10 Gigabit Ethernet for High-performance Real-time Embedded Systems

Rob Kraft - AdvancedIO Systems Inc.
Monday 20 August 2007 7:00-9:00pm
BCIT Campus Townsquare D SE2
3700 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby

10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) technology, which is still relatively new in the server space, is now emerging in the real-time embedded space,
overlapping the emergence of other proprietary and standard system interconnect fabrics such as RapidIO, and PCI Express.
What makes 10-Gigabit Ethernet so exciting is that for the first time, the world’s most widely understood, deployed, and accepted packetbased
communications protocol can address the requirements of the high performance real-time space.
Unfortunately, the act of processing the communication protocol stack at 10 Gigabit rates heavily taxes modern processors and DSPs , leaving
them very few, if any, cycles to perform signal processing.
Input/Output (I/O) devices, such as Analog-todigital converters , could also benefit from using 10GbE as a communications fabric if a 10GbE
interface could be effectively ‘attached’ to them.
In this talk we will discuss key issues when practically implementing 10GbE in high-performance real-time embedded systems. Among them: - the
requirement for protocol acceleration or offload - architectural issues when ‘attaching’ 10GbE to I/O devices - some key system-level benefits of
using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) for implementing the 10GbE interfaces and protocol offload To set the context, the talk will begin
with an introduction to the high-performance real-time embedded industry, including: - a simplified introduction to the concept of standard
buses, fabrics, and form factors like VME, PCI, CompactPCI, PCI-X, PCI Express (PCIe), AdvancedTCA, microTCA, VXS, VPX, RapidIO
- standard mezzanine module form factors like PMC and XMC - some applications.

Speaker: Rob Kraft is the VP of Marketing at AdvancedIO Systems Inc. He is responsible for ensuring that AdvancedIO’s products meet market
needs, solve compelling business issues, and achieve recognition in the marketplace.
Before joining AdvancedIO, Rob spent over 11 years in systems engineering, technical sales, and product management with Spectrum Signal
Processing, AlliedSignal Aerospace, and Alcatel Transport, successfully delivering integrated systems to satisfied customers.
Rob enjoys giving presentation and has a strong technical back- ground in the embedded space. He holds a BASc degree in Engineering Science (Electrical)
and an MASc in Systems Control Engineering from the University of Toronto, and is a registered Professional Engineer.
You may occasionally spot Rob on-stage at one of the standup comedy venues around Vancouver - often in front of a very quiet crowd.

Here's a link to a current article in a magazine that talks a bit more about it, should you be inclined:
http://www.mil-embedded.com/include/print/print.php?request=/articles/au
thors/kraft/&title=10+GbE+for+high-performance+real-time+embedded+system
s%3A+What+you+need+to+know+&author=Rob+Kraft

For more information if needed Email Communications Chair Alon Newton at: anewton@ieee.org