ETX (form factor)
Encyclopedia
ETX, standing for Embedded Technology eXtended, is a highly integrated and compact (3.7 x 4.9 in.) (95 x 125 mm) computer-on-module
(COM) form factor that can be used in a design application much like an integrated circuit component. Each ETX COM integrates core CPU and memory functionality, the common I/O of a PC/AT (serial, parallel, etc.), USB, audio, graphics, and Ethernet
. All I/O signals as well as a full implementation of ISA
and PCI
buses are mapped to four high density, low profile connectors on the bottom side of the module.
ETX boards are available with AMD Geode
, VIA
, Intel Pentium
, Celeron
and Core Duo processors.
XTX
offers an 75% pin-compatible upgrade path to ETX standard. XTX drops the ISA bus and adds PCI-Express, SATA
, and LPC
.
COM Express
was released in 2005 from PICMG
.
(formerly *JUMPtec) in the early 2000.
As technology evolves, the ETX standard has undergone further development in scalability and performance. In April 2006, the members of the ETX Industrial Group released the latest generation of the ETX 3.0 specification
. The ETX Industrial Group (www.etx-ig.org) is an independent association of companies and individuals that work to exchange knowledge about ETX, communicate with users of the ETX world, monitor trends and ensure the ETX standard fulfills the market’s needs. Membership is open to companies all over the world who develop and produce ETX modules. Members of the ETX Industrial
Group include Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH, Advantech, MSC Vertriebs GmbH, ADLINK Technology Inc.
, Avalue Technology Inc., SECO Srl, Arbor Technology Corp., Axiomtek Co., Blue Chip Technology, AAEON Technology Inc., AEWIN Technologies Co., IBase, Honeywell – CMSS and Portwell.
To obtain a copy of the ETX 3.02 specification, visit the ETX Industrial Group website http://www.etx-ig.org .
Mandatory features:
Computer-on-module
A computer-on-module or System on Module is a type of single-board computer , a subtype of an embedded computer system. An extension of the concept of System on Chip , COM lies between a full-up computer and a microcontroller in nature.- Design :Today's COM modules are complete embedded computers...
(COM) form factor that can be used in a design application much like an integrated circuit component. Each ETX COM integrates core CPU and memory functionality, the common I/O of a PC/AT (serial, parallel, etc.), USB, audio, graphics, and Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
. All I/O signals as well as a full implementation of ISA
Industry Standard Architecture
Industry Standard Architecture is a computer bus standard for IBM PC compatible computers introduced with the IBM Personal Computer to support its Intel 8088 microprocessor's 8-bit external data bus and extended to 16 bits for the IBM Personal Computer/AT's Intel 80286 processor...
and PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect
Conventional PCI is a computer bus for attaching hardware devices in a computer...
buses are mapped to four high density, low profile connectors on the bottom side of the module.
ETX boards are available with AMD Geode
Geode (processor)
Geode is a series of x86-compatible system-on-a-chip microprocessors and I/O companions produced by AMD, targeted at the embedded computing market....
, VIA
VIA Technologies
VIA Technologies is a Taiwanese manufacturer of integrated circuits, mainly motherboard chipsets, CPUs, and memory, and is part of the Formosa Plastics Group. It is the world's largest independent manufacturer of motherboard chipsets...
, Intel Pentium
Pentium
The original Pentium microprocessor was introduced on March 22, 1993. Its microarchitecture, deemed P5, was Intel's fifth-generation and first superscalar x86 microarchitecture. As a direct extension of the 80486 architecture, it included dual integer pipelines, a faster FPU, wider data bus,...
, Celeron
Celeron
Celeron is a brand name given by Intel Corp. to a number of different x86 computer microprocessor models targeted at budget personal computers....
and Core Duo processors.
XTX
XTX
XTX is a computer-on-module standard for x86-based embedded devices. XTX adds PCI-Express, SATA, and LPC capabilities. The standard was promulgated by Advantech, , and congatec.-External links:* *...
offers an 75% pin-compatible upgrade path to ETX standard. XTX drops the ISA bus and adds PCI-Express, SATA
Sata
Sata is a traditional dish from the Malaysian state of Terengganu, consisting of spiced fish meat wrapped in banana leaves and cooked on a grill.It is a type of Malaysian fish cake, or otak-otak...
, and LPC
Low Pin Count
The Low Pin Count bus, or LPC bus, is used on IBM-compatible personal computers to connect low-bandwidth devices to the CPU, such as the boot ROM and the "legacy" I/O devices . The "legacy" I/O devices usually include serial and parallel ports, PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse, floppy disk controller...
.
COM Express
COM Express
COM Express, a computer-on-module form factor, is a highly integrated and compact PC that can be used in a design application much like an integrated circuit component. Each COM Express Module COM integrates core CPU and memory functionality, the common I/O of a PC/AT, USB, audio, graphics , and...
was released in 2005 from PICMG
PICMG
The PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group is a consortium of over 227 companies. The group, founded in 1994, was originally formed to adapt PCI technology for use in high-performance telecommunications, military and industrial computing applications but its work has now grown to include...
.
Evolution of the ETX standard
One of the fastest-growing concepts in the embedded world is the "Computer-On-Module" or COM. One of the principal COM implementations available in the market is the Embedded Technology eXtended (ETX) specification, first developed by KontronKontron
Kontron AG is a German-based multinational company which designs and manufactures embedded computer modules, boards and systems.Kontron AG serves OEMs, system integrators and application providers of different market segments...
(formerly *JUMPtec) in the early 2000.
As technology evolves, the ETX standard has undergone further development in scalability and performance. In April 2006, the members of the ETX Industrial Group released the latest generation of the ETX 3.0 specification
ETX 3.0 specification
ETX 3.0 Specification Embedded Technology eXtendedETX, stands for Embedded Technology eXtended, computer-on-module is a highly integrated and compact form factor ....
. The ETX Industrial Group (www.etx-ig.org) is an independent association of companies and individuals that work to exchange knowledge about ETX, communicate with users of the ETX world, monitor trends and ensure the ETX standard fulfills the market’s needs. Membership is open to companies all over the world who develop and produce ETX modules. Members of the ETX Industrial
Group include Kontron Embedded Modules GmbH, Advantech, MSC Vertriebs GmbH, ADLINK Technology Inc.
ADLINK
ADLINK Technology Inc. designs and manufactures products for embedded computing, test & measurement, and automation applications. ADLINK's product line includes computer-on-modules, industrial motherboards, data acquisition modules and complete systems...
, Avalue Technology Inc., SECO Srl, Arbor Technology Corp., Axiomtek Co., Blue Chip Technology, AAEON Technology Inc., AEWIN Technologies Co., IBase, Honeywell – CMSS and Portwell.
To obtain a copy of the ETX 3.02 specification, visit the ETX Industrial Group website http://www.etx-ig.org .
Mandatory features:
- Connector X1: PCI bus, USB Audio
- Connector X2: ISA BUS
- Connector X3: VGA, LCD, Video, COM 1, COM2, LPT/Floppy, IrDA, Mouse, Keyboard
- Connector X4: IDE 1, IDE 2, Ethernet, miscellaneous
- SATA: Two ports via connector on the top side (as of version 3.0)
External links
- http://www.etx-ig.org ETX Industrial Group
- ETX Specification V3.02
- ETX Design Guide
- ETX 3.0: SATA integration overview - PC/104 and Small Form Factors