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Chapter 1
Introduction
The LCS Resource Subsystem is a rack mount drawer intended for installation in a Cubix LCS cabinet. This subsystem functions as the network communications center of the LCS system. Up to four LCS Resource Subsystems may be installed in a single LCS cabinet.
The Resource Subsystem is a passive backplane product available in several configurations. The concept of passive backplane technology is presented in the following section.
The Passive Backplane Concept
A typical computer has a motherboard with an expansion bus used for video, memory, or other Input/Output (I/O) boards. The motherboard's Central Processing Unit (CPU) controls these add-in cards. A passive backplane is a motherboard with the computer components removed, leaving only the expansion slots.
Figure 1-1) An ISA Passive Backplane with no CPU controlling it.
The passive backplane in the LCS Resource Subsystem is like a computer with no CPU. It is simply a row of standard 16-bit Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) expansion slots.
Segmented Passive Backplanes
All expansion slots in a passive backplane are interconnected with electronic traces, creating a bus. If these traces are removed, the backplane's expansion slots can be grouped into smaller independent backplanes, or segments.
Figure 1-2) A Backplane Divided Into Multiple Segments.
Combining Technologies
When a Cubix Bus Controller (BC) Series plug-in CPU card is inserted into one of the slots in the LCS Resource Subsystem, the backplane becomes a computer. The remaining expansion slots are used by the BC processor in the same way a standard motherboard would use its expansion slots.
Figure 1-3) A Passive Backplane with a CPU card being installed.
Cubix's BC Series 80x86-based processors include system memory, built-in floppy and hard drive controllers, keyboard controller, VGA support, and serial and parallel ports. By connecting drives, a monitor and a keyboard to the BC processor, a user has a complete AT-class PC. By adding a network interface controller (NIC) to the bus that the BC processor is controlling, it becomes a fully functional network workstation.
The LCS Resource Subsystem consists of a drawer with a standard ISA passive backplane divided into segments. Also included is a disk drive bay capable of housing at least one 3.5" disk drive per segment. Since the backplane is a standard ISA component, PC-compatible boards (such as network interface controllers) are supported. With a BC Series bus controller card and a network interface controller (NIC) inserted into each segment, the LCS Resource Subsystem can provide multiple network workstations in a single drawer.
The LCS Resource Subsystem can be configured for numerous network applications, such as:
Tape Backup Remote Communications Gateway to Mainframes CDROM Servers Database Servers Print Servers External Bridging Async Bridges Fax Servers RS 422 or RS 485 Communications Controllers LANMonitoring Software and Hardware
The applications are limited only by the number of available slots in each segment of the LCS Resource Subsystem.
The LCS Resource Subsystem is available in several configurations:
Resource One Figure 1-4 Front Panel.
A singlesegment 16-slot backplane. With a BC Series board installed, the Resource One is functionally equivalent to an AT-class computer with fifteen expansion slots. Eight disk drive bays and one drive opening are provided.
Resource Two Figure 1-5 Front Panel.
A 16-slot segmented backplane with two segments. One segment contains ten slots, and the other segment contains six slots. With a BC Series board installed in each segment, the Resource Two is functionally equivalent to two AT-class computers with multiple expansion slots. Eight disk drive bays and two drive openings are provided.
Resource Three Figure 1-6 Front Panel
A 12slot segmented backplane with three segments. Each segment has four slots. With a BC Series board installed in each segment, the Resource Three is functionally equivalent to three AT-class computers, each with three expansion slots. Six disk drive bays and three drive openings are provided.
Resource Four Figure 1-7 Front Panel.
A 12slot segmented backplane with four segments. Each segment contains three slots. With a BC Series board installed in each segment, the Resource Four is functionally equivalent to four AT-class computers, each with two expansion slots. Six disk drive bays and four drive openings are provided.
Resource Seven Figure 1-8 Front Panel.
A 16-slot segmented backplane with six individual segments of two slots, plus an additional four slot segment. With a BC Series board installed in each segment, the Resource Seven is functionally equivalent to six AT-class computers with one expansion slot plus one additional computer with three expansion slots. Eight disk drive bays and seven drive openings are provided.
Resource Eight Figure 1-9 Front Panel.
A 16-slot segmented backplane with eight individual segments of two slots each. With a BC Series board installed in each segment, the Resource Eight is functionally equivalent to eight AT-class computers, each with one expansion slot. Eight disk drive bays and eight drive openings are provided.
Table 1-1
Configuration Summary
Description Total Number of Slots per 3.5"
3.5"
Slots Segments Segment Disk
Drive
Bays Openings
Resource 16 1 16 8
1
One
Resource 16 2 One 10- 8
2
Two slot
segment;
One 6-slot
segment
Resource 12 3 4 6
3
Three
Resource 12 4 3 6
4
Four
Resource 16 7 Six 2-slot 8
7
Seven segments;
One 4-slot
segment
Resource 16 8 2 8
8
Eight
Practically any application that requires a workstation on the LAN can be run from a properlyconfigured LCS Resource Subsystem. Monitors, keyboards, and other I/O equipment can be connected to any of the segments in the subsystem.
The following figures compare a Resource Three subsystem with three workstation PCs.
Figure 1-10 Resource Three Subsystem.
Figure 1-11 Three PC Equivalent Subsystem.
This document, and all Web contents, Copyright © 1997
by Cubix Corp., Carson City, NV, USA.
