The architectural concepts of VMEbus are based on the VERSAbus developed by Motorola in the late 1970s. Motorola’s European Microsystems group in Munich, West Germany proposed the development of a VERSAbus-like product line of computers and controllers based on the Eurocard mechanical standard. To demonstrate the concept, Max Loesel and Sven Rau developed three prototype boards: (1) a 68000 CPU card, (2) a dynamic memory card, and (3) a static memory card. They named the new bus VERSAbus-E, which was later renamed "VME" by Lyman Hevle, then VP of the Motorola Microsystems Operation (and later the founder of the VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA)). While VME has no official definition, it is commonly thought to be the acronym for VERSAmodule Europe. Motorola, Mostek, and Signetics agreed to jointly develop and support the new bus architecture in early 1981.
1981
October 21, 1981: Official introduction of VMEbus at Systems '81 Show in Munich by Motorola, Mostek, Signetics/Philips, and Thomson-CSF.
First draft of VMEbus specification written by John Black (Motorola), Craig McKenna (Mostek), and Cecil Kaplinsky (Signetics/Philips).
Revision A of VMEbus specification put in public domain.
The first boards enter the market with the Motorola VECPU100 and VECPU105 processor boards and the M68VERAM100, M68VERAM200 and M68VEROM memory boards. Mizar ships its first VME board.
In the latter part of 1982, the French delegation of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) proposed Revision B of the VMEbus specification as an international standard. The IEC SC47B subcommittee nominated Mira Pauker ( Philips), France, as the chairperson of an editorial committee, formally starting international standardization of the VMEbus under IEC-821.
In August of 1982, Revision B of the VMEbus specification was published by the newly formed VMEbus Manufacturers Group (now VITA). This new revision refined the electrical specifications for the signal line drivers and receivers, and also brought the mechanical specifications more in line with the developing IEC 60297 standard, the formal specifications for Eurocard mechanical formats.
The first boards to enter the domestic market were the MVME101 CPU and MVME110 CPU, both of which are still in production today.
Motorola introduces the VME/10, their first system using VMEbus as an expansion channel.
Plessey's first 68000 VME boards.
Force Computer's 80286 VME board.
VMX memory expansion bus and VMS serial bus introduced.
Wayne Fischer (Motorola) heads IEEE working group for US VME standard, IEEE 1014.
John Black heads Technical Subcommittee.
IronOak's VMEbus Buyers guide, Volume 1, Number 1, the first directory of VME products. 45 companies and 196 products listed.
In March of 1983, the IEEE Microprocessor Standards Committee (MSC) requested authorization to establish a working group to standardize the VMEbus in the US. This request was approved by the IEEE Standards Board, and the P1014 Working Group was established. Wayne Fischer was appointed first chairman of the working group. John Black served as chairman of the P1014 Technical Subcommittee.
The IEC, IEEE, and VMEbus Manufacturers Group (now VITA) distributed copies of Revision B for comment, and received requests for changes to the document as a result. These comments made it clear that it was time to go forward past revision B. In December of 1983, a meeting was held that included John Black, Mira Pauker, Wayne Fischer, and Craig McKenna. It was agreed that a revision C should be created, and that it should take into consideration all comments received by the three organizations. John Black and Shlomo Pri-Tal of Motorola incorporated the changes from all sources into a common document. The VMEbus Manufacturers Group (now VITA) labeled the document Revision C.1 and placed it in the public domain. The IEEE labeled it P1014 Draft 1.2, and the IEC labeled it IEC 60821 Bus. Subsequent ballots in the IEEE P1014 group and in the MSC resulted in more comments, and required that the IEEE P1014 draft be updated. This work resulted in the ANSI/IEEE 1014-1987 specification.
VME Manufacturers Group becomes VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA) to accelerate the technical and commercial acceptance of VME. Lym Hevle is the director, and Tom Harkaway (Xycom) is chairman of the Technical Committee. Lyman Hevle (VITA), John Drakeford (Signetics/Philips), and Ron Bishop (Motorola) are the first directors on the board.
Revision C.1 of the specification is published; edited by John Black and Shlomo Pri-tal, Revision C adopted a new format, to promote compatibility and readability.
UNIX System V operating system is ported to VMEbus, opening up a new dimension of software development environment for VMEbus systems.
Logical Design Group's DC-J11 DEC VME board.
VMEbusiness, a publication of VITA launched in April to promote VMEbus related activities.
First VMEbus user group launched by Gary Shade (Schweber Electronics) in Elk Grove Village, near Chicago. 5 speakers addressed 18 attendees.
VMEbus Systems magazine launched in July with exclusive focus on VMEbus technology, the first industry magazine with a bus-architecture-specific focus. VMEbus Systems is co-published by Jack Grenard and Mike Hopper, through their publishing company, IntraTech Communications.
Tom Hall, Plessey Microsystems (later Radstone Technology) promotes DIN connectors for defense applications.
VSB (IEC-822) extensions for high speed I/O is ratified by IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
Shlomo Pri-tal assumes chair and Tom Leonard (AT&T Bell Laboratories) vice chair of IEEE 1014 VMEbus working group.
VITA Users Chapters continue forming. Ted Owens (Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory) is chair of European Users Committee; Steve Deiss (Texas Instruments) is chair of USA Users Committee.
CERN collaborates with VITA to promote VMEbus in physics applications. David Williams (CERN) and Chris Eck (CERN) sponsor the effort.
VMElabs formed by David Allen to provide certification service for VMEbus manufacturers. Revision C.1 is the certification base.
VITA annouces over 200 manufacturers with over 1000 products on the market.
First edition of the VITA VMEbus Compatible Products Directory published. 174 companies and more than 2,700 product families listed.
Aitech ships the first 6U x 160mm full Mil VME board to US TACOM for the SAVA program.
BUSCON/86, a new show and conference launched January 15-16 in San Jose with afocus on bus-based computer systems. Show formed by Bill and Anne Weber.
The IEC Convention in Stockholm, Sweden, pronounced the VMEbus an official IEC Standard: IEC 821 BUS, on September 11, 1986, bringing to fruition a four-year effort to develop the standard.
VME chosen for US Navy's Trident submarine fire control system and SQQ-89 fleet sonar processing.
Motorola begins development of the first Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) to provide a fully integrated solution for VMEbus interfaces.
VMEbus is approved by the IEEE as IEEE Std. 1014-87.
At the invitation of Joe Ramunni (Heurikon), 12 VMEbus manufacturers met in March to explore the interest in collaborating for the design and development of a comprehensive VMEbus interface chipset.
VME chosen for M1A2 Abrams Battle Tank.
Plessey's conduction cooled VME boards.
Force Computer's 80386 VME board.
VMETRO's VBT-320 VMEbus analyzer.
Logical Design Group's 80286 VME board.
DY 4 Systems' ACC.DARF interface chip set.
Force Computer's FGA-002 VME interface gate array.
VME chosen for M1A2 Abrams Battle Tank.
VMEbus Extensions for Instrumentation (VXI) standard effort is launched (July 24) by Colorado Data Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Racal Dana Instruments, Tektronix and Wavetek.
Shlomo Pri-tal elected chairman of the VITA Technical Committee effective September 1.
John Rynearson (Mizar) confirmed as chairman of the VITA Software subcommittee. Starts work on Realtime Kernel Interface Definition (RKID).
Martin Black (BICC-Vero) elected chair of the VMEbus Backplane subcommittee.
Warren Andrews launches InfoBUS Report covering news, surveys, trends, analysis and technical updates on all standard-bus architectures.
VITA Europe formed with Zoltan Hunor as Director.
Add Willemse (Philips) is vice-chair of the VITA Technical Committee, giving VITA a strong technical representative in Europe for VMEbus Technology input.
VMEbus Kongress launched in Munich through collaboration with VITA and the VITA User Group in Germany.
The MVME147, Motorola's best-selling VME single board computer module is introduced, revolutionizing single board computers with its use of ASICs.
Efforts to standardize real-time software for VMEbus modules is started with the introduction of VMEexec.
VXIbus Extension for Instrumentation introduced with VMEbus.
PLX's VME 1200 (master) and VME2000 (slave) interface chips.
VSB (VME Subsystem Bus) is approved as IEEE 1096 standard.
TI (later Raytheon) selects conduction-cooled VME for ETAS (Elevated Target Acquisition System) program
RKID renamed ORKID (Open RT Kernel Interface Definition) to express the commitment to open standards.
Doug Patterson (Radstone) and Dale Younge (DY 4 Systems) co-chair the Military subcommittee of the VITA Technical Committee to focus on design enhancements for military applications.
VITA Technical Committee forms Next Generation Architecture working group. Selects Rugged Bus and Futurebus as next potential architectures.
VITA Consortium’s VMEbus Interface Chip (VIC) enters production by VTC, Inc.
First edition of VITA’s Software Source Directory is published in September.
CERN hosts European Studies On Norms for Electronics (ESONE) “VMEbus in Research” conference.
The concept of using the VME Subsystem Bus (VSB) as an I/O channel is introduced by Motorola, providing an alternative to mezzanine modules.
GreenSpring's first IndustryPack (IP) modules
First edition of Wade Peterson’s “VMEbus Handbook” is published.
VFEA (VMEbus & Futurebus+ Extended Architecture) emerges. VITA publishes next generation architecture requirements.
Paul Borrill (Sun Microsystems) leads the IEEE Futurebus working group.
US Navy awards first development contract for the Next Generation Computer Resources (NGCR) program with Futurebus+ (IEEE 896.1-1987) as backplane for mission critical computers. LCDR Harrison Beasley is lead for the NGCR program.
VITA commences working on the IEEE 1101.2 conduction cooling specification.
John Peters and Bill Mahussen (Performance Technologies) develop use of 64-bit MBLT cycles, present VME64 concept to VITA Technical Committee.
First Mil VME production contract awarded for joint US services TACJAM/CHAL-X program; first use of 10Base2 Ethernet as platform subsystem interconnect.
VITA Technical Committee begins Mezzanine Bus Project to attempt to add clarity to plethora of mezzanine choices.
Futurebus+ introduced February 13 in Long Beach, defining a migration path for VMEbus.
Ray Alderman joins VITA as Technical Director and Technical Committee Chairman.
Chris Eck (CERN) heads ORKID Working Group.
VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA) renamed VFEA International Trade Association to encompass VMEbus and Futurebus+ Extended Architecture efforts.
Sun Microsystems joins VITA and introduces its SPARCengine E 6U and 9U VME boards.
VME64 (1014 Rev. D) is introduced and submitted to IEEE, raising the theoretical bus speed from 40 MB/s to 80 MB/s. The PAR (Project Authorization Request) for P1014R (revisions to the VMEbus specification) was granted by the IEEE. Ray Alderman, Technical Director of VITA, co-chaired the activity with Kim Clohessy of DY 4 Systems (Nepean, Ontario, Canada).
Single board engine technology is pushed to new heights with the Motorola MVME167 CISC-based and MVME187 RISC-based engines.
Motorola introduces the MVME162 family of VME processor board using IndustryPacks for mezzanine modules.
The PowerPC microprocessor families are introduced.
VITA sponsors first Open Bus Systems (OBS) congress with exhibition in Paris.
VITA Technical Committee forms 3U VMEbus subcommittee chaired by Joseph Kreidl (PEP).
VITA Technical Committee forms Live Insertion subcommittee chaired by Ray Alderman.
Additional enhancements proposed to the VME64 Subcommittee placed in VITA subcommittee: the VME64 Extensions Document. Two other activities began in late 1992: (1) BLLI (VMEbus Board-level Live Insertion Specifications), and (2) VSLI (VMEbus System-level Live Insertion with Fault Tolerance).
VITA becomes a member of American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in June and applies for accreditation as ANSI Standards Body to facilitate development of open architecture standards.
Ixthos' ADSP-210xx DSP board.
Ariel's Hydra quad 'C40 VME board.
Mizar's quad 'C40 VME board.
Themis' SPARCstation2 VME board.
Cypress Semiconductor's VIC64 interface chipset.
Newbridge Microsystems markets SCV64 single chip VME64 interface.
At the end of 1992, the additional enhancements to VMEbus (A40/D32, Locked Cycles, Rescinding DTACK*, Autoslot-ID, Auto System Controller, and enhanced DIN connector mechanicals) required more work to complete this document. In 1992, the VITA Technical Committee suspended work with the IEEE and sought accreditation as a standards developer organization (SDO) with the American National Standards Institute. The original IEEE Par P1014R was subsequently withdrawn by the IEEE. The VITA Technical Committee returned to using the public domain VMEbus C.1 specification as its base level document to which it added new enhancements. This enhancement work was undertaken entirely by the VITA Technical Committee resulting in this document. The tremendous undertaking of the document editing was accomplished by Kim Clohessy of DY 4 Systems, the technical co-chair of the activity with great help from Frank Hom who created the mechanical drawings, and with exceptional contributions by each chapter editor.
VITA Standards Organization (VSO) formed out of the VITA Technical Committee.
VERO's VME64 backplane
Themis' 4-way SPARC 10 VME board.
PCI Mezzanine Card (PMC) introduced (IEEE P1386.1). Emerges out of efforts lead by Force Computers and Digital Equipment Corporation that marry up S-bus mechanicals with PCI bus.
DEC demonstrates PMC on Alpha VME board.
Sky Computer's SKYchannel architecture.
Myricom's Myrinet architecture.
Five-row DIN connector introduced, VMEbus pins increase from 96 to 160 on the P1 and P2 connectors.
VME selected for Lockheed's C130J.
William Perry introduces NDI initiative, which later morphs to COTS initiative.
US Navy's Tactical Advanced Computers (TAC4) project specifies VME.
VITA launches the VITA International Physics Alliance (VIPA) to address the special interests of the high-energy physics community of embedded computing users.
VME64 (ANSI/VITA 1) becomes the first VITA specification to receive ANSI approval. It defines the main body of the VMEbus specification and includes both 32-bit and 64-bit usage models.
SCSA (ANSI/VITA 6) is approved. It defines an isochronous backplane bus for telephony applications on the VMEbus P2 connector.
VITA reverts back to VMEbus International Trade Association.
Embedded Systems Software Environment (ESSE) movement launched by VITA.
www.vita.com goes live, bringing VITA to the Age of the Internet. The initial web site introduced the concept of virtual tradeshows for members to show their products.
VMEbus Technology is selected for the US Navy's JMCIS and AN/UYK-44 programs.
VMEbus Technology is selected for the Marine Corp's MAGTF Tactical Warfare Simulation (MTWS) project.
Board Level Live Insertion (ANSI/VITA 3) is approved. It defines several methodologies for using VMEbus modules in a live insertion framework.
IP Module (ANSI/VITA 4) defines the requirements for a business card sized mezzanine module. This was the first non-VMEbus standard to go through the new ANSI/VITA standards development process. The working group was chaired by Jerry Gipper (Motorola Computer Group), Editors were Kim Rubin (Greenspring Computers) and Joe Primeau (Acromag).
SKYchannel (ANSI/VITA 10) defines a packet switched cross bar interconnect that runs on the VMEbus P2 connector.
ANSI/VITA 13 is approved as a VMEbus Pin Assignment Standard that defines a pin assignment on VME for the Heterogeneous Interconnect protocol defined in IEEE 1355.
SBS Technologies and MEN Micro develop PC*MIP mezzanine card for VMEbus modules.
Drew Berding develops VME320 backplane.
Themis' UltraSPARC VME board.
VME64 Extensions (ANSI/VITA 1.1) is approved as an extension to the VME64 specification including the 160 pin connector, geographical addressing, and added power pins.
VME64x 9U x 400 mm Format (ANSI/VITA 1.3) - Defines a 9U x 400 mm board layout for use within the VMEbus framework.
M-Module (ANSI/VITA 12) - Defines a mezzanine module specification for small sized printed circuit boards.
VISION (ANSI/VITA 25) - Defines a software application interface for VMEbus modules.
Motorola introduces first VME platform to offer PC*MIP and PMC mezzanine slots.
Mercury Computer's RACE++
On Mars, Sagan Lander uses IBM and Lockheed Martin Federal Systems radiation hardened VME system.
Front Panel Data Port (ANSI/VITA 17) - Defines a point-to-point data interconnect that can be used with front panel Eurocard modules.
BusNet Media Access Control (ANSI/VITA 19.1) - Defines the media access control layer for use with the BusNet backplane software protocol.
BusNet Link Layer Control (ANSI/VITA 19.2) - Defines the link layer control layer for the Busnet backplane software protocol.
VMEbus International Physics Association, VIPA, (CERN, Fermilab, and labs in Japan) rolls out VME64 Extensions for Physics (ANSI/VITA 23) which defines a series of recommended practices for the use of VMEbus in the physics community.
Myrinet (ANSI/VITA 26) defines a packet switched interconnect protocol for implementation in a VMEbus environment.
1999
RACEway Interlink (ANSI/VITA 5.1) – Defines a high speed circuit switched point to point interconnect for use between VMEbus modules via the P2 connector.
First Bus and Boards Conference held in San Jose, California.
Keying for Conduction Cooled VME64x (ANSI/VITA 1.6) approved for VMEbus Technology.
2mm Connector Practice for Euroboard Systems (ANSI/VITA 30) - Defines the dimensions for Euroboard systems that use 2mm connectors.
PMC P4 (ANSI/VITA 35) provides pin assignments for PMC P4 connector to VME P0 and P2 connectors.
2001
Conduction Cooled PMC (ANSI/VITA 20) - Defines the mechanical requirements for compliance withconduction cooled PMC modules.
PC•MIP (ANSI/VITA 29) - Defines the mechanical form factor and the pin assignments for a small form factor mezzanine module based on the PCI bus.
Elwood Parsons (Tyco) elected VSO chair.
2002
2mm Connector Practice for Conduction Cooled Euroboard Systems (ANSI/VITA 30.1) - Defines the dimensions for conduction cooled Euroboards when using 2mm connectors.
2003
VPX, VITA 46 working groups launch new effort to define 6U/3U form factor boards and systems using the latest in switch serial fabrics.
2eSST (ANSI/VITA 1.5) - Defines VME protocol that allows data transfers of up to 320 Mbytes/second.
Increased Current DIN Connector (ANSI/VITA 1.7) - Describes increased current levels for 3 row DIN and 5 row DIN connectors when used with VMEbus.
Serial Front Panel Data Port (ANSI/VITA 17.1) - Defines "Serial FPDP", a high-speed low-latency serial communications protocol for use in high-speed data transfer applications, typically using a fiber optic link.
Gigabit Ethernet on VME64x Backplanes (ANSI/VITA 31.1) - Defines a pin assignment and interconnection methodology for implementing a 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet switched network on a VME64x backplane.
Processor PMC (ANSI/VITA 32) - Incorporates a set of extensions to the PMC standard, which creates a new class of Processor PMC cards.
VXS (VMEbus Switched Serial) standard (VITA 41 ratified.
IPMI (ANSI/VITA 38) - Describes a methodology for using IPMI for System Management of VME systems.
PCI-X for PMC and Processor PMC (ANSI/VITA 39) integrates the PCI-X bus capability from PCI bus to PMC based products.
Status Indicator Standard (ANSI/VITA 40) - Defines the colors, behaviors, placement, and labeling of service indicator lamps for boards, field replaceable units, and enclosures.
VITA holds its first CoolCON Advanced Cooling Technology Workshop to bring together users of embedded computers with cooling concerns.
2004
Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit safely land, giving VMEbus 100 percent market share on Mars.
VITA gains recognition by the IEC as a submitter of Industry Trade Agreements.
ANSI/VITA 47 defines environmental, design, construction, safety, and quality requirements for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) plug-in units intended for mobile applications.
The first Military Embedded Electronics and Computing Conference (MEECC) is organized by VITA for those engaged in the design, development, and support of electronics and computers in the military.
VMEbus International Trade Association shortened to VITA.
2006
The Opportunity and Spirit Mars rovers are still doing research on Mars, many months beyond their projected life cycles. Exhibits the durability, dependability and longevity of VMEbus Technology.
VMEbus celebrates 25 years of Excellence!
2007
VITA Standards Organization approves changes on disclosure and licensing of patents.
VITA modifies patent policy to reflect changes in ex-ante disclosures
VPX base standard ratified by ANSI
2008
FMC, VITA 57 is ratified. The FMC standard describes a new small form factor I/O mezzanine card that can be connected to all leading carrier board form factors.
XMC: Switched Mezzanine Card Base Specification was introduced bringing switch fabric interconnection to mezzanine cards for 3U and 6U.
Emerson Network Power purchased Motorola Computer Group.
2009
Mars rover Spirit goes silent on March 22, 2010. Total odometry last read 7,730.50 meters (4.80 miles).
VITA launches Open Architecture Review, a blog site for the embedded computing industry.
VITA members form VPX Marketing Alliance. This is the first of a new marketing alliance under the VITA umbrella. It is focused on marketing efforts exclusively on VPX.
Ivan Straznicky (Curtiss-Wright) elected VSO chair.
OpenVPX™ system specification ratified by VITA Standards Organization.
VITA Issues Call for Participation to research optical architectures.
VITA members form FMC Marketing Alliance, the second technology focus marketing alliane within VITA.
OpenVPX™ system specification standard reaches ANSI ratification.
VITA members form VXS Marketing Alliance, chaired by Justin Moll, Elma Electronics
VPX REDI (VITA 48) reaches ANSI ratification.
OpenVPX™ wins Electronic Design’s best Electronic Design award
2011
The Opportunity Mars rover is still doing research on Mars, many years beyond its projected life cycle. Total odometry is 16.59 miles (26.70 kilometers). Go VME!
VMEbus celebrates 30 years of excellence!
Dean Holman (Mercury Systems) elected VSO chair.
2012
VITA Launches VPX Supercomputing Working Group
Embedded Tech Trends launched, the Business and Technology Forum for Critical and Intelligent Embedded Systems.
2013
VITA Announces Jerry Gipper as Executive Director.
2014
VITA turns 30!
Opportunity is climbing 'Murray Ridge' up on Solander Point, part of the rim of Endeavour Crater. Total odometry is 24.07 miles (38.74 kilometers). Ten years since the 2004 launch and VME is still going strong!
Jing Kwok becomes VITA Technical Director.
John Rynearson and Lollie Wheeler retire.
Ray Alderman is elected to chair of VITA Board of Directors
Lym Hevle, founding executive director of the VMEbus International Trade Association (VITA) passed away in January.
2017
2018
The last communication from the Opportunity Mars rovers were received from Perseverance Valley on June 10. The rover surpassed all expectation by lasting for nearly 15 years, providing fascinating insights into our planetary neighbor and traveling 28 miles over its rugged terrain in the process.
