Re: CPCI: RE: Message Signalled Interrupt Support

[Guenter Graf <Guenter.Graf@force.de>]

Due to the fact, that as of today most system hosts don't support MSI,
PICMG 2.14, the Multicomputing specification cannot rely on this feature.
However, as MSI is a replacement for the traditional PCI interrupt signals,
real 2.14 implementations can make use of this feature and its advantages.

Above that, the Multicomputing specification  will provide a way for
up-negotiation of hardware capabilities. Goal of this function is to allow usage
of special hardware features, which are not available in every card, e.g. the
I2O FIFO mechanism.

Guenter Graf

"Somes, Richard" wrote:

> Brroks, Brad, etc.
>
> Take a look at Force's Sentinel technology.  It's a universal bridge which
> supports MSI, and it's being used on a PPC board capable of functioning in
> either system or peripheral slots.
>
> So here's one hardware vendor with support.  See the following link:
>
> http://www.forcecomputers.com/technology/sentinel/sentinel.htm
>
> Sorry for the commercial, but it's responsive to the question.  Hopefully
> others will be equally unabashed in identifying products with MSI.
>
> I'm not sure whether PICMG 2.14, the Multicomputing spec, identifies MSI as
> a signalling mechanism.  With the advent of real hardware supporting MSI, it
> should probably be considered.  Someone from the 2.14 crew with input?
>
> Dick Somes
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lame Brooks-G14738 [mailto:brooks.lame@motorola.com]
> Sent: Monday, February 21, 2000 2:13 PM
> To: 'brad@pc2.com'
> Cc: 'PCISIGList'; PICMGCPCI Reflector (E-mail)
> Subject: CPCI: RE: Message Signalled Interrupt Support
>
> MSI appears extremely useful in applications with many sources of interrupts
> in a device and/or many devices on the PCI bus.  It also looks useful in
> slave processor applications.  Motorola may use MSI in a new motherboard
> peripheral device currently under development.  However, I am a little out
> of touch with the current thoughts on MSI with CompactPCI
> peripheral/slave/multiple-host processors; so, you may look for some other
> PICMG guys to respond.
> --
> Brooks Lame'
> Crisis/Design Engineer,  Motorola Monterey Design Center
> brooks_lame@mcg.mot.com
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Brad Hosler [mailto:brad@pc2.com]
> > Sent: Sunday, 20 February, 2000 15:29
> > To: pci-sig@znyx.com
> > Subject: Message Signalled Interrupt Support
> >
> >
> > PCI 2.2 defines a Message Signalled Interrupt (MSI) feature,
> > to allow the
> > card
> > to issue an interrupt as a PCI write message.
> >
> > Its presenting a "who-comes-first" scenario.  There are SW
> > developers that
> > want to support this feature; however, they want to know if
> > there are IHV's
> > who are adding support to their cards.  If there is no IHV
> > interest, SW
> > support
> > may be pulled due to lack of validation.
> >
> > Are there any cards available or that will be available that
> > will support
> > the MSI capability?
> >
> >
> >
> >