PIGEON POINT SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF HOT SWAP KIT FOR LINUX

Pigeon Point Systems announced today, at the Bus&Board/2002 Conference, the immediate availability of the Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit (HSK) for Linux. HSK for Linux augments the Linux 2.4 kernel to add support for inserting and removing (hot swapping") CompactPCI® peripheral boards without powering down the system.

LONG BEACH, CA, JANUARY 21, 2002. Pigeon Point Systems announced today, at the Bus&Board/2002 Conference, the immediate availability of the Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit (HSK) for Linux. HSK for Linux augments the Linux 2.4 kernel to add support for inserting and removing (hot swapping") CompactPCI® peripheral boards without powering down the system. Hot swap support is a key enabler for using Linux in high availability CompactPCI-based applications such as telecommunications, where maximizing system up-time" is critical. HSK for Linux takes full advantage of the strengthened PCI device support in the Linux 2.4 kernel; any device drivers that implement Linux 2.4s new PCI device driver model are inherently hot swap capable.

Users of the Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit for Windows have consistently requested comparable functionality under the Linux operating system, emphasizing three key attributes: 1) compatibility with the new Linux 2.4 PCI device support, 2) independence from any particular embedded distribution of Linux, and 3) an equivalent commitment to PICMG specification compliance, forward-looking architecture and thoroughly validated quality," said Mark Overgaard, President of Pigeon Point Systems. The Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit for Linux delivers those attributes and is now in the process of being deployed by those customers. In addition, HSK for Linux is ready for evolutions of the CompactPCI architecture based on high-speed PCI-compatible switch fabric technologies, such as StarGens StarFabric and PLX Technologies GigaBridge. The generalized treatment of system PCI topologies in HSK for Linux anticipates the rich system architectures enabled by switched PCI."

Pigeon Point Systems is a recognized expert in the software aspects of CompactPCI hot swap. The Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit for Linux is a welcome addition to their well-regarded HSK for Windows product," observed Joe Pavlat, of Cypress Point Research and President of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG-developer of the CompactPCI specifications). We see a bright future for switched PCI as an evolutionary step for the CompactPCI architecture because it leverages current technology while enabling benefits in scalability, high availability and flexibility. With Pigeon Point Systems deep experience in switched PCI software, we expect the initial and follow-on releases of their HSK products to provide valuable ingredients for realizing these benefits."

We and our customers welcome Pigeon Point Systems' expertise and breadth of hot swap infrastructure offerings supporting PLX's GigaBridge switched PCI architecture," noted Mike Hopwood, Vice President of Sales and Business Development at PLX Technology. The GigaBridge-aware HSK products that Pigeon Point Systems is developing will help our customers realize the well-known benefits of switch fabrics in a cost-effective, evolutionary way."

The Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit for Linux augments the Linux 2.4 kernel in two ways. First, HSK for Linux adds compatible extensions to the PCI subsystem of the kernel (such as support for adding and removing complete PCI device sub-trees) that are crucial to comprehensive support for dynamic PCI environments of any sort. Second, HSK for Linux adds modules that interface that dynamic PCI support to the specifics of CompactPCI. Linux 2.4, when augmented in these ways, complies with the General Use requirements of the Hot Swap Specification (PICMG 2.1 R2.0). The CompactPCI-specific modules are adaptable across CompactPCI hardware platforms and boards using APIs compliant with the Hot Swap Infrastructure Interface Specification (PICMG 2.12 R1.0). Pigeon Point Systems chairs the Software Interoperability subcommittee responsible for that specification.

Free evaluation versions of the Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kits for Linux and Windows are available. Please visit www.pigeonpoint.com to request an HSK evaluation copy and for other useful material, including a Technical Brief on the HSK for Linux.

About Pigeon Point Systems
Pigeon Point Systems (PPS) provides products and services that support the conversion of Internet and other communications infrastructure to the use of open, highly leveraged platforms such as CompactPCI, including variant architectures based on switched PCI. The first of those products, the Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit, is immediately available to CompactPCI vendors and users to enable hot swap for Windows 2000/XP and Linux on their platforms. Pigeon Point Hot Swap Kit technology has been licensed by Microsoft for inclusion in Windows XP Embedded and by leading CompactPCI platform and board vendors. PPS chairs the Software Interoperability subcommittee and is active in many other technical subcommittees of PICMG. For more information about PPS, visit their web site at www.pigeonpoint.com or call their headquarters at 831-438-1565.

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Pigeon Point Systems and Hot Swap Kit are trademarks of Pigeon Point Systems. PICMG and CompactPCI are registered trademarks of the PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.