Kontron configuration management software OMVIU delivers powerful GUI to MicroTCA applications

All Kontron MicroTCA systems are managed over IPMI. The MCH is in charge of this type of management: it checks electronic keying before booting-up the system; it controls the power, hot-swap cycles and fans. Also, IPMI allows monitoring the system, i.e. to check system event logs, monitor the health of the system and to take measures in case of problems. In order to facilitate system configuration over IPMI, Kontron provides the Kontron OMVIU graphical user interface.

Kontron OMVIU is a Java based tool and allows remote monitoring and control of MicroTCA systems on any Java enabled platform. The intuitive GUI allows the simultaneous access to several MicroTCA shelf or carrier managers. The product supports Kontron's entire AMC/MicroTCA portfolio and any standard compliant system (backplanes, fan units, power modules), MCH or AMC from other vendors. With Kontron OMVIU, all remote control and visualization can be done via mouse clicks, without the deeper level of knowledge and experience required for a command line interface (CLI).

Kontron OMVIU supports an icon based visualization of the system and its states says Irene Hahner, product manager in charge of the MicroTCA product line. It is easy to learn and provides monitoring and tracing of events, error logging facilities, and corrective actions, all by visualization. This way, we aim to facilitate using state-of-the art managed systems for our customers and benefit from the better diagnostic coverage and system availability. On an entry level system, Kontron OMVIU allows users to become familiar with MicroTCA, in particular with respect to the MicroTCA's management and control capabilities. In combination with the hardware, the MicroTCA Starterkit provides a comprehensive package, which allows reducing project lead times and offers a cost optimized and complete set for evaluating MicroTCA and gaining experience with MicroTCA based applications.

The Kontron OMVIU graphical user interface helps to create remote controlled MicroTCA systems, including extensibility for vendor-specific recognition and graphical representation of extra boards and components. With its trace and error logging facilities it is possible to track behavior of components with respect to conformance to standards. During development, lab evaluation, and deployment, the remote system may be supervised with user notification on changes.

The MicroTCA Starterkit provides space for up to 6 AdvancedMCs, such as the Kontron Processor AdvancedMC AM4020 or the Kontron Processor AdvancedMC AM4120, storage or peripheral interfaces. Beyond the Starterkit, Kontron also offers a variety of MicroTCA systems, which apply to entry-level designs and compact sized systems up to high-performing systems with high-speed fabrics such as PCIe, SRIO, GbE and 10GbE. MicroTCA platforms are ideal solutions for the development and evaluation of multi-processor systems with high demands on throughput, CPU performance and availability, such as telecommunications, test equipment, military communications, research, medical image processing, and industrial automation.