Press Release

PCI-SIG Announces Release of PCI v2.2 Specification

Recent activity reflects continued evolution of the PCI specification and the PCI-SIG

PORTLAND, Oregon - January 25, 1999 - The PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) announced today that v2.2 of the PCI Local Bus standard specification is now available. The v2.2 specification can be requested from the PCI-SIG web site at http://www.pcisig.com. The PCI-SIG is also releasing updates of its Power Management and PCI-to-PCI Bridge specifications and Mobile Design Guide. The PCI specification, since its release in 1992, has become a mature standard that continues to be widely adopted, with most new PCs using PCI as its main local bus.

The latest version of the PCI standard includes PCI Hot-Plug, updates to PCI Power Management, and a roll-up of Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) and errata since version 2.1 was completed in June 1995. Version 2.2 is an important "clarification release" of the specification while maintaining the PCI local bus as a stable, mature technology standard.

PCI Hot-Plug provides the ability to insert and remove PCI adapter cards without having to shut the system down. This capability allows for several implementations, including Hot Replace, replacing adapter cards in "hot systems"; Hot Upgrade, upgrading existing adapter cards with new versions of cards and drivers; and Hot Expansion, adding previously uninstalled cards and associated driver software into the system.

PCI Power Management addresses the issues of standardized power management capabilities and energy conservation on the PCI bus. The latest Power Management specification is aligned with the ACPI specification, enabling PCI devices - both motherboard and add-in - to participate in platform-wide operating system-directed power management.

ECNs adopted since v2.1 of the PCI specification cover a variety of areas, from modifications to accommodate PCI Power Management to mechanical issues such as bracket mounting, tolerances, and riser connectors.

Revision 1.1 of the PCI-to-PCI Bridge specification establishes the minimum requirements that a PCI-to-PCI bridge must meet to be compliant to the PCI Local Bus specification. The specification also includes some recommendations and guidance on optional PCI-to-PCI Bridge features.

The latest version of the PCI Mobile Design Guide (v1.1) consolidates the latest updates for designers of mobile systems and components incorporating the PCI Bus. The Design Guide aids the PCI designer in implementing a PCI based component or system.

PCI Continued Evolution

The PCI-X working group of the PCI-SIG is continuing its review and development of the PCI-X specification, a proposed extension to the PCI local bus specification aimed at servers and workstations. The PCI-SIG will continue with timely updates as the proposal's working group develops the technology further.

About the PCI-SIG

As the technology evolves and grows with the industry, so does the PCI-SIG. Mike Bailey of Intel Corporation has been appointed as the new chairman of the PCI-SIG.

"The PCI-SIG is working hard to bring to the industry a high-performance extension of the PCI Local Bus through the collective efforts of industry leaders," said new PCI-SIG chairman Mike Bailey. "I am looking forward to working with and providing the leadership for this organization as we move into the new millennium."

In conjunction with the leadership change, the PCI-SIG has announced the expanded role of Vital Technical Marketing, Inc. (VTM), which provides organizational management services for the PCI-SIG. Rich Baek of VTM has been named Executive Director of the PCI-SIG and will be responsible for managing the processes for the development, delivery and compliance of PCI-SIG specifications.

Formed in June 1992, PCI-SIG is the industry organization that owns and manages the PCI Local Bus specification. More than 850 industry-leading companies are active PCI-SIG members. The organization is chartered to support new requirements, while maintaining backwards compatibility for all PCI revisions, maintain the specification as an easy-to-implement, stable technology; and contribute to the technical longevity of PCI and its establishment as an industry-wide standard. For more information, contact PCI-SIG via phone at (800) 433-5177 (within the U.S.) or fax at (503) 693-8344, or visit the PCI-SIG web site at http://www.pcisig.com.