LXI Overview

1

• LXI Overview
• Physical Specifcations Working Group

February 14-16 2006
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Working Group Overview

• The Physical Specifications Working Group (PSWG)
  is responsible for Section 2.0 of the LXI
  Specification.
• The WG consists of 33 members, and has 89
  documents on the LXI group web site.
• Chairman is David Poole (david.poole_at_aeroflex.com)
  
• Deputy Chairman is David Sherrer
  (dave_sherrer_at_agilent.com)
• WG email address (physical_wg_at_lxistandard.org)

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Goals and Intent

• The Physical Specifications WG was established to
  define the mechanical, electrical, thermal and
  environmental standards for LXI Devices
• The intent is to allow the widest range of
  mechanical devices to conform with the LXI
  Specification commensurate with the ability to
  operate with other Devices without compromising
  overall system integrity
• The goal is to build on existing standards where
  possible, and to only define new rules for areas
  that are not adequately addressed for the LXI
  application

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Spec overview

• The Physical Specifications cover
• Mechanical Standards
• Section 2.1 Non-rack mount
• Section 2.2 - IEC full width
• Section 2.3 - De-facto half width
• Section 2.4 - LXI Unit
• Section 2.5 - LXI Unit Mounting Specifications
  (initial)
• Cooling Standards Section 2.6
• Electrical Standards - Section 2.7
• Status Indicators Section 2.8
• Environmental Section 2.9
• Hybrid Systems Section 2.10 (new under
  review)
• Roadmap Items Section 2.11

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Applicable Sections (1)

• 2.1 - Non-Rack Mounted Devices
• Section 2.7 Electrical Standards
• Section 2.8 Electrical Standards Status
  Indicators
• Section 2.9 Environmental Standards
• 2.2 Full Width Rack Mounted Devices
• Section 2.2 Full Width Rack Mounted Devices
• Section 2.7 Electrical Standards
• Section 2.8 Electrical Standards Status
  Indicators
• Section 2.9 Environmental Standards

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Applicable Sections (2)

• 2.3 Half-Width Rack Mounted Devices Built to De
  Facto Standards
• Section 2.3 De Facto Half-Width Mechanical
  Standards
• Section 2.7 Electrical Standards
• Section 2.8 Electrical Standards Status
  Indicators
• Section 2.9 Environmental Standards
• 2.4 LXI Unit Half-Width Rack Mounted Devices
• Section 2.4 LXI Unit Half-Width Mechanical
  Standards
• Section 2.5 LXI Unit Mounting Specifications
• Section 2.6 LXI Unit Cooling
• Section 2.7 Electrical Standards
• Section 2.8 Electrical Standards Status
  Indicators
• Section 2.9 Environmental Standards

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Cooling Standards Section 2.6

• Prevention of inter-unit thermal energy transfer
• Standardization of cooling air flow side /front
  intake, rear exhaust
• Assuming that cooling is only provided from rear
  panel tubiaxial exhaust fans, initial analysis
  shows that
• 1U Chassis can exhaust up to 100W fairly easily
  (with 2x30mm fans)
• 2U Chassis can exhaust up to 400W fairly easily
  (with 1x60mm fan)

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Electrical Standards - Section 2.7

• The Electrical Standards define the type and
  location of all electrical power standards,
  connectors, switches, indicators, and related
  components.
• The LAN and WTB standards are defined by the
  cognizant WGs, and the PSWG reflects their
  recommendations and defines connector locations.
• Power AC or DC
• It is recommended that LXI devices be capable
  of operating autonomously from a single phase
  input of 100 to 240 VAC (RMS) /- 10, at
  frequencies from 47 to 66 Hz.

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Status Indicators Section 2.8 (1)

• The Specification requires three Status
  Indicators (bi-color LEDs) located on the front
  panel of the Device, in a row oriented either
  horizontally or vertically, and defines operating
  logic.
• Power
• LAN Status
• 1588 Status
• Permission LXI devices with a front panel
  display
• For devices with a front panel display the
  equivalent indications may be presented in a
  different manner consistent with the design and
  capabilities of the front panel.
• The use of symbols on a display, instead of LED
  status indicators, is permitted. Such indicators
  do not have to be permanently visible but can be
  accessed via some display navigation method.
• Symbol bitmaps are provided by the LXI Consortium
• Permission(s) for the use of single color LEDs
  are included

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Status Indicators Section 2.8 (2)
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Testing the spec

• Testing is simple, and there no major issues
• The emergence of an LXI Unit Specification will
  require more sophisticated conformance tests

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Considerations from the PlugFest

• Most devices failed the following rule
• 2.7.7.1 - Fusing or Over-Current Protection
  Device
• RULE Over-Current Protection
• If a fuse or over-current protection device is
  required, it shall be integral to or located
  adjacent to the input power connector.
• This failed to take into consideration the design
  of modern power supplies, and we have changed the
  rule to
• 2.7.7.1 - Fusing or Over-Current Protection
  Device
• RECOMMENDATION Over-Current Protection
• If a user-serviceable fuse or over-current
  protection device is required, it shall be
  integral to or located adjacent to the input
  power connector.

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Challenges

• LXI Unit Specifications Section 2.4
• Goal to develop an (optional) physical
  specification that would provide the same level
  of Device interchangeability at the mechanical
  level as is achieved with the electrical/logical/f
  unctional specification

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Learnings

• At present
• We are still suffering from lack of a clear
  mandate on need for an LXI Unit specification.
• Many members believe that the initial LXI
  Consortium announcements set the expectation of
  the emergence of an LXI modular mechanical
  standard
• Other members believe that the LXI Unit
  specification is unnecessary and should be
  abandoned
• What should do differently next time
• We should have conducted a formal market survey
  to establish the business case
• Implication for the future
• Many parties are now interested in progress on
  the LXI Unit and it is probably too late to start
  with a market survey. We need to integrate the
  various concepts into an optimal design, present
  it to the Consortium and establish member buy-in

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Whats ahead Roadmap to rev 2.0

• Our Main focus is on the LXI Unit
• We are having a Mechanical Design meeting
  (HacksawFest) at Santa Rosa on the 21-23 February
  2006, where we hope to be able to integrate the
  various LXI Units concepts.
• If we are successful we will carry out the detail
  design work during 2006.

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LXI Unit Vision

• LXI Devices should be able to be functionally
  connected and integrated without the use of
  software tools or a compiler
• LXI Devices (optionally) should be able to be
  integrated physically without the use of a hacksaw

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LXI Unit Requirements
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Present LXI Unit Specifications (1)
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LXI Unit Maximum Dimensions
1 Minimum recess for varied rail kit
thicknesses of upper racked device
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LXI Unit Design Goals

• We believe the LXI Unit Specifications should
  meet all (most) of the requirements in order to
  be effective
• We hope to
• Retain the present dimensions which are larger
  than (most) de-facto half width standards
• Allow manufactures of existing devices to fit
  them into these dimensions with an adaptor
• Retain attractive features of the various
  concepts
• Ensure that any blind-mate LIF connectors are
  optional to allow low-cost versions
• The following slides show some of the concepts
  that we have explored

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Concept Interlocking Adaptors
Does not meet R6, R10
22
Concept Adaptors and Cooling
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Concept Adaptor Plates
Does not meet R3, R6, possibly R10
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Concept Letterbox
Does not meet R10, R9 difficult
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Concept 1U Pizza Box Tray
Does not meet R3, R4, R6, possibly R10
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Concept - LXI/MIL Unit
Stackable Shell
Removable Ears
Teflon Wear Plates
Optional Blind Mate Connectors
Does not meet R3, possibly R4