A second IDEX program goal is to standardize external interfaces. Based on the systems developed at the Sunnyvale, Valley Forge, and Gaithersburg facilities, a prototype server implementation test bed and clients are being developed to support interface standardization. Mr. Files described the 1990 IDEX II architecture and how it has evolved to the current architecture. As performance of commercial equipment has improved, IDEX has migrated away from custom implementations. The wideband network was replaced with the High-Performance Parallel Interface, and hardware compression and expansion has been replaced by software.
Current access is through a mixture of custom and standard interfaces.
Support of the IAS Specification will mean that standardized interfaces are provided. The goal of the prototype facilities is to use existing technology. In answer to a question concerning potential reuse of the prototype software by other programs, Mr. Files responded that the back end of the API will be specific to IDEX and therefore would not be readily useful to other systems. During the 1980s, DPS and IDEX II were developed in parallel. The legacy DPS incorporates OSI based custom communication software and custom hardware.