dlt@wingman.UUCP (Don Turrell) (05/17/91)
SBus-to-VMEbus Adapter New Product Options and Accessories from Performance Technologies, Incorporated Model PT-SBS915 SBus-to-VMEbus Adapter General Description The Model PT-SBS915 SBus to VMEbus Adapter provides an efficient high performance link that allows VMEbus modules to be used as an extension of the new SUN Desktop SPARCstations. The PT-SBS915 consists of a single slot SBus module that plugs into the SPARC Workstation, a single slot VMEbus module that resides in the external VMEbus chassis and a single shielded cable (10 or 20 feet) for interconnect. The basic PT-SBS915 has been shipping to users since late 1990, providing an added dimension of capability and flexibility to the SPARCstation. Operational Details The PT-SBS915 Adapter is a full function hardware based interconnection of the SBus and VMEbus. VMEbus "masters" in an external chassis may access "slave" functions in the SBus environment. Conversely, SBus "masters" may access VMEbus "slaves" across the Adapter. This provides a fully orthogonal hardware interconnect between the buses, allowing a high degree of flexibility to the user. Only the PT-SBS915 provides full "Master" and "Slave" capability on the SBus, significantly enhancing performance and application flexibility. The Adapter uses a windowing technique to map address spaces between the two bus structures. All translation of the address maps between the SBus and the VMEbus is accomplished by the PT-SBS915 hardware. The SBus-To- VMEbus "windows" are defined by using the SBus concept of geographic addressing. That is, only those accesses by an SBus master to the geographic address range of the SBus Adapter will result in operations on the VMEbus. The VMEbus "window" to the SBus can be programmed in both size and location in the VMEbus address map. Only accesses by a VMEbus master in this address range will result in operations on the SBus. This allows activity on either the SBus or the VMEbus to occur independently outside the respective "windows". The PT-SBS915 is in full conformance to the SUN SBus specification A.1, and with the VMEbus specification C.1. PT-SBS915 Accessories Performance Technologies has recently expanded the SBus-to-VMEbus product line offering to include several new options and accessories. * 9U VMEbus Form Factor The Adapter is now available with an optional 9U X 400mm VMEbus module. This form factor is identical to the form factors found in previous generation Sun workstations (i.e. Sun 3 and Sun 4) based on VMEbus. Since a large number of users are interested in utilizing existing VME based I/O modules on the new SBus based machines, the 9U Adapter provides a clean and cost effective solution. * Developers/Integrators Tool Kit To support user integration of the SBus-to-VMEbus Adapter, Performance Technologies offers an inexpensive Developers/Integrators Tool Kit. The kit includes comprehensive information from Sun Microsystems on dealing with software drivers in both environments. The kit also provides a variety of utilities from Performance Technologies to aid in integration. These include a software driver and tools for reprogramming the factory default setting of the "SBus Boot Prom" on the Adapter. To facilitate this "Boot PROM" reconfiguration, a FLASH EEPROM is supplied with the kit. The Adapter, along with the software Tool Kit, utilizes the FLASH EEPROM programming directly through the SPARCstation terminal. * VMEbus 5 Slot Chassis An inexpensive VMEbus tower that is "SPARC-like" in appearance is available to use with the SBus-to-VMEbus Adapter. It allows up to four additional 6U VMEbus modules to be used as an extension of the SPARCstation. This chassis can be purchased stand-alone or bundled with the PT-SBS915. The PT-SBS915 Adapter with 6U module is priced at $2395 in single units, within the domestic U.S. The Developers/Integrators Tool Kit is priced at $350, and the five slot chassis is priced at $1495. The chassis and Adapter "bundled" can be purchased for $3495. For more detailed information on the SBus To VMEbus Adapter and related accessories please contact the Performance Technologies Sales Department. Performance Technologies, Inc. 435 West Commercial Street East Rochester, NY 14445 USA (716) 586-6727 (716) 586-6707 FAX (uucp): uupsi!wingman!dlt (internet): dlt@pt.com