Extreme Engineering Solutions,Inc. (X-ES) has unveiled the XPedite7670, a 3U OpenVPX™ REDI single board computer module, alongside its 6U VPX counterpart, the XCalibur4640. Both of these advanced computing solutions leverage the Intel® Xeon® D processor family, previously known as Broadwell-DE, making them suitable for a variety of embedded applications, particularly in unmanned systems.
The Xeon D processor is a server-grade System-on-Chip (SoC) built on efficient 14 nm technology, capable of supporting up to eight Xeon® cores and two channels of ECC memory. This low-power SoC design integrates Xeon®-class RAS (Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability) features, ensuring robust performance in demanding environments.
With dual integrated 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports that support XAUI/KX4/KR, the new modules significantly enhance I/O capabilities while addressing SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) challenges. The systems also feature 24 PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 lanes,eight PCIe 2.0 lanes, six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and a combination of four USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, providing extensive options for connectivity, expansion, and storage. Additionally, the Xeon® D incorporates a Non-transparent Bridge for PCIe, facilitating advanced connectivity for multiprocessor configurations.
Designed for extreme conditions, the Xeon® D processor’s native extended temperature support negates the need for extensive individual unit screening, thereby enhancing reliability. Furthermore, power efficiency is improved by omitting less critical features, such as graphics support, making it ideal for embedded processing applications.
XPedite7670 3U VPX SBC
The XPedite7670 is a high-performance 3U OpenVPX™ REDI single board computer that supports up to 8 GB of DDR3-1600 ECC SDRAM. It optimizes network performance with two 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, configurable as XAUI or 10GBASE-KX4, and four Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, which include two 1000BASE-BX/KX (SerDes) ports and two 10/100/1000BASE-T ports. The onboard storage capacity of up to 64 GB of SLC NAND flash allows for direct installation of the operating system and applications.
A x4 PCIe 3.0 interface connects to the backplane P1 connector, enabling communication with peripheral devices and facilitating direct communication with another processor via a Non-transparent Bridge. This design reduces SWaP-C for system integrators by eliminating the need for a separate switch module. Additionally, an x8 PCIe 3.0 interface and a SATA 6 Gb/s port are available at the onboard XMC site for further expansion. The XPedite7670 also supports IPMI for system management and includes a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for enhanced security.
XCalibur4640 6U VPX SBC
The XCalibur4640 builds upon the capabilities of the XPedite7670, offering a 6U VPX form factor with enhanced features. The system memory capacity is increased to 16 GB of DDR3-1600 ECC SDRAM, while local storage expands to 128 GB of SLC NAND flash.
With two additional 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, the XCalibur4640 provides a total of four interfaces to the backplane. Sixteen lanes of PCIe 3.0 routed to the backplane can be configured to accommodate multiple peripherals, and four SATA 6 Gb/s ports enable further storage expansion. Two XMC/PMC sites, each equipped with a dedicated x8 PCIe 3.0 link, offer additional expansion possibilities.
Both the XPedite7670 and XCalibur4640 come with Board Support Packages (BSPs) for Wind River vxworks and X-ES Enterprise linux (XEL). The coreboot firmware, powered by Intel® FSP, enhances boot speed and security, ensuring a reliable and efficient computing experience.
