MicroTCA Platform helps develop wireless/IMS applications.

Press Release Summary:



Designed for wireless base station, MSPP, and IPPBX application evaluation/development, microTCA platform utilizes 12-slot microTCA chassis equipped with microTCA Carrier Hub (MCH) module, power supply, Fat Pipe switch module, application/protocol processing, and platform management software. Design allows for independent control and data plane operation, while MCH provides IPMI management, Gigabit Ethernet switching for control plane, and optional telecom clock distribution.



Original Press Release:



New Artesyn System Provides Excellent MicroTCA Platform for Evaluating and Developing Wireless & IMS Applications



Artesyn Booth: Hall 2, Booth G40 and G 41

Barcelona, Spain. February 9, 2006 -­ Artesyn Communication Products, a subsidiary of Artesyn Technologies (NASDAQ: ATSN), today announced that it will be demonstrating its new microTCA development platform at 3GSM with participation from several partners. The new system provides a compact, cost-effective platform for evaluating and developing wireless base station (WiMAX and 3G), IMS, MSPP and IPPBX applications. Artesyn also announced that it will demonstrate, in conjunction with its partner Surf Communications, an ATCA system performing videoconferencing over IP. Artesyn will host both demonstrations at its booth (G40 and G41) in Hall 2.

"Artesyn has been a pioneer in the development of open architecture ATCA, AdvancedMC, and microTCA systems," said Todd Wynia, vice president of marketing at Artesyn Communication Products. "We were the first company to develop a production AdvancedMC module, and the first company to demonstrate that module in a live microTCA chassis. Now, we are taking microTCA to the next level, with a full-featured system that includes the chassis, power supply, control plane, data plane switch, application/protocol processing, and platform management. With our new system, telecom OEMs will be able to quickly evaluate and develop a variety of wireless and IMS applications leveraging compact, cost-effective microTCA platforms."

Artesyn's microTCA development platform utilizes a 12-slot microTCA chassis equipped with a microTCA Carrier Hub (MCH) module, power supply, Fat Pipe switch module, application/protocol processing, and platform management software, all developed by Artesyn. Artesyn's unique design allows for independent control and data plane operation. The MCH provides IPMI management, Gigabit Ethernet switching for the control plane, and optional telecom clock distribution. The Fat Pipe switch provides Serial RapidIO data plane switching for up to twelve microTCA modules.

Artesyn's KosaiPM modules provide control, protocol and application processing for the system. The KosaiPM features a 1.4-GHz Pentium M processor, one Mbyte of Level 2 cache, two Gbytes of SDRAM, 128 Mbytes of flash, and two Gigabit Ethernet channels, which facilitate communications between the KosaiPM and the microTCA backplane. The KosaiPM also features a USB interface, front panel 10/100BaseT management interface, an I2C-based IPMI system management interface, and an optional storage interface, which provides access to hard drives residing in other microTCA slots.

The system's IPMI-based (Intelligent Peripheral Management Interface) SpiderWare platform management software features an intuitive GUI that makes it easy to monitor key physical system health characteristics such as voltages, fan speeds, temperatures, and power supply status. Using this information, which each microTCA module conveys via its I2C-based intelligent Peripheral Management Interface, the platform management software and network operators can monitor system operation, take corrective action, optimize cooling and system power allocation, perform remote shutdown/restart (typically on a slot by slot basis), and log events. SpiderWare platform management software is fully compliant with the Service Availability Forum's Hardware Platform Interface (HPI) specification.

About microTCA

MicroTCA is a proposed PICMG specification for small form factor, field-replaceable telecom chassis. Available in a variety of flexible form factors (rack mount, cube, etc), microTCA chassis can accept any standard AdvancedMC module. MicroTCA will provide scaleable bandwidth up to 40 Gbit/sec, support star, dual-star, and full-mesh topologies, employ a serial packet transport with up to 12.5 Gbit/sec of bandwidth per channel, and provide a redundant Intelligent Peripheral Management Interface. MicroTCA will also be protocol agnostic, enabling it to accommodate AdvancedMC modules running a range of protocols, including Ethernet, PCI Express/Advanced Switching, and Serial Rapid I/O.

About Artesyn Technologies, Inc.

Artesyn Technologies, Inc., headquartered in Boca Raton, FL., is a world leader in the design, manufacture and sale of power conversion and single-board computing solutions for infrastructure applications in telecommunications and data-communications systems. The Company's products are used in middle to high-end servers, data storage devices, routers, hubs, high-speed modems, RF amplification systems, base station controllers and transceivers. The Company has a global sales reach with design and manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe and North America. Artesyn is a public company whose common stock is traded on the Nasdaq stock market under the symbol ATSN. For more information, please visit the Company's web site at artesyn.com.

Company Contact:
Kim Anderberg
608-831-5500
kima@artesyncp.com

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