Industrial Approved Mainboards Issue October 2005 Pages 8 Contents 1. Company profile 2. Mainboards from Fujitsu Siemens Computers 2.1. Portfolio 2.1.1. Desktop Series 2.1.2. Extended Lifetime Series 2.1.3. Industrial Series 2.1.3.1. Additional hardware functions 2.1.3.2. Additional documentation 2.1.3.3. Additional software tools 2.2. Overview 3. Industrial mainboards 3.1. Special features 3.2. Lifecycle Management / Revision Control Process (ECN+) 3.3. Made in Germany 3.3.1. Quality 3.3.1.1. System competence 3.3.1.2. Design, materials and production 3.3.2. Logistics 3.4. Ecology 3.5. Technical support 4. References 5. Additional services 5.1. Certification options in our own test center 5.2. Flow simulation / thermosimulation 6. International awards 7. Links 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 White Paper Issue: October 2005 Industrial Approved Mainboards Page 2 / 8 1. Company profile Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Europe's leading computer company, provides one of the world's most comprehensive product and solution portfolios. Market-leading IT products meet the requirements of business and private customers alike. The company maintains a presence in all the key markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and operates independent sales companies in most countries. Fujitsu Siemens Computers is a joint venture between Siemens AG and Fujitsu Limited and benefits from the combined strengths and innovation power of its parent companies. 2. Mainboards from Fujitsu Siemens Computers In the interests of achieving the highest quality standards, Fujitsu Siemens Computers develops and manufactures the core of every PC system, the mainboard, itself. Its Augsburg factory is the home of one of the world's most advanced production facilities for mainboards. In this way we guarantee our customers short delivery time, the highest product quality, environmentally conscious manufacturing processes and products, as well as excellent support in combination with innovative product features. These mainboards are also sold as OEM components. 2.1. Portfolio Fujitsu Siemens Computers offers three different mainboard series to fulfill the requirements of the widest range of customers. 2.1.1. Desktop Series The mainboards from the Desktop Series offer reliable and proven quality at an attractive price over an availability lifecycle of up to 24 months. Two model series are available to suit different customer requirements: Premium: Premium mainboards provide exactly the right platform for customers with a need for comprehensive functionality, manageability and quiet systems. The intelligent "Silent Fan" technology in particular reduces unnecessary noise from rotating fans to a necessary minimum ­ entirely without additional costs for expensive housings and fans. Value: Value mainboards offer an optimum price/performance ratio for standard requirements. As well as a basic functionality, these boards, too, feature a simplified but perfectly efficient form of fan control (Silent Fan LT). 2.1.2. Extended Lifetime Series Selected models from the Standard Desktop Series are additionally offered with their availability extended by up to 24 months. The focus here is on mainboards based on so-called "corporate stable" and embedded chipsets from Intel® (e.g. Intel 945G). 2.1.3. Industrial Series The Industrial Series comprises special variants of selected mainboards from the Extended Lifetime Series. The Industrial Series mainboards combine a host of advantages: on the one hand they boast the same high product maturity and manufacturing quality of the mass-produced basic variant, and on the other hand they take account of the special requirements that apply in industrial applications. Industrial Series mainboards also provide special hardware and service features as well as comprehensive software tools. At the same time they are pitched at price levels far below those of pure-bred industrial mainboards from other manufacturers ­ without having to make performance concessions in the process. 2.1.3.1. Additional hardware functions To guarantee optimum performance and reliability, all mainboards of the Industrial Series feature SATA RAID (modes 0/1/10/5) and Native Command Queuing (NCQ / AHCI support). A second serial interface on the board ensures backward compatibility. The use of "longlife" capacitors together with generous dimensioning of the components guarantees an extended lifespan even in continuous operation. What's more, the tin-coated printed circuit board improves corrosion resistance compared with conventional silver-coated printed circuit boards. 2.1.3.2. Additional documentation To facilitate certifications, extensive specifications and circuit diagrams are available for all mainboards of the Industrial Series. To enable easy integration into customer systems, Fujitsu Siemens Computers supplies scale drawings of the mainboards and ­ on request ­ also 3D models. 2.1.3.3. Additional software tools An array of software tools is available for adapting the Industrial Series mainboards to customer-specific systems. This includes, for example, configuration tools for customizing and optimizing the onboard fan control. Fujitsu Siemens Computers also supplies a programming interface (API) for the FSC-developed Onboard Management Controller. This allows its functions to be conveniently integrated into customer-specific tools. Other tools for customizing the BIOS, including, for example, for integrating a customer logo (BIOS logo), setting default values and editing the SMBIOS (e.g. entering serial numbers), are also made available. The software package is completed by a set of tools for comprehensive system diagnosis. White Paper Issue: October 2005 Industrial Approved Mainboards Page 3 / 8 2.2. Overview Extended Lifetime Series Standard Desktop Series Industrial Series Special features Documentation: - Data sheet (technical data) - Manual - Handling tips and advice - General information Tools: - Drivers & Utilities CD (SystemGuard, etc.) - BIOS updates Availability up to 24 months Extended availability up to 48 months Additional hardware functions e.g. second serial interface, SATA RAID Additional documentation e.g. mainboard specifications, scale drawings Additional software tools e.g. for customizing Silent Fan and BIOS, system diagnosis White Paper Issue: October 2005 Industrial Approved Mainboards Page 4 / 8 3. Industrial mainboards 3.1. Special features Fujitsu Siemens Computers mainboards boast an abundance of unique features which offer numerous benefits to our customers both in the desktop and in the industrial sector. Feature Silent Fan A microcontroller developed by Fujitsu Siemens Computers controls both processor and system fans in accordance with the temperature conditions determined via various onboard sensors and a diode directly in the CPU. System Guard A Software Control Center displays temperatures, fan speeds and voltages and provides options for fan control adjustments and for setting a watchdog. Customer benefits · · · · · · · · · · · · Stable operation without failures caused by overheating Hardware- and BIOS-controlled and so independent of the operating system Extremely quiet PC without extra costs for expensive housings or fans Temperature-controlled fans reduce power consumption 100% control over the PC thanks to display of all operationally relevant performance data Watchdog guarantees reliable continuous availability Individual adjustment of the noise level API enables the readout data to be used for customer-own software BIOS-controlled and so independent of the operating system Longer life cycle of hardware by smoothly operation modes Simple reduction in drive noise (HDD, CD) without additional tools Customer-friendly, extensive, fast and error-free driver update with only one reboot operation Silent Drives Drive noise is reduced considerably by gentler selection of the read/write head on hard disks and speed reduction on optical drives. Desk Update Driver update via CD or internet. Recovery BIOS Defective BIOS contents restored with ease. can be · · · Risk-free BIOS flashing No mainboard replacement required if the BIOS is defective, thereby reducing service costs Fast and reliable availability with reduced power consumption Safe Standby Standby mode (Save-to-RAM) is protected automatically (backup to HDD). HDD Password Every hard disk can be protected by an individual password. · · 100% data security, even if the HDD is stolen Operating system-independent protection thanks to BIOS password 3.2. Lifecycle Management / Revision Control Process (ECN+) In addition to Extended Lifetime, a special LifeCycle Management function is available for mainboards of the Industrial Series. This includes information about technical changes and BIOS updates, as well as a regular roadmap with early announcements of Last-Assured-Order (LAO) and End-of-Life (EOL) deadlines. A further feature of the Industrial Series is what is referred to as the Revision Control Process (ECN+). With this, customers are given timely warning in advance of necessary hardware changes. When a change is announced, samples of the updated mainboard can be made available. This ensures that possible hardware and software modifications can be tested and carried out in advance of a mainboard change. It also ensures trouble-free use of the mainboard over its entire lifecycle. This means that the Fujitsu Siemens Computers industrial mainboard series provides a high level of revision stability while at the same time assuring long availability of up to four years. The ECN+ process is an optional chargeable service for the Industrial Series mainboards from Fujitsu Siemens Computers and has to be agreed in advance between the end customer, the partner and Fujitsu Siemens Computers. The ECN process, which provides early notification of changes, but supplies no samples, is available free of charge to every industrial customer. White Paper Issue: October 2005 Industrial Approved Mainboards Page 5 / 8 3.3. Made in Germany Fujitsu Siemens Computers mainboards are developed and manufactured in Germany. This not only guarantees high quality, but also, in addition, ecological production processes, short delivery paths and lead times, and a reliable supply source. 3.3.1. Quality Fujitsu Siemens Computers mainboards guarantee assured quality and low failure rates. 3.3.1.1. System competence Compared to dedicated mainboard manufacturers, Fujitsu Siemens Computers is a leading IT company with a complete product portfolio, ranging from handhelds to storage systems. Based on its own experience over many years and that of its two parents Fujitsu Ltd. and Siemens AG, Fujitsu Siemens Computers develops a consistently innovative, customer-centric range of information technologies tailored to current needs. In addition to our own wealth of experience, we can draw on the know-how of world-leading technology, software and service partners. 3.3.1.2. Design, materials and production The quality of a mainboard is primarily determined by the design, the materials used and the production process. As early as in the design phase, an experienced development team assures quality continuity by always taking into account the know-how gained over many years from past mainboard generations. Intelligent design tools, generous component dimensioning geared to reliability and longevity, together with extensive simulations and release tests round off the quality concept already in the design phase. To increase production quality, the design aims to achieve the highest possible level of automation as well as a systematic reduction in the number of components. For example, around 25% fewer components are used on Fujitsu Siemens Computers mainboards than on comparable Asian products. Fewer components mean a lower risk of failure. Moreover, to ensure our products meet the highest quality standards, we insist on the exclusive use of components from prominent and leading manufacturers as well as strict compliance with an "Approved Vendor List". An extremely high automation level of 95% minimizes human errors and also guarantees highest levels of reliability. All the components are soldered in a nitrogen atmosphere. This helps achieve the most reliable soldered connections and also serves to avoid environmentally harmful cleaning processes. 3.3.2. Logistics "Location Germany" as our operating base not only secures European jobs, but also offers a host of logistical advantages to our customers. By producing mainboards in the heart of Europe we can guarantee short delivery paths with low transportation costs and a reliable supply source owing to the independence of the production operation from the Far East. 3.4. Ecology Environmentally conscious production processes and a sense of responsibility toward our environment have been cornerstones of the Fujitsu Siemens Computers corporate ...