VME is far from dead.
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VME: Winning over the long term.
Launched in 1981, the large majority of open architecture rugged systems around the world today are based on the VME architecture. In fact, the market for VME boards is expected to dwarf that of newer architectures through at least 2020.
And, while others are abandoning the platform, Abaco is keeping it alive.
VME: A long and successful history.
VME may have been the first truly open architecture/industry standard in the computing world. In a market dominated by proprietary mainframes and minicomputers, the VME specification was placed in the public domain when it was created in 1981, enabling a new era of customer-centric computing. That gave rise to a truly competitive market – to the benefit of customers. Prices were lower; software portability provided vendor-independence; and low barriers to entry attracted new players with innovative capabilities.
VME had one other important advantage. It was designed from the outset to be rugged, capable of being deployed in the harshest environments – from heavy industry through energy exploration and from transportation to the military. Remarkably, in an industry that has been characterized by rapid changes in technology, VME has stood the test of time.
Extend the life of your VME systems. With Abaco.
![]() PPC11ANXP QorIQ T2081/T1042-based SBC designed specifically for harsh environments. |
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![]() NETernity RM921NB 6U VME24-Port Fully Managed Ethernet Switch. |
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![]() XVR19Rugged single board computer with Intel Xeon E3-1505M v6 processor. |
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![]() NETernity RM980RC6U VME 12 or 24-Port Unmanaged Layer 2 Ethernet Switch with Rear I/O. |
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![]() XVB6036U VME single board computer with Intel Xeon E3-1505M v6 processor. |
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![]() NETernity RM981RC6U VME 12-or 24 Port Unmanaged Layer 2 Ethernet Switch. |
VME portfolio from Abaco. SEE ALL 6U VME SEE ALL 3U VME
VME Technology Insertion
Upgrade legacy or discontinued hardware with VME boards from Abaco. Increase your system performance. Lower power consumption, cost and risk.
The VME Timeline
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81
1981: Public introduction of VMEbus.
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82
1982: First boards on the market.
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85
1985: First conduction-cooled 6U VMEbus board.
Abaco promotes DIN connectors for defense applications.
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86
1986: First full military boards on the market.
Abaco launches the PME 68-12.
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91
1991: VME64 introduced, raising bus speed from 40 MB/s to 80 MB/s.
Abaco's family of VME64 bus adapters conveniently connects two buses: VME64 to VME64, PCI, PMC, or CompactPCI Connectivity.
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95
1995: VMEbus Technology is selected for the US Navy's JMCIS and AN/UYK-44 programs and the Marine Corp's MAGTF Tactical Warfare Simulation (MTWS) project.
Abaco announces their first VME single board computers based on Intel x486 and IBM PPC architectures, the VMIVME-7486 and the PPC1A.
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96
1996: 2eVME introduced, raising bus speed to 160 MB/s.
Abaco announces Intel Pentium-based VME SBCs.
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03
2003: 2eSST introduced, raising bus speed to 320 MB/s.
Abaco's PPC7A upgraded with 7457 PowerPC processor from Motorola.
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06
2006: VMEBus celebrates 25 years of Excellence.
Abaco Abaco announces NETernity family of Embedded switches available in a broad range of formats, including 3U & 6U VME.
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11
2011: VMEbus celebrates 30 years of excellence!.
In the past 30 years, Abaco has built over 80+ products (SBCs and switches) around the VMEbus form factor.
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16
2016: IDT TSI148 VMEbus bridge goes end-of-life (EOL).
Abaco Abaco announces Vivo, an FPGA-based solution that provides long term support for users of the VME architecture, showcased initially in our Intel-based SBC line on the XVR19 and XVB603.
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18
FUTURE: VITA Technologies is a favorite choice in many critical embedded computing architectures.
In the past 30 years, Abaco continues to power VME products with cutting-edge process technology.
VME Forever !
VME has been at the heart of rugged embedded computing for over 30 years. Alternative architectures have come along – but VME is still thriving. And: there are good reasons why VME will continue to thrive – as this white paper explains.
Ethernet switches: why time matters
A managed Ethernet switch can offer significant advantages over an unmanaged switch in terms of flexibility, availability and security. However: organizations will often compromise on these benefits in favor of the faster start-up times offered by an unmanaged switch. Now, work undertaken by the network engineering team at Abaco Systems means that compromise may no longer be necessary: it is possible to have the best of both worlds.
Secure Networking: Five Things to Consider
With every new cyber attack, the focus on network security intensifies. This white paper outlines the role of advanced switch management software in defending your network.
Upgrading a network – in space
Few deployed environments are more demanding than the International Space Station, which will be in service for 20+ years. Find out how Abaco was able to rise to the challenge of delivering the necessary absolute reliability and long term support – with a highly creative solution.
How we do it.
Vivo: Increasing VME longevity with innovation.
In 2015, production of the IDT Tsi148, the industry's main VME bridge silicon, was discontinued, forcing system developers to consider a premature migration to newer system architectures. Abaco responded by developing Vivo, an FPGA-based VME bridge solution that extends the life of applications built on the Tsi148 architecture.
Vivo is now featured on all our VME single board computers, extending VME system life for all our customers.
Product Lifecycle Management
All our products are designed to be supported over the multi-year – multi-decade, even – lifetime of the typical program. Whether for technology insertion or obsolescence management, we’re with you for the long haul.