Deliver Big Performance in a Small Package with Intel® Architecture
Summary
The telecommunications and storage industry faces pressure from the convergence broadband market for products that combine data, voice and storage functions in a single chassis To be cost-effective, these multi-function switches, routers, Voice-over-IP gateways, firewalls and storage area network (SAN) appliances must provide scalability, high availability and extended lifecycle support. In addition, system processors must deliver the high performance necessary to observe, manage and dynamically configure high-speed network traffic. And if that is not enough, developers must fit these products into environments where rack space is at a premium.
This case study examines how PFU Systems enables vendors to meet these requirements using the ultra-thin RazorBlade* service processor module. This embedded Intel® Architecture micro motherboard is designed for CompactPCI* and 1U rack applications in communications, telecom and server environments.
For a closer look at a real-world application of the "System-On-Module" PFU Systems design, see the related case study about the QLogic* SANbox2* Fibre Channel switch.
All-in-One: High Performance, Low Power, Ultra-thin Form Factor
To meet the demands of the communications industry, PFU Systems needed to combine high performance with low power consumption in an extremely small form factor. Application flexibility and life cycle scalability were also necessary to the final solution. PFU Systems met these requirements with the ultra-thin RazorBlade "System-on-Module" micro-motherboard design. Equipped with a low-power, embedded Intel® Pentium® III processor up to 700 Mhz, these system-ready modules were specifically designed to accelerate the development of broadband convergence products.
According to PFU Systems, the RazorBlade module can reduce the time, risk and cost of hardware and software development by eliminating the need to design a complex, high-performance motherboard for each application. Interchangeable RazorBlade modules enable customers to customize their finished product with VPN, firewall, file server, Web server or load balancing software without changing the basic hardware design. Coupled with PFU Systems reference designs, the high-availability RazorBlade module allows developers to base software development on a powerful, validated and scalable platform architecture in an extremely compact package. In addition, by swapping RazorBlade modules built with different Intel® processors, developers can easily tailor their service CPU configuration to meet specific price/performance targets.
For example, PFU Systems recently completed development of a Unix-based 1U, half-rack VPN/firewall device for the U.S. OEM market. Built around a 700MHz RazorBlade module and working against a tight time-to-market deadline, PFU Systems design engineers completed a working system in less than three months.
The platform provides four 10/100Base Ethernet ports, two serial ports, CD-ROM, internal USB and a choice of 2.5" or 3.5" hard disk drives. It runs a variety of VPN/firewall software applications and can be extended to accommodate fiber channel or Ultra SCSI interfaces to prototype SAN functionality.
Completing the hardware board design is as simple as coupling the appropriate RazorBlade service processor module to a carrier (base) board, which is customized to the application with required I/O chips, ASICs or FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays), and standard headers and connectors. The RazorBlade module features a 320-pin stacking connector that brings out all the bus interfaces, including X-bus and PCI, as well as ports for any required human interface devices.
PFU Systems selected the embedded Intel Architecture CPUs and chipsets for its RazorBlade solutions because of the products' proven and reliable performance at relatively low power levels. In addition, Intel Architecture building blocks are supported by an extensive line of software tools and a diverse developer community that makes it easier for designers to develop on the Intel Architecture platform. Because embedded Intel Architecture offers a long-term roadmap and embedded lifecycle support, and because Intel is currently meeting the broadband industry's performance expectations, PFU Systems is able to offer customers a fully qualified design based on the latest Intel processors. Although thermal issues define how far PFU Systems can go with processor performance in a miniaturized module, and working with Intel gives PFU Systems engineers direct access to the embedded processor roadmap, with thermal design guides, documentation and detailed test analysis results.
Conclusion
Network infrastructure devices require a combination of scalability, high availability and extended lifecycle support, and rack space is often at a premium.
PFU Systems met these requirements with its embedded Intel® Architecture-based RazorBlade* module, a micro-motherboard optimized for CompactPCI and 1U rack data applications. PFU System's unique "System-On- Module" design integrates a complete PC motherboard featuring a low power Intel Pentium III processor at up to 700 MHz. This highly efficient board has a footprint of just 3" x 5.7" with a height of just four-tenths of an inch.
The RazorBlade module is designed to reduce the time, risk and cost of hardware and software development by eliminating the need to design a complex motherboard for each new application. In combination with PFU Systems reference designs, the module allows developers to base their software development efforts on a powerful, validated and scalable platform architecture designed for an extremely compact package.
PFU*
