RapidIO Connections Newsletter - Summer 2005

Executive Director’s Perspective Transitions: RapidIO® technology forms the critical foundation for new and emerging applications in the midst of a world of change.
Design It Fault-Tolerant Systems and RapidIOŽ
Insights What are some of the benefits to having an open standard?
Member Connections • Debugging/Analyzing Serial Rapid IO High-Speed Serial Lanes by Chris Shelsky, Project Manager, Nexus Technology, Inc.

• RapidIO and Linux by Matt Porter of MontaVista Software, Inc.
RapidIO Product News New RapidIO-based solutions continue to debut in multiple market segments from silicon to board-level products.
The RapidIO Trade Association at Work Munich and Boston Developer Summits, Freescale Technology Forum, Supercomm
In the Spotlight The RapidIO Trade Association and standard continue to be sought after news in the industry.
Where to Network Visit with RapidIO Trade Association members, learn about products and see live demonstrations.
RapidIO Hall of Fame "Did You Know?" email campaign a success!
Changes Some parting thoughts from Dan Bouvier as he steps down from the RapidIO Steering Committee.
RapidIO Reflections: Significant interest in RapidIO technology from a wide cross section of customers

Executive Director’s Perspective

Iain Scott Photo

I am currently thinking about transitions, successions, and legacies.

We are moving into the third quarter, which has prompted this new newsletter, and summer is at its mid-point (at least for those of us on Canadian soil). Over the past year, Motorola Semiconductor has spun off to become Freescale Semiconductor and in June the RapidIO® Trade Association booth was constantly busy at the very first Freescale Technology Forum in Orlando, Florida.

The original RapidIO Rev 1.0 specification is transitioning to RapidFabric™: the only internationally recognised standard for the embedded market which is scalable from a chip-to-chip interconnect; through all forms of in-the-box communications; to a fully featured backplane fabric and box-to-box technology. Based on the discussions I had with many people visiting the RapidIO Trade Association booth at the Freescale Technology Forum, the market view of RapidIO technology has changed from "What is this RapidIO technology?" to "My company was planning to use Gigabit Ethernet, but we have now decided to use RapidIO technology, please tell me more about it!"

Digital technology has replaced analog technology for most mainstream uses (which has set the scene for RapidIO implementations in silicon to be so cost-effective). How many of you remember Teletypes? It seems incredible, but my working career has spanned the "fax era" and now e-mail (with audio and video attachments driving traffic rates higher and higher such that the telecommunications infrastructure companies need the higher bandwidth and reliability of RapidIO technology). Once CB radios enabled mobile communications; now cell phones are everywhere (also driving traffic rates higher and creating the need for a RapidIO-based infrastructure).

Last year, I picked up where Sam Fuller, the past president of the RapidIO Trade Association, left off. Since 2002 Dan Bouvier has served as Chair of the RapidIO Trade Association, and now he will be passing the torch at the 2005 General Meeting of the RapidIO Trade Association to be held in Boston, August 24th.

So, just as Mercury Computer and Motorola Semiconductor passed on a legacy of an advanced embedded interconnect that became known as RapidIO, Dan can be proud of his legacy in launching a dynamic, democratic trade association with more than 50 companies worldwide and participation from hundreds of volunteers who work together tirelessly for the good of the embedded marketplace. We wish Dan well in his new challenges at Freescale Semiconductor.


Regards,

Iain Scott
Executive Director
RapidIO Trade Association