Polaris Networks releases an enhanced version of ATCA Tester v3.1

Jan. 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Lexington, Massachusetts, Jan 11, 2012 – Polaris Networks, a leading provider of test tools for networking equipment, released an enhanced version of the PNCT-ATCA-300, itsindustry-leading test tool for AdvancedTCA Shelf Manager and IPM Controllers (IPMCs).This version has a number of improvements and additions emphasizing the ease of use by pinpointing the causes of test failures through an interactive interface.

The Polaris ATCA Tester tests the Shelf Manager, intelligent FRUs, AdvancedMC (AMC) carrier boards and AMC modules in ATCA shelves for compliance with the hardware platform management requirements (Section 3) in the PICMG 3.0 Rev 3.0 specification.
PNCT-ATCA-300 features a user-friendly GUI for the Windows operating system. The Tester includes more than 375 test cases, with each test case mapped to one PICMG 3.0 Rev 3.0 requirement. It provides detailed test results with complete decoding of IPMI and RMCP messages.

Polaris Networks has partnered with Pigeon Point Systems (PPS) to meet its objective of providing robust and up-to-date test tools to the ATCA community. The Polaris ATCA Tester has been rigorously tested with the Pigeon Point Systems Board Management Reference (BMR) IPMC solutions (Microsemi SmartFusion-based) to ensure that itinteroperates with widely-used, commercial ATCA platforms and is ready-to-use before it is made generally available in the market.

“Pigeon Point Systems had always been a valuable customer and partner for Polaris Networks,” commented Vinay Gupta, CTO, Polaris Networks. “Polaris Networks is always committed to enhancing its automated test tools to the latest PICMG specifications, so that hardware manufacturers can be certain that they adhere to the latest standards and thus achieve greater platform independence and interoperability”.
“Polaris Networks’ ATCA Tester plays a valuable role in the ATCA industry of providing an automated and independent way for developers and customers of ATCA hardware platform management functionality to check specification compliance,” said Mark Overgaard, Founder and CTO of Pigeon Point Systems. “Pigeon Point brings to this partnership our in-depth understanding of the ATCA/AMC hardware platform management and ten years of interoperability experience, with the tens of thousands of delivered Shelf Managers and boards/modules based on our management solutions.”

Polaris Networks is committed to regular updates and enhancements of its ATCA Tester. In the upcoming releases, PNCT-ATCA-300 will include Advanced E-Keying Tests based on PICMG 3.1 R2.0 (which is still a draft specification). It will also include tests based on PICMG IRTM R1.0 specification to test the Hardware Platform Management capabilities of Intelligent (MMC-based) Rear Transition Modules. When available, Polaris also plans to add tests based on ATCA Extensions initiative (which will be
covered by PICMG 3.7 Rev 1.0); this initiative aims to augment ATCA for use in enterprise and other application areas that were not its initial focus.

About Polaris Networks
Polaris Networks has played a key role in promoting and facilitating the widespread adoption of new technologies. Polaris' range of xTCA Test Tools are widely used by system integrators and manufacturers for their internal testing and QA of ATCA,
microTCA and AMC based building blocks and systems. From testing open standards for telecom platforms, the HPI and AIS tester verifies service availability standards as specified by the SA Forum, for telecom middleware. Apart from these xTCA Testers
Polaris Networks provides comprehensive end to end test solutions for LTE equipment manufacturers and operators.

For more information on Polaris Networks, please visit www.polarisnetworks.net