CP690
Hotswap
ID 20955, Rev. 03
© 2002 PEP Modular Computers GmbH
Page 4 - 5
4.1.1.2
The System Host (System Controller)
The System Controller must have the possibility to utilize the special signals defined by the
CompactPCI hotswap specification. If a high availability system is used it must additionally be
able to control the hardware connection with the peripheral boards (Hardware Connection Con-
trol).
4.1.1.3
The Hotswap Board
To ensure that a board may be removed and replaced in a working bus without disturbing the
system it requires the following additional features.
•
precharge
•
power ramping
•
hotswap control and status register bits
•
automatic interrupt generation whenever a board is about to be removed or replaced.
•
an LED to indicate that the board may be safely removed.
4.1.1.4
Software and Operating System
No hotswap support is currently provided by Intel based operating systems. Windows 2000,
which is scheduled to become available in February 2000, is expected to provide hotswap sup-
port. Special software will require to be developed for other proprietary systems.
In a hotswap environment the software driver and the operating system have the following ad-
ditional requirements:
•
The OS must provide the possibility to initialize PCI devices
during normal operation
whenever required (allocate resources).
•
The OS must provide the possibility to load or unload software drivers during normal op-
eration whenever required.