Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!xylogics!kriger
From: kriger@Xylogics.COM (Sidney Kriger)
Newsgroups: comp.periphs.scsi
Subject: Re: What is Intelligent Peripheral Interface (IPI)?
Keywords: ANSI, X3T9, packets, parallel bus, IPI
Message-ID: <10228@xenna.Xylogics.COM>
Date: 9 Nov 90 20:36:45 GMT
References: <1990Nov6.025820.15552@csusac.csus.edu>
Reply-To: kriger@Xylogics.COM (Sidney Kriger)
Followup-To: comp.periphs.scsi
Distribution: na
Organization: Xylogics, Inc., Burlington MA
Lines: 24

IPI-2 is a device level disk interface.  Fujitsu, Hitachi, NEC and Seagate
all make IPI-2 disk drives.  Drives now exist with transfer rates up to
6 MB/sec and soon up to 9 MB/sec.  Silicon Graphics, Solbourne and Sun all 
offer systems with IPI-2 disk subsystems now.  Xylogics makes IPI-2 disk 
controllers for VMEbus systems.

IPI-3 is a device generic interface (like SCSI).  It has not made it very
far in the marketplace.  I'm not sure of any OEMs using IPI-3.  Little third 
party activity has evolved.  IPI-3 is what you are referring to when you 
mention "packets".  Some companies are investigating using the "protocol" 
of IPI-3 over HPPI or fiber-channel "like a network".

The standards have all been approved.  The committee still exists and is 
working on extending the standard beyond the original 10 MB/sec physical
limits and on adding features (ZBR and buffering on drives, etc.).

Sidney Kriger

Xylogics, Inc.             voice:  617-272-8140 
53 Third Ave.              fax:    617-273-5392
Burlington, MA  01803      email:  kriger@Xylogics.COM

They don't know that I know how to post, so I'm sure they can't
be responsible for what I post, when for them it doesn't even exist.