VMETRO expands Buffer Memory products to include XMC modules

VMETRO, a leader in embedded computing solutions based on standards such as VXS, VPX and XMC that utilize multi-gigabit serial interconnects, today announced the MM-6171, a buffer memory node in an XMC form factor with support for Serial RapidIO® or PCI Express®. The MM-6171 is a rugged COTS product providing 2 to 4GB of high speed buffer memory. Primarily used in Digital Signal Processing systems for high-speed temporary storage, expanded system memory, interleaving and data aggregation and warehousing, the MM-6171 is ideally suited for embedded applications such as Radar signal processing, signal intelligence and image acquisition that require buffering capability with a FPGA memory controller.

"The MM-6171 leverages the company's significant experience in FPGA-based implementations of Serial RapidIO and PCI-Express," says Mike Jadon, Chief Technology Officer – Embedded Systems at VMETRO, Inc. "This product represents the first XMC Buffer Memory node for these serial switch fabrics, providing a method for rate buffering not previously available on this technology."

The MM-6171 includes a bus interface and DMA engine. The Serial RapidIO x4 interface runs at 3.125GHz with a corner-turning, striding DMA engine for advanced functionality in DSP systems. For PCI Express applications, the x8 bus interface runs at 2.5GHz and also provides a full-featured DMA engine.

“An XMC memory node with a RapidIO interconnect is a great addition to the RapidIO ecosystem,” says Tom Cox, Executive Director, RapidIO Trade Association. “Because RapidIO technology was designed as a system-level fabric specifically for the embedded market, this product will allow customers to easily add high-speed, low-latency system memory into their system wherever they have a spare XMC site.”

VMETRO provides MM-6171 drivers for VxWorks® 6.x and Linux 2.6.x. The MM-6171 is available in commercial, convection-cooled and ruggedized, conduction-cooled variants.