Power Architecture Platform Reference
Encyclopedia
Power Architecture Platform Reference (PAPR) is an initiative from Power.org
to make a new open computing platform based on Power Architecture
technology. It follows two previous attempts made in the 1990s, PReP
and CHRP
.
The PAPR specification provides the foundation for development of standard Power Architecture computers running the Linux
operating system. PAPR is Power.org's move toward what IBM did originally with PReP, in that it defines a common hardware definition and software/firmware platform under a set of requirements. In practice the PAPR is an extension to the Open Firmware
specification.
Wind River
led the Power.org sub-committee working on an embedded specification known as ePAPR,http://www.power.org/news/pr/view?item_key=c334a9c9ada24374e3aed03fc202b80dde27c71b that was ratified in July 2008. In October 2011, an updated specification was released, the ePAPR v1.1 to clarify and add a new chapter on virtualization.
Power.org
Power.org is an organization whose purpose is to develop, enable and promote Power Architecture technology. The objective is to establish open standards, guidelines, best practices and certifications regarding Power Architecture, as well as drive adoption of the platform.Power.org was founded in...
to make a new open computing platform based on Power Architecture
Power Architecture
Power Architecture is a broad term to describe similar RISC instruction sets for microprocessors developed and manufactured by such companies as IBM, Freescale, AMCC, Tundra and P.A. Semi...
technology. It follows two previous attempts made in the 1990s, PReP
PowerPC Reference Platform
PowerPC Reference Platform was a standard system architecture for PowerPC based computer systems developed at the same time as the PowerPC processor architecture...
and CHRP
Common Hardware Reference Platform
Common Hardware Reference Platform was a standard system architecture for PowerPC based computer systems published jointly by IBM and Apple in 1995. Like its predecessor PReP, it was conceptualized as a design to allow various operating systems to run on an industry standard hardware platform,...
.
The PAPR specification provides the foundation for development of standard Power Architecture computers running the Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
operating system. PAPR is Power.org's move toward what IBM did originally with PReP, in that it defines a common hardware definition and software/firmware platform under a set of requirements. In practice the PAPR is an extension to the Open Firmware
Open Firmware
Open Firmware, or OpenBoot in Sun Microsystems parlance, is a standard defining the interfaces of a computer firmware system, formerly endorsed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . It originated at Sun, and has been used by Sun, Apple, IBM, and most other non-x86 PCI chipset...
specification.
Wind River
Wind River Systems
Wind River Systems, Inc. is a company providing embedded systems, development tools for embedded systems, middleware, and other types of software. The company was founded in Berkeley, California in 1981 by Jerry Fiddler and David Wilner. On June 4, 2009, Wind River announced that Intel had bought...
led the Power.org sub-committee working on an embedded specification known as ePAPR,http://www.power.org/news/pr/view?item_key=c334a9c9ada24374e3aed03fc202b80dde27c71b that was ratified in July 2008. In October 2011, an updated specification was released, the ePAPR v1.1 to clarify and add a new chapter on virtualization.
Compliant boards
- IBM JS20/21 - PowerPC 970FX/MPPowerPC 970The PowerPC 970, PowerPC 970FX, PowerPC 970GX, and PowerPC 970MP, are 64-bit Power Architecture processors from IBM introduced in 2002. When used in Apple Inc. machines, they were dubbed the PowerPC G5....
based server bladesBlade serverA blade server is a stripped down server computer with a modular design optimized to minimize the use of physical space and energy. Whereas a standard rack-mount server can function with a power cord and network cable, blade servers have many components removed to save space, minimize power...
.