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Kontron announced the AT8901 on 17 August 2005 as an AdvancedTCA (ATCA) hub that could handle both the base and fabric interfaces. It offered two AdvancedMC (AMC) slots and an optional mezzanine for Advanced Switching Interconnect (ASI), allowing system builders to choose a configuration for their shelf and fabric design. The announcement described support for 14- or 16-slot ATCA housings.
What Kontron announced
The AT8901 combined base-interface and fabric-interface hub functions on one ATCA board. Kontron described configurations ranging from a base-only board to a base-plus-fabric version, with ASI available through an optional fabric-interface mezzanine. The board also included two AMC slots for add-on modules.
Kontron characterized the AT8901 as a way to accommodate differing and emerging fabric requirements. Its announcement said: “In a first for this market, it also offers an option to implement the new Advanced Switching Interconnect (ASI) technology in convenient ATCA environments.” The statement reflects Kontron’s claim at the time of announcement, not an independent assessment of market precedence.
What base and fabric hubs do in an ATCA shelf
ATCA separates traffic functions across interfaces. The base interface supports management and standard Ethernet services, while the fabric interface carries payload traffic with higher-capacity switching. A hub board connects and switches traffic across the shelf; combining base and fabric roles can consolidate those functions on one board.
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ASI was not mandatory for every AT8901. It was an optional switching technology implemented with a fabric-interface mezzanine. Kontron also described Gigabit Ethernet fabric alternatives, including dual-star and full-mesh designs, with Layer 2 or Layer 3 switching options. These were topology and switching choices for system builders rather than a claim that every configuration supported every option simultaneously.
How the AT8901 was configured
- Base only: for systems using the board as a base-interface hub.
- Base and fabric: for a combined hub role, with fabric options selected for the intended shelf design.
- ASI-equipped fabric: an optional mezzanine added ASI fabric-interface switching.
Kontron specified 14- or 16-slot ATCA housings for the fully featured board. The two AMC slots provided expansion on the hub itself, potentially adding processor, storage, or networking capabilities without using another payload slot. The later AT8904 datasheet gives examples of processor AMCs, storage AMCs, and dual-10GbE-uplink AMCs in this family context.
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How AT8901 relates to AT8902 and AT8904
The later AT8904 documentation shows how Kontron’s hub family extended toward 10GbE. The models should not be treated as interchangeable: their documented emphasis and support status differ.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Model | Primary role | AMC expansion | Fabric emphasis | Support signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT8901 | Base/fabric ATCA hub | Two AMC slots | Optional ASI mezzanine; Gigabit Ethernet fabric options | Historical announcement; current support status not established in the cited announcement |
| AT8902 | Base/fabric hub with GbE services and Layer 2/3 switching | Dual AMC support in the documented family | PICMG 3.0/3.1 GbE base/fabric switching | Historical datasheet; current support status not established in the cited material |
| AT8904 | 10GbE fabric hub | Two AMC slots | 10GbE uplinks and optional AM4310 interlink | Kontron labels it legacy and no longer actively supported |
The AT8904 datasheet specifies IPv6 routing and 200-Gbps line-rate switching, as well as two AMC slots and optional AM4310 10GbE interlinks. Those figures and features apply to the AT8904 documentation, not automatically to the AT8901 or AT8902.
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What buyers of legacy ATCA hardware should verify
Kontron’s AT8904 product page explicitly marks that model as legacy and no longer actively supported. The cited official material does not establish current availability, pricing, or warranty coverage for AT8901, AT8902, or AT8904. Anyone sourcing this equipment should confirm the exact board revision, included mezzanine or AMC modules, compatibility with the target shelf and backplane, and the seller’s tested condition and return terms with a qualified industrial distributor, refurbishment provider, or Kontron channel partner.
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