An extension HA design for the hot-swap application of Compact PCI device

Abstract

The architecture of Compact PCI (CPCI) has been universally applied into various industries ever since established by the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG). Considered one of the most significant functions, the hot-swap and hot-plug ability of CPCI devices frees working system from shutting down and restarting while replacement of devices is necessary in the case of damage or error. The hot swapping technique, which is divided into three levels including the basic level, the completed level and the high availability (HA) level, keeps the system healthy and working normally to varying degrees consequently. This paper makes a brief introduction to an extension design method, which allows the device to reach the most effective HA level of the three. As a consequence, the damaged device could be replaced and isolated automatically, so that the advances in fault isolation and hot backup are both available. The developed design scheme is demonstrated in detail in the paper together with an overview of conventional method of designing in order to verify the development due to the comparison.