Performance Technologies is sampling a Core 2 Duo-based processor module in the AdvancedMC (advanced mezzanine card, aka “AMC”) form-factor. The AMC121 supports PT's own NexusWare Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) implementation, and targets packet processing and general computing applications, including… IMS, wireless, softswitches, and shipboard communications.

The AMC121 is a “single-width, mid-sized” processor module based on PICMG's AdvancedMC specification. AMC processor modules can be used as daughterboards on AdvancedTCA (ATCA) blades, or plugged directly into backplanes on MicroTCA (MTCA) systems.

The AMC121 is based on an Intel Core 2 Duo clocked at 1.5GHz. It supports up to 2GB of 400MHz DDR2 RAM with ECC, and has a 667MHz FSB (front-side bus). It is based on an Intel 3100 “Whitmore Lake” embedded chipset, which appears to offer both northbridge and southbridge functions within a single part.

Intel 3100 chipset diagram
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The AMC121's backplane interface supports both 8x PCI Express signals, as specified in the AMC.1 spec, and Ethernet signals, as in AMC.2. The board also offers a pair of SATA interfaces for hard drive attachment. Front panel I/O includes dual gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 2.0 host interface, and a serial console port (on an RJ-45 interface).

Performance Technologies AMC121 diagram
(Click to enlarge)
PT also offers an AMC based on AMD's Turion x86 processor, and another based on Freescale's 8641D PowerPC processor. The company says that all of its network equipment is delivered pre-integrated with NexusWare, the Carrier Grade Linux implementation that it maintains in-house. NexusWare is based on a 2.6.20 kernel, and is CGL 3.2-registered and CGL 4.0 ready, the vendor says. PT x86-based AMCs are also supported under Solaris and Windows.

PT is demonstrating its AMC modules at the AdvancedTCA Summit Europe 2007 in France this week. It also plans to make a showing at the 2007 Military Communications Conference in Orlando, Fla. Oct. 29-31.

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