VPX

VPX, also known as VITA 46, is a set of standards for connecting components of a computer (known as a computer bus), commonly used by defense contractors. Some are ANSI standards such as ANSI/VITA 46.0–2019. VPX provides VMEbus-based systems with support for switched fabrics over a new high speed connector. Defined by the VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA) working group starting in 2003, it was first demonstrated in 2004, and became an ANSI standard in 2007. VPX was intended to address shortcomings in scalability and performance on both sides of the bus to bus bridging technology. The goal was to include newer faster VMEbus standards and new generations of PCI bus standards. The VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA) working group, formed in March 2003, was composed of companies such as ADLINK, Boeing, Curtiss-Wright, Elma Electronic, GE Intelligent Platforms, Kontron, Mercury Computer Systems, and Northrop Grumman, it was designed with defense applications in mind, with an enhanced module standard that enables applications and platforms with superior performance. VPX retained VME's Eurocard form factors, which are based on multiples of three rack units: 3U means three rack units, and 6U six rack units. It supported PCI Mezzanine Card (PMC) and XMC mezzanines (PMC with high-speed serial fabric interconnect), and maintaining the maximum possible compatibility with VMEbus. New generations of embedded systems reflected the growing significance of high speed serial switched fabric interconnects such as PCI Express, RapidIO, Infiniband and 10 Gigabit Ethernet.