Prototype AdvancedTCA Carrier Board with three AMC bays

Abstract

The Low Level RF (LLRF) control system of the Free Electron Laser in Hamburg (FLASH) is currently based on the Versa Module EuroCard (VME) standard. However, the application of Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) platform, as an alternative to the above mentioned standard, is taken into consideration. ATCA offers most of all improved reliability, because of the integrated management system which controls crucial parameters of the whole platform and provides the operator with control and diagnostics over the system from an external personal computer. Furthermore, implementation of AdvancedTCA architecture results in significant system operability enhancement, due to instant detection of a faulty module and Hot-Swap functionality that enables a swift replacement of the module, without disrupting the whole system. The platform management is under control of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI). The paper presents the IPMI software for the Intelligent Platform Management Controller (IPMC) on a prototype Carrier Board. The software covers most of the functionality, defined by AdvancedTCA and IPMI ver. 1.5 standards, including inter alia sensor monitoring, platform event handling, communication with the Shelf Manager and complete activation and deactivation processes not only for the Carrier Board, but also for three attached Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) modules. In the future, the software is going to be implemented on the ATCA test boards for LLRF control systems of the FLASH. The application of AdvancedTCA architecture with IPMI functionality in the control system of the X-Ray Free Electron Laser (X-FEL) is considered, as well. Both lasers are situated at Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg, Germany.