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Hi All,
I'm putting together an Industrial PC-based system consisting of a
standard ATX PC motherboard and processor. However, because of the nature of
the application that I'm looking at I will need to put more processing into
the box. The questions is, what's the best way to do this?.

Ideally, I want the additional processor run a non-RTOS like XP, but I also
need a good Bandwidth link between the PC's host processor and the new
embedded or SBC processor. My initial thoughts were something like adding a
PCI-based SBC which I could plug into the PC's PCI backplane. Something
like:
http://www.globalamericaninc.com/new_sp ... php?id=560

looks like an option. Is this realistic or is there a better approach?.

Thanks for any comments/suggestions in advance,

Dave

I'm putting together an Industrial PC-based system consisting of a
standard ATX PC motherboard and processor. However, because of the nature of
the application that I'm looking at I will need to put more processing into
the box. The questions is, what's the best way to do this?.

It sounds rather like you have one PC doing "real work" and another
that will handle some kind of user interface (the XP board). In this
case I would recommend not tying the buses together - use some
interface like Ethernet, that doesn't have the same potential for bugs
in the UI side to bring down the workhorse.

Dave Moore wrote:

Hi All,
I'm putting together an Industrial PC-based system consisting of a
standard ATX PC motherboard and processor. However, because of the nature of
the application that I'm looking at I will need to put more processing into
the box. The questions is, what's the best way to do this?.

First of all, have you max. out on the PC? Are you running Dual or
Quad CPUs/cores already? If not, you should look into that rather than
a PCI CPU.

Ideally, I want the additional processor run a non-RTOS like XP,

That seems backward. I would run XP on the PC and the RTOS on the
additional processer(s).

but I also
need a good Bandwidth link between the PC's host processor and the new
embedded or SBC processor. My initial thoughts were something like adding a
PCI-based SBC which I could plug into the PC's PCI backplane. Something
like:
http://www.globalamericaninc.com/new_sp ... php?id=560

looks like an option. Is this realistic or is there a better approach?.

Programming the XP driver would be a nightmare.

Thanks for any comments/suggestions in advance,

Dave

Dave Moore wrote:

Hi All,
I'm putting together an Industrial PC-based system consisting of a
standard ATX PC motherboard and processor. However, because of the nature of
the application that I'm looking at I will need to put more processing into
the box. The questions is, what's the best way to do this?.

Ideally, I want the additional processor run a non-RTOS like XP, but I also
need a good Bandwidth link between the PC's host processor and the new
embedded or SBC processor. My initial thoughts were something like adding a
PCI-based SBC which I could plug into the PC's PCI backplane. Something
like:
http://www.globalamericaninc.com/new_sp ... php?id=560

looks like an option. Is this realistic or is there a better approach?.

That board looks like it has a PCI connector intended for the controller
slot in a PIC-MG passive backplane. It wouldn't work in a regular slot
in a PC.

-Dave

Thanks for any comments/suggestions in advance,

Dave

First of all, have you max. out on the PC? Are you running Dual or
Quad CPUs/cores already? If not, you should look into that rather than
a PCI CPU.

Currently running a Dual Core Pentium 4 (3GHz) host motherboard. This
processing however is already used. What I need is extra processing.

Ideally, I want the additional processor run a non-RTOS like XP,

That seems backward. I would run XP on the PC and the RTOS on the
additional processer(s).

I share your view on the RTOS. I would rather use an RTOS but unfortunately
the processin libraries I need to run, are Windows based.

Looks like I still need a solution.

Dave

Dave Moore wrote:

First of all, have you max. out on the PC? Are you running Dual or
Quad CPUs/cores already? If not, you should look into that rather than
a PCI CPU.

Currently running a Dual Core Pentium 4 (3GHz) host motherboard. This
processing however is already used. What I need is extra processing.


Ideally, I want the additional processor run a non-RTOS like XP,

That seems backward. I would run XP on the PC and the RTOS on the
additional processer(s).

I share your view on the RTOS. I would rather use an RTOS but unfortunately
the processin libraries I need to run, are Windows based.

Looks like I still need a solution.

What kind of processings, i/os and program interfaces, apps, libraries
or active-x? Can they be linked with pure sockets and/or files? We
need more info in order to make suggestions.

Dave

On Mon, 19 Dec 2005 16:58:46 -0000, "Dave Moore"
<dave.m.moore@baesystems.com> wrote:

Hi All,
I'm putting together an Industrial PC-based system consisting of a
standard ATX PC motherboard and processor. However, because of the nature of
the application that I'm looking at I will need to put more processing into
the box. The questions is, what's the best way to do this?.

Ideally, I want the additional processor run a non-RTOS like XP, but I also
need a good Bandwidth link between the PC's host processor and the new
embedded or SBC processor. My initial thoughts were something like adding a
PCI-based SBC which I could plug into the PC's PCI backplane. Something
like:
http://www.globalamericaninc.com/new_sp ... php?id=560

looks like an option. Is this realistic or is there a better approach?.

Have a look an slot cpu boards and passive backplanes. There are split
backplanes which allow to install two or four cpu boards with peripherial
boards (pci or isa) in a single 19" case with a common power supply. All cpu
boards are independent from each other, so you can run one with Windows, one
with Linux and one with VxWorks. The communication between the boards is up
to you - some kind of network, shared memory boards or fifo devices that use
pci slots from two systems or something else.

PICMG slot cpu boards and split backplanes are standard parts.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Frank-Christian Krügel