VME Now - Major Milestones in VME History

Major Milestones in VME History

Written by VITA

1981

Official introduction of VMEbus at Systems ‘81 Show in Munich by Motorola, Mostek, Signetics/Phillips, and Thomson CSF.
First draft of VMEbus specification written by John Black (Motorola), Craig McKenna (Mostek) and Cecil Kaplinsky (Signetics/Phillips).
Revision A of VMEbus specification put in public domain.

1982

First VMEbus boards enter the market.
Force Computers begins operation in January.
Mira Pauker (Phillips) heads IEC subcommittee to make VME an International Standard under IEC-821.
VMEbus Manufacturers Group formed, published revision B of VMEbus specification.

1983

VMX memory bus and VMS serial bus introduced.
Wayne Fischer (Motorola) heads IEEE working group for US VME standard, IEEE 1014.
John Black heads Technical subcommittee.
IronOak’s VMEbus Buyers Guide, Volume 1, Number 1, the first directory of VME products. 45 companies and 196 products are listed in the directory.

1984

VME Manufacturers Group becomes VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA) to accelerate the technical and commercial acceptance of VMEbus. Lym Hevle is the director; Tom Harkaway (Xycom) is chair of the Technical Committee.
Intel introduces Multibus II to compete with VMEbus.
VSB (VME Subsystem Bus) 1096 committee formed, chaired by Shlomo Pri-tal (Motorola).
Eike Waltz (Schroff) directs the VMEbus mechanical design effort and documentation.

1985

Revision C.1 of the specification is published; edited by John Black and Shlomo Pri-tal, Revision C adopted a new format, which promoted compatibility and readability.
UNIX System V operating system is ported to VMEbus, opening up a new dimension of software development environment for VMEbus systems.
VMEbusiness, a publication of VITA, launched in April to promote VMEbus related activities.
First VMEbus user group launched by Gary Shade (Schweber Electronics) in Elk Grove Village, near Chicago. 5 speakers addressed 18 attendees.
VMEbus Systems magazine launched in July with exclusive focus on VMEbus technology, the first industry magazine with a bus architecture specific focus. VMEbus Systems is co-published by Jack Grenard and Mike Hopper, through their publishing company, IntraTech Communications.
VSB (IEC-821) extensions for high speed I/O is ratified by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
Shlomo Pri-tal assumes chair and Tom Leonard (AT&T Bell Laboratories) vice chair of the IEEE 1014 VMEbus working group to complete the standards effort.
VITA Users Chapters continue forming. Ted Owens (Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory) is chair of European Users Committee; Steve Deiss (Texas Instruments) is chair of USA Users Committee.
CERN collaborates with VITA to promote VMEbus in physics applications. David Williams (CERN) and Chris Eck (CERN) sponsor the effort.
VMElabs formed by David Allen to provide certification service for VMEbus manufacturers. Revision C.1 is certification base.
VITA announces over 200 manufacturers with over 1000 products on the market.
First edition of the VITA VMEbus Compatible Products Directory published. 174 companies and over 2700 product families listed.

1986

Aitech ships the first 6U x 160mm full Mil VME board to US TACOM for the SAVA program
BUSCON/86, a new show and conference launched January 15-16 in San Jose with focus on bus-based computer systems. Show formed by Bill and Anne Weber.
The IEC Convention in Stockholm, Sweden, pronounced the VMEbus an official IEC Standard – IEC 821 BUS, on September 11 1986, bringing to fruition a four-year effort to develop the standard.
VME chosen for US Navy’s Trident submarine fire control system and SQQ-89 fleet sonar processing.
John Black (Micrology pbt) appointed as the technical consultant to VITA.
VITA membership tops 100 by June. Board of Directors consists of Motorola, Philips/Signetics, Hamilton Standard Digital Systems, BICC-Vero and AT&T.

1987

VMEbus is approved by the IEEE as IEEE Std. 1014-87.
At the invitation of Joe Ramunni (Heurikon), 12 VMEbus manufacturers met in March to explore the interest in collaborating for the design and development of a comprehensive VMEbus interface chipset.
VME chosen for M1A2 Abrams Battle Tank.
VMEbus Extensions for Instrumentation (VXI) standard effort is launched (July 24) by Colorado Data Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Racal Dana Instruments, Tektronix and Wavetek.
Shlomo Pri-tal elected chair of the VITA Technical Committee effective September 1.
John Rynearson (Mizar) confirmed as chair of the VITA Software subcommittee. Starts work on Real-time Kernel Interface Definition (RKID).
Martin Blake (BICC-Vero) elected chair of the VMEbus Backplane subcommittee.
Warren Andrews launches InfoBUS Report covering news, surveys, trends, analysis and technical updates on all standard-bus architectures.
VITA Europe formed with Zoltan Hunor as Director.
Add Willemse (Philips) is vice-chair of the VITA Technical Committee, giving VITA a strong technical representative in Europe for VMEbus Technology input.
VMEbus Kongress launched in Munich through collaboration with VITA and the VITA User Group in Germany.

1988

VSB (VME Subsystem Bus) is approved as IEEE 1096 standard.
TI (later Raytheon) selects conduction-cooled VME for ETAS (Elevated Target Acquisition System) program.
RKID renamed ORKID (Open RT Kernel Interface Definition) to express the commitment to open standards.
Doug Patterson (Radstone) and Dale Younge (DY-4) co-chair the Military subcommittee of the VITA Technical Committee to focus on design enhancements for military applications.
VITA Technical Committee forms Next Generation Architecture working group. Selects Rugged Bus and Futurebus as next potential architectures.
VITA Consortium’s VMEbus Interface Chip (VIC) enters production by VTC, Inc.
First edition of VITA’s Software Source Directory is published in September.
CERN hosts European Standards Committee on Nuclear Electronics (ESCONE) “VMEbus in Research” conference.

1989

First edition of Wade Peterson’s “VMEbus Handbook” is published and distributed by VITA.
VFEA (VMEbus & Futurebus+ Extended Architecture (VFEA) emerges. VITA publishes next generation architecture requirements for comment.
Paul Borrill (Sun Microsystems) leads the IEEE Futurebus working group.
US Navy awards first development contract for the Next Generation Computer Resources (NGCR) program with Futurebus+ (IEEE 896.1-1987) as backplane for mission critical computers. LCDR Harrison Beasley (US Navy) is lead for the NGCR program.
VITA commences working on the IEEE 1101.2 conduction cooling specification.
John Peters and Bill Mahussen (Performance Technologies) develop use of 64-bit MBLT cycles, presents VME64 concept to VITA Technical Committee.
First Mil VME production contract awarded for joint US services TACJAM/CHAL-X program; first use of 10Base2 Ethernet as platform subsystem interconnect.
“VMEbus in Industry” Conference held in Paris.

1990

VITA Technical Committee begins Mezzanine Bus Project to attempt to add clarity to plethora of mezzanine choices.
Futurebus+ introduced February 13 in Long Beach, defining a migration path for VMEbus.
Ray Alderman joins VITA as Technical Director and Technical Committee Chair.
Chris Eck (CERN) heads ORKID working group.
VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA) renamed VFEA International Trade Association (VITA) to encompass VMEbus and Futurebus+ Extended Architecture efforts.
Sun Microsystems joins VITA as a sponsor member.
Cypress buys VTC’s fab, the VITA Consortium’s VMEbus Interface Chip (VIC) supplier.
Performance Technologies wins BUSCON Product of the Year award for VME64.
Kim Clohessy (DY-4) joins Doug Patterson as Mil-Spec Study Group co-chair.
VME selected for International Space Station project.

1991

VITA Business Committee launched.
VME64 (1014 Rev. D) is introduced and submitted to IEEE, raising the theoretical bus speed from 40 MB/s to 80 MB/s.
Mizar multiplexes 3U VME P1 for 32-bit and 40-bit addressing on the VMEbus.
Autobahn is introduced as a serial bus proposal for VMEbus by PEP Modular Computers.
Motorola wins BUSCON Product of the Year award for MVME167 (MC68040) and MVME187 (MC88100).
VITA Technical Committee forms Interconnect working group to study emerging new bus interconnects, headed by Mike Humphrey (BICC-Vero).
VITA Member starts VITA charter to assist with marketing efforts in Japan.

1992

VITA sponsors first Open Bus Systems (OBS) congress with show in Paris.
VITA Technical Committee forms 3U VMEbus subcommittee chaired by Joseph Kreidl (PEP).
VITA Technical Committee forms Live Insertion subcommittee chaired by Ray Alderman.
VITA becomes a member of the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) in June and applies for accreditation as ANSI Standards Body to facilitate development of Open Architecture Standards.

1993

VMEbus Technology is selected for Boeing’s F22 and Northrup-Grumman’s B2 programs.
VME64 completed by VITA subcommittees.
VITA granted ANSI accreditation. Opens doors to innovation and standards related to VMEbus Technology.
VITA and VERA+ (VMEbus and Extensions Russian Association) conduct the first VMEbus themed conference and exhibition in Moscow.
VMEbusiness newsletter renamed VITA Journal.
Mike Humphrey becomes VITA Executive Director.
John Rynearson becomes Technical Director of VITA.

1994

VITA Standards Organization (VSO) formed out of the VITA Technical Committee.
Five-row DIN connector introduced, VMEbus pins increase from 96 to 160 on the P1 and P2 connectors.
VME selected for Lockheed’s C130J.
William Perry introduces NDI initiative which later morphs to COTS initiative.
US Navy’s Tactical Advanced Computers (TAC4) project specifies VME.
PCI Mezzanine Card (PMC) introduced (IEEE P1386.1). Emerges out of efforts lead by Force Computers and Digital Equipment Corporation that marry up S-bus mechanicals with PCI bus.
VITA launches the VITA International Physics Alliance (VIPA) to address the special interests of the high-energy physics community of embedded computing users.
VME64 (ANSI/VITA 1) becomes the first VITA specification to receive ANSI approval. It defines the main body of the VMEbus specification and includes both 32-bit and 64-bit usage models.
SCSA (ANSI/VITA 6) is approved. It defines an isochronous backplane bus interface for telephony applications on the VMEbus P2 connector.

1995

Ray Alderman becomes Executive Director of VITA.
VITA reverts back to VMEbus International Trade Association.
Embedded Systems Software Environment (ESSE) movement launched by VITA.
www.vita.com goes live bringing VITA to the Age of the Internet. The initial web site introduced the concept of virtual tradeshows for members to show their products.
VMEbus Technology is selected for the US Navy’s JMCIS and AN/UYK-44 programs.
VMEbus Technology is selected for the Marine Corp’s MAGTF Tactical Warfare Simulation (MTWS) project.
Board Level Live Insertion (ANSI/VITA 3) is approved. It defines several methodologies for using VMEbus modules in a live insertion framework.
IP Module (ANSI/VITA 4) defines the requirements for a business card sized mezzanine module.
SKYchannel (ANSI/VITA 10) defines a packet switched cross bar interconnect that runs on the VMEbus P2 connector.
ANSI/VITA 13 is approved as a VMEbus Pin Assignment Standard that defines a pin assignment on VME for the Heterogeneous Interconnect protocol in IEEE 1355.

1996

Intel leaves Multibus I/II market.
Solectron Corporation acquires Force Computers.
2eVME protocol proposed for VMEbus allowing data transfers on both clock edges, thus doubling the VMEbus bandwidth.
IP I/O Mapping to VME64x (ANSI/VITA 4.1) is approved defining the pin assignments from IP Modules to the VME64x P0 and P2 connectors.
SCSA Extensions (ANSI/VITA 6.1) provides feature extensions to the SCSA standard.
Dick Somes (Digital Equipment Corporation) is elected as VSO chair.

1997

SBS Technologies and MEN Micro develop PC*MIP mezzanine card for VMEbus modules.
Drew Berding develops VME320 backplane.
VME64 Extensions (ANSI/VITA 1.1) is approved as an extension to the VME64 specification including the 160-pin connector, geographical addressing, and added power pins.
VME64x 9U x 400 mm Format (ANSI/VITA 1.3) - Defines a 9U x 400 mm board layout for use within the VMEbus Technology framework.
M-Module (ANSI/VITA 12) - Defines a mezzanine module specification for small sized printed circuit boards.
VISION (ANSI/VITA 25) - Defines a software application interface for VMEbus modules.
Bob Downing (Fermilab) elected VSO chair.

1998

On Mars, Sagan Lander uses IBM and Lockheed Martin Federal Systems radiation hardened VME system.
Front Panel Data Port (ANSI/VITA 17) - Defines a point-to-point data interconnect that can be used with front panel Eurocard modules.
BusNet Media Access Control (ANSI/VITA 19.1) - Defines the media access control layer for use with the BusNet backplane software protocol.
BusNet Link Layer Control (ANSI/VITA 19.2) - Defines the link layer control layer for the Busnet backplane software protocol.
VME64 Extensions for Physics (ANSI/VITA 23) - Defines a series of recommended practices for the use of VMEbus in the physics community.
Myrinet (ANSI/VITA 26) defines a packet switched interconnect protocol for implementation in a VMEbus environment.

1999

RACEway Interlink (ANSI/VITA 5.1) – Defines a high-speed circuit switched point to point interconnect for use between VMEbus modules via the P2 connector.

2000

First Bus&Board Conference held in San Jose, California.
Keying for Conduction Cooled VME64x (ANSI/VITA 1.6) approved for VMEbus Technology.
2mm Connector Practice for Euroboard Systems (ANSI/VITA 30) - Defines the dimensions for Euroboard systems that use 2mm connectors.
PMC P4 (ANSI/VITA 35) provides pin assignments for PMC P4 connector to VME P0 and P2 connectors.

2001

Conduction Cooled PMC (ANSI/VITA 20) - Defines the mechanical requirements for compliance with conduction cooled PMC modules.
PC•MIP (ANSI/VITA 29) - Defines the mechanical form factor and the pin assignments for a small form factor mezzanine module based on the PCI bus.
Elwood Parsons (Tyco) elected VSO chair.

2002

2mm Connector Practice for Conduction Cooled Euroboard Systems (ANSI/VITA 30.1) - Defines the dimensions for conduction cooled Euroboards when using 2mm connectors.

2003

2eSST (ANSI/VITA 1.5) - Defines VME protocol that allows data transfers of up to 320 Mbytes/second.
Increased Current DIN Connector (ANSI/VITA 1.7) - Describes increased current levels for 3 row DIN and 5 row DIN connectors when used with VMEbus.
Serial Front Panel Data Port (ANSI/VITA 17.1) - Defines “Serial FPDP”, a high-speed low-latency serial communications protocol for use in high-speed data transfer applications, typically using a fiber optic link.
Gigabit Ethernet on VME64x Backplanes (ANSI/VITA 31.1) - Defines a pin assignment and interconnection methodology for implementing a 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet switched network on a VME64x backplane.
Processor PMC (ANSI/VITA 32) - Incorporates a set of extensions to the PMC standard, which creates a new class of Processor PMC cards.
IPMI (ANSI/VITA 38) - Describes a methodology for using IPMI for System Management of VME systems.
PCI-X for PMC and Processor PMC (ANSI/VITA 39) integrates the PCI-X bus capability from PCI bus to PMC based products.
Status Indicator Standard (ANSI/VITA 40) - Defines the colors, behaviors, placement, and labeling of service indicator lamps for boards, field replaceable units, and enclosures.
VITA holds its first CoolCON Advanced Cooling Technology Workshop to bring together users of embedded computers with cooling concerns.

2004

Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit land on Mars giving VMEbus 100% market share on Mars.
VITA gains recognition by the IEC as a submitter of Industry Trade Agreements.

2005

ANSI/VITA 47 defines environmental, design, construction, safety, and quality requirements for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) plug-in units intended for mobile applications.
The first Military Embedded Electronics and Computing Conference (MEECC) is organized by VITA for those engaged in the design, development, and support of electronics and computers in the military.

2006

The Opportunity and Spirit Mars Rovers are still doing research on Mars, many months beyond their projected life cycles. Exhibits the durability, dependability and longevity of VMEbus Technology.
VMEbus celebrates 25 years of Excellence!

Comments (2) Write a comment

ORKID chairman
written by Hugh Maaskant, August 05, 2007

Hi,

By co-incidence I arrived at your website. On the page "Major Milestones in VME History" it says for 1988 "RKID renamed ORKID" At that time I was appointed chairman (Hugh Maaskant, representing Philips, currently at NXP), primarily influenced by Shlomo Pri-Tal (Motorola). As many other names are mentioned it might be nice to mention mine as well :-)

Rgds

Hugh

Director, Business Development & Marketing
written by Douglas Sherrod, April 29, 2009

I wanted to correct one point in your history.
In 1982, I was hired as General Manager for Force Computers and opened an office in Sanba Clara, California. Force Computers was at that time, Munich Germany base. In 1983, Wayne Fischer was hired from Motorola to work for Force in the Santa Clara offices and continued his service on IEEE 1014 for several years, while at Force Computers.

Thanks for allowing the input.

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