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advanced telecom computing architecture (ATCA)

The Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA) is a standard for high- performance communications servers. ATCA is a flexible architecture model that meets the increasing data traffic with new data services. The background to this development is the increasing offer of innovative, location-based services such as push-to-talk, background music or individual ring tones. These services require an upgrade of the exchanges, which, however, are no longer to be equipped with proprietary solutions, but with a standardized solution: AdvancedTCA.

In terms of concept, ATCA is a scalable, high-performance architecture, which is evident in its high functional density, availability and future-proofing, and on whose platform many future-oriented applications can be implemented.

ETSI subrack with 12 height units as used for ATCA, for example

ETSI subrack with 12 height units as used for ATCA, for example

Scalable data rates of several terabits, multi- protocol support up to several gigabits, the integrability of new services, the convergence of access, core and optical networks are just as much a part of this as the integration of data center functions. Interfaces for Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, Infiniband, StarFabric, PCI Express and RapidIO testify to the high flexibility of the ATCA architecture.

ATCA as PICMG standard

AdvacedTCA configuration with ATCA boards and AMC modules

AdvacedTCA configuration with ATCA boards and AMC modules

ATCA is a PICMG standard and has a standardized board format that is operated in subracks. The ATCA specifications take into account the ATCA boards, the subrack and its thermal management. The latter aspect is particularly important in ATCA because the boards include many components or modules and generate a corresponding amount of heat. PICMG 3.0 specifies 200 W per ATCA board, which corresponds to a total heat dissipation of 2.8 kW (14 slots), or 3.2 kW for 16 slots. For this reason, ATCA has active power management.

ATCA can be implemented in ETSI subracks, in 19" Electronics Industry Association( EIA) racks, or in 23" telecom shelves. The ETSI subrack is most frequently used in a wide range of sizes. In the 12" rack, the ATCA boards are arranged vertically and air is circulated by fans located below the ATCA boards. The air is sucked in from the front and sweeps past the boards and exits at the back at the top edge of the case.

The ATCA concept and the ATCA boards

ATCA carrier board with AMC modules

ATCA carrier board with AMC modules

The ATCA concept works with different ATCA boards: With single board computers( SBC), I/O boards and ATCA carrier boards on which AMC modules are plugged. The board size is 8U and can be populated on both sides. In addition to the slide-in board, there are narrow rear boards that can be directly connected to the larger slide-in boards.

The high availability with the carrier grade is achieved by the redundancy of the switching fabrics. The switching fabrics are interconnected directly or via a meshed topology; if one switching fabric fails, the intact one takes over the function of the faulty one. While AdvancedTCA is used in core networks and edge networks, the more compact MicroTCA standard is used in access networks.

Informations:
Englisch: advanced telecom computing architecture - ATCA
Updated at: 25.09.2007
#Words: 481
Links: standard (STD), performance, architecture, data, traffic
Translations: DE
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