PCI-X

[Richard Baek <rbaek@vtm-inc.com>]

Dear PCI SIG members,

The PCI Special Interest Group (PCI SIG) announced on September 11, 1998
that it had received the PCI-X specification proposal, initially developed
by Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and IBM as an extension to the existing PCI
local bus standard to deliver increased bandwidth and performance.  The PCI
SIG has launched a workgroup to consider the development of a faster PCI
bus, and this workgroup will review the PCI-X proposal as its initial input.

The following is an overview of the status of the PCI-X proposal and the
next steps the PCI SIG will take to evaluate it:
1. The PCI-X proposal was submitted to the PCI SIG on Friday, September 11,
1998.
2. The PCI SIG Steering Committee approved the formation of a workgroup to
address a faster version of the PCI local bus specification, which will use
the PCI-X proposal as initial input.
3. Within the next 45 days, the workgroup will make a recommendation to the
PCI SIG Steering Committee regarding the PCI-X proposal and the
requirements needed for a faster PCI specification. 
4. Based on the recommendations of the workgroup, the PCI SIG Steering
Committee may direct the workgroup to continue its work to develop a
specification for a faster version of the PCI local bus.

In the past, several proposed specifications have been incorporated into
the PCI local bus standard, including PCI Hot Plug and Power Management,
and most recently a proposal for Mini PCI, which is currently being
developed in a MiniPCI workgroup.

Please check the PCI SIG Web site for updates on any developments related
to the PCI-X proposal or Mini PCI. 

Thanks,

Rich Baek
PCI Special Interest Group