DATASHEET

Ensemble® Subsystems
OpenVPX Development Chassis – 6-SlotEngineered Development Chassis for Any OpenVPX Subsystem• 6-slot 6U OpenVPX™ development chassis• Built to support high-performance subsystems• Cost-effective solution for lab development• Customizable backplane and I/O supports multiple configurations• Pre-qualified with Ensemble subsystem modules

The 6-slot OpenVPX™ Development Chassis from Mercury
Systems is a key building block in Mercury’s subsystemdevelopment infrastructure. Supporting a number of backplanes with slot counts of 6 or less, the chassis is designedto provide for multiple high-performance subsystem configurations to solve challenging problems in the radar, electronic
warfare or image processing market spaces. The OpenVPX
development chassis helps programs bring algorithms andtechnologies to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) by
supporting their deployment on systems based on deployable
designs.

www.mrcy.com

Built for Performance
As a provider of high-performance solutions addressing the mostchallenging problems in the sensor processing chain, Mercury
engineered the 6-slot OpenVPX development chassis to work with awide variety of module types, from low-power Single Board
Computers (SBCs) to high-performance processors such as theHDS6601 or RF/IF processing engines such as the SCFE-V6-OVPX.
Because the chassis supports lab development activities, it isideal for profiling applications on commercial air-cooled OpenVPX
hardware that is identical in design to rugged, deployable OpenVPX

Mercury Systems is a best-of-breed provider of commerciallydeveloped, open sensor and Big Data processing systems,
software and services for critical commercial, defense andintelligence applications.

modules. The chassis can also work with more rugged configurations ofOpenVPX modules that require airflow for cooling.
Chassis fans are configured in a push/pull mode, ensuring that sufficientcooling is available to support modules dissipating in excess of 175W.
The combined push/pull fan configuration supplies more than 700 CFM
of airflow to the card cage, providing enough air per slot to support afull complement of high-performance modules. Two thermal sensors
are positioned at the exhaust outlet, allowing users to determine thetemperature of the air after cooling modules. Fans are managed by acontrol card, allowing automatic adjustment of fan speed based oncooling requirements.

Multiple Configuration Options
As a building block for high-performance OpenVPX subsystems, the6-slot OpenVPX development chassis is designed for configurability.
Multiple backplanes can be supported, from 5- or 6-slot switch-based
designs to 5-slot mesh profiles. Custom backplanes can also be
developed as needed to match application data flow requirements. The
enclosure itself can be configured for 19” rack-mount installation or
desktop use. Power and fan configurations can be modified forparticular configurations, with high-power and cooling installations
targeting the most demanding applications, and more cost-effective
installations targeting lower power and thermal requirements.

100101010
001101011
110101100

ACQUIREACQUIREDIGITIZE

100101010
001101011
110101100

100101010
001101011
110101100

100101010
001101011
110101100

ACQUIREPROCESSDIGITIZEACQUIREPROCESSDIGITIZESTORAGEACQUIREPROCESSDIGITIZESTORAGEEXPLOIT

100101010
001101011
110101100

ACQUIREPROCESSDIGITIZESTORAGEEXPLOIT
DISSEMINATE

www.mrcy.com

Slot numbers arelogical, physicalslot numbers may
be different

Payload Slots

Switch Management

VPX
1VPX
2

VPX
3VPX
4VPX
5Expansion Plane(P2)(DFP = 8 lanes)

ExpanPlane

ExpanPlane

ExpanPlane

Expan
Plane

Expan
Plane

Data Plane(FP = 4 lanes)

Data
Plane

Data
Plane

Data
Plane

Data
Plane

Data
Plane

VPX
6Data
SwitchUTP
Control Plane(UTP = 1 lane)

ControlPlane

Control
Plane

ControlPlane

ControlPlane

ControlPlane

Control
SwitchTPUTPManagement
Plane (IPMB)

IPMC

IPMC

IPMC

IPMC

IPMC

ChMC

Utility Plane
Includes Power
Slot numbers are
logical, physicalslot numbers may
be different

Payload SlotsVPX
1VPX2VPX
3VPX
4VPX
5VPX
6Expansion Plane(QFP = 16 lanes)

ExpanPlane

ExpanPlane

ExpanPlane

ExpanPlane

ExpanPlane

ExpanPlane

Data Plane(FP = 4 lanes)

Data
Plane

Data
Plane

Data
Plane

Data
Plane

Data
Plane

TP
Control Plane(UTP = 1 lane)

ControlPlane

ControlPlane

ControlPlane

ControlPlane

ControlPlane

ControlPlane

TPManagement
Plane (IPMB)
Utility Plane
Includes Power

IPMC

IPMC

IPMC

IPMC

IPMC

IPMC

Power supplies are configured for 12V-optimized OpenVPX modules,
but provide all required voltages for OpenVPX modules, including +12V,+5V, +3.3V and -12V. Power at 24V is also provided to drive the chassis
fan infrastructure. Due to the modular design of the subsystem, power
supplies can be replaced or updated easily. Indicators on the front panelof the enclosure provide assurance that all voltages are available.
Designed for easy access, Rear-Transition Modules (RTM) can beinstalled as required, and airflow is available to the RTM area should
active components be present on any rear modules.

Lab Development System
Several key features make the 6-slot OpenVPX chassis a natural choicefor lab development systems.
• Low-profile design takes up a minimum of space, and aluminum
construction minimizes enclosure weight• Electro-Static Discharge (ESD) jacks are provided on both the front
and rear of the chassis• Cable access holes are designed into the enclosure framework,
supporting the routing of cables to both the front panel and therear transition area as appropriate for the configuration• Ergonomic space design for injector/ejector seating is optimized
for the high extraction force needed for OpenVPX modules• Switches are provided for the SYS_RESET and NVMRO OpenVPXsignals, allowing easy testing for the operation of these signals in
any installed backplaneOpen Standards Mean Interoperability and 		Planning for the Future
The OpenVPX Industry Working Group was an industry initiative
launched by defense prime contractors and COTS system developers toproactively solve the interoperability issues associated with the VITA
46 (VPX) family of specifications. This group has created an overarching
System Specification defining VPX system architecture through pinout
definitions to establish a limited set of application-specific reference
solutions. These OpenVPX standard solutions provide clear designguidance to COTS suppliers and the user community, assuring
interoperability across multi-vendor implementations. The OpenVPX
System Specifications were ratified by the VSO in February 2010 andbecame an ANSI standard shortly thereafter.

Specifications
Size

17.18”L by 10.46”H (6U) by 15”DWeight

34 pounds (with backplane installed, no payload modules)

Power Supply+12V @ 125a+5V @ 35a+3.3V @ 10a-12V @ 10a
OpenVPX slot count6 (at 1” pitch) Can support backplanes up to 6 slots (switched or mesh)
Front Panel
Write Enable switch
Voltage LEDs

• A chassis ground stud is provided at the rear of the enclosure

SYS_RESET switch• Two removable I/O panels are provided on the front panel of theenclosure, providing access to custom cabling or additional I/O
configurations at the subsystem level

Blank I/O panel

DC Inhibit switch
ESD Jack
Chassis ground stud

VPX-REDI
The VPX (VITA 46) standard defines 6U and 3U board formats with amodern high-performance connector set capable of supporting today’shigh-speed fabric interfaces. VPX is most attractive when paired withthe Ruggedized Enhanced Design Implementation (REDI) standard (VITA48). The 6-slot (or 16-slot) OpenVPX chassis supports 6U air-cooled
module implementations of VPX-REDI including standard VITA 48.1 aircooled modules and the latest VITA 48.7 Air Flow-By™ (AFB) air-cooledmodules.

220V AC IEC320 inlet with cable clamp
20a circuit breaker
ESD jack
Note: Chassis can be customized to meet requirements. 				Contact Mercury’s Services and System Integration group.

EchoCore, Echotek, Ensemble, Race++ and MultiCore Plus are registered trademarks and Air Flow-By,AFB, Innovation That Matters, Mercury Systems, POET, SecureConfig and StreamDirect are trademarks ofMercury Systems, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or registeredtrademarks of their respective holders. Mercury Systems, Inc. believes this information is accurate as of its
publication date and is not responsible for any inadvertent errors. The information contained herein is subject
to change without notice.
Copyright © 2014 Mercury Systems, Inc.			

2936.02E-0314-DS-6-slot

INNOVATION THAT MATTERS ™

Corporate Headquarters
201 Riverneck Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824-2820 USA(978) 967-1401 • (866) 627-6951
Fax (978) 256-3599
www.mrcy.com

Europe Mercury Systems, Ltd.
Unit 1 - Easter Park, Benyon Road
Silchester, Reading
RG7 2PQ United Kingdom+ 44 0 1189 702050 • Fax + 44 0 1189 702321
www.mrcy.com

www.mrcy.com

Rear Panel