Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 14:04:57 -0500 (CDT) From: "Lars Jonas Olsson" <jonas@mcs.com> To: hsu@freefall.freebsd.org (Jeffrey Hsu) Cc: hardware@freebsd.org Subject: Re: passive backplane (was Re: Any Pentium boards with more than 4 PC) slots? Message-ID: <m0v2iyY-0003ksC@mercury.mcs.com> In-Reply-To: <199609161636.JAA15362@freefall.freebsd.org> from "Jeffrey Hsu" at Sep 16, 96 09:36:55 am
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
The passive backplane computers are supposed to be better quality and the cases that fit them definately are more robust than most standard PC cases. We (AccuMed International Inc.) are using them in medical devices were we want: 1. reliable PC/case 2. easy service/upgrades (pulling computer board is much simpler than replacing a motherboard) 3. compact design (Our computer case is 11x21x43 cm. The backplane is 1 ISA, 1 CPU, and 2 PCI. I have yet to see a motherboard that can fit these slots in 11 cm width (external case dimension). 4. longer product life. Things don't change as fast as for motherboards. 5. contain BIOS that don't need keyboard or video card (embedded application). Other people might need the large number of slots you can get. This tends to be true for computer telephony applications (up to 24 ISA slots in one case) and some control applications. Jonas > > Speaking of passive backplanes, I have a question. What are they > used for? The hardware engineer I asked a while ago didn't give > a satisfying answer. In fact, I've forgotten what it was. But it > must be good for something, because I keep seeing passive backplanes > advertised in embedded systems magazines. >
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?m0v2iyY-0003ksC>