Advantech announced today the launch of a comprehensive MicroTCA Starter Kit program. At a promotional price of 1999 Euros, the Starter Kit 
nload="javascript:if(>500)=500" align=right border=0>consists of a 6-slot AC-powered MicroTCA chassis with cooling and includes a Core 2 Duo-based Processor AMC, a SAS/SATA AMC with 80GB SATA hard drive, plus a MicroTCA Carrier Hub (MCH). The system boots Linux out of the box and is available from stock.
The system is based on the Elma Electronics blu!eco system and comes loaded with three Advantech AMCs: the MIC-5602 with Intel Core 2 Duo U7500 CPU and 1GB DDR2 memory, the MIC-5401 storage AMC with 80GB HDD and the UTCA-5503 MicroTCA Carrier Hub (MCH). The system incorporates a pluggable +12V / 300 W AC power supply and integrates IPMI for power switching, hot-swap functionality and fan control onto the backplane. The backplane is optimized for high-speed routing and provides a single-star topology to all slots, as well as integrated slot-to-slot links for SATA and PCI Express.
The MicroTCA Starter Kit is in stock in Advantech’s worldwide logistics centers and available through Advantech and its worldwide system integration / channel partners.
“Our goal is to get MicroTCA hardware into developer’s hands at a price that minimizes impact on R&D budgets” said Paul Stevens, Telecom Sector Marketing Director at Advantech. He went on to add, “The turn key approach to Advantech’s Starter Kit means it’s simple and bootable out-of-the-box, enabling customers to quickly and cost-effectively evaluate system topologies and develop applications built on the MicroTCA architecture”.
“Advantech’s initiative should help release R&D projects held up by capital expenditure funding issues” said Peter Marek, Director of Advantech’s Blade Computing Division. “This special price offer is also a signal that MicroTCA is on the right cost-curve” he added.
about Advantech –Founded in 1983, Advantech delivers visionary and trustworthy industrial computing solutions that empower businesses. We cooperate closely with solution partners to provide complete solutions for a wide array of applications in diverse industries, offering products and solutions in three business categories: Embedded ePlatform, eServices & Applied Computing, and Industrial Automation groups. With more than 3,400 dedicated employees, Advantech operates an extensive support, sales and marketing network in 18 countries and 39 major cities to deliver fast time-to-market services to our worldwide customers. Advantech is a Premier Member of the Intel Embedded and Communications Alliance, a community of embedded and communications developers and solution providers.
