Feb. 12, 2025
MicroTCA is a modular open standard used to build high-performance switch architecture computer systems. This standard centers around Advanced Mezzanine Cards (AdvancedMC or AMC) and provides a low-cost, scalable platform for small rack systems in applications such as telecommunications, industrial control, and defense.
Key Features and Benefits:
MicroTCA is designed to work in coordination with the AdvancedTCA standard. The MicroTCA system is smaller and cheaper than the AdvancedTCA system, but their internal architecture is essentially the same. More importantly, MicroTCA maintains complete consistency with the AMC. 0 module definition, allowing various AdvancedMCs to be used in the MicroTCA system without the need for customization.
MicroTCA was originally designed for small telecommunications systems at the network edge, but has been widely used in industries such as mobile, military, telemetry, data acquisition, and aviation electronics. MicroTCA provides some advantages for these applications, including:
High performance: MicroTCA introduces a new structure that improves backplane performance by four times. The backplane bandwidth can be expanded to accommodate
applications with lower requirements.
Low cost:
This architecture conforms to the principles of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and can reduce lifecycle costs. Reduced initial investment, making
it available for applications, including small-scale deployment and experimentation.
Modularization:
Supports fully redundant and non redundant systems, including power budget and hot swappable configurations. Components can be added, removed, or
replaced with minimal interference to other parts of the system, and support continuous maintenance and upgrades.
Manageability:
The Standard Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) allows for fault detection and isolation through enhanced hardware platform management.
The standardized management protocol is compatible with AdvancedTCA, simplifying system management and interoperability.
Compatibility:
This architecture is designed to integrate into standard rack systems, supporting 19 inch and metric racks.
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