Multi-Fabric Switch enables development of complex HPC systems.
Press Release Summary:
Designed to enable development of complex, scalable, high performance 3U VPX systems in connected military/aerospace world, PEX431 multi-fabric switch and PMC/XMC carrier card supports 3 OpenVPX payload profiles. Unit supports PCI Express® Gen 2.0/Gen 3.0 and up to 9 ports of 1000BaseBX and 1000BaseT Gigabit Ethernet. With single PEX431, six processors can be interconnected, and multiple switches can be daisy-chained when more than 6 processors are needed.
Original Press Release:
New Multi-Fabric Switch from GE Enables Development of Complex, Scalable, High Performance Computing Systems
Allows multiple processors, I/O modules to be configured in a single 3U VPX system
Inclusion of XMC site helps reduce size, weight and power (SWaP)
Further enhances ‘single source’ solution potential
HUNTSVILLE, AL.— GE Intelligent Platforms (NYSE: GE) today announced the PEX431 multi-fabric switch and PMC/XMC carrier card. Designed to enable the development of complex, scalable, high performance 3U VPX systems in today’s increasingly-connected military/aerospace world, it is characterized by significant flexibility. The PEX431 complements GE’s recent announcement of the SBC326 3U VPX single board computer based on the fourth generation Intel® Core™ i7 (‘Haswell’) processor.
For customers who need a multi-fabric network switching capability that includes PCI Express® Gen 2.0/Gen 3.0 and up to nine ports total of 1000BaseBX and 1000BaseT Gigabit Ethernet, the PEX431 supports three OpenVPX payload profiles.
The PEX431 can also make a significant contribution to reducing SWaP (size, weight and power). It provides both control plane and data plane switching on a single board and, by providing the ability to be a carrier card for an XMC mezzanine card, potentially reduces the number of slots required to implement a given system – or allows more functionality to be configured in the same number of slots.
“Increasingly, customers are compelled by the idea of sourcing as much of their systems requirement from a single vendor – and, by so doing, minimizing program risk while maximizing the likelihood of the program coming in on time and on budget,” said Rod Rice, General Manager, Military & Aerospace Products, GE Intelligent Platforms. “By extending even further the breadth and depth of GE’s 3U VPX offering, the PEX431 enhances those customers’ ability to achieve the benefits of ‘one stop shopping’”.
Many of today’s high performance embedded computing (HPEC) systems deploy multiple processors and multiple I/O modules within a single chassis. A single PEX431 enables six processors to be interconnected: for even higher performance systems with more than six processors, multiple PEX431s can be daisy-chained.
The PEX431 is also supported by GE’s innovative software capability that allows VPX PCI Express peer-to-peer connectivity. Without this, customers are required to “hand-craft” a solution, with consequent impact on program cost and time to market.
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For more information: http://defense.ge-ip.com/products/pex431/p3715
For more technical information: link to data sheet: : http://defense.ge-ip.com/download/datasheet-pex431/13521/3715
Intel is a registered trademark, and Core is a trademark, of Intel Corporation. PCI Express is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Media contacts:
Ian McMurray
GE Intelligent Platforms
Phone: +44 (0) 1327 322821
Email: ian.mcmurray@ge.com
