliability and the initial models have been designed with full redundancy for high availability systems.
Including slots for power modules, hard drives and PCI-Express AMCs, the backplanes have dual radial clocks and support the 10-Gbps Attachment Unit Interface (XAUI or “Zowie”).
This narrow but fast data pipe includes additional capabilities to overcome signal-skewing problems, and being only four differential lanes (16 tracks total), is much less susceptible to noise and has much lower emissions than 32 or 64 single ended tracks.
Rittal is currently developing further backplanes, some of which are custom solutions, and it has a range of 19” subrack type housings to enable system development.