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Introduction to the SCOPE Alliance SCOPE is an alliance of the worlds leading NEPs founded in January 2006. Its mission is to promote open carrier grade base platforms (CGBP) based on commercial off- the-shelf (COTS) hardware/software and Free Open Source Software (FOSS) building blocks. It specifically promotes interoperability to better serve Service Providers. In short, SCOPE wants to create a thriving ecosystem of suppliers and users for the CGBP industry by encouraging and facilitating the fast adoption of open specifications. This ecosystem will enable its participants to better serve their customers by bringing innovative new products and solutions to the market faster than is currently possible. By leveraging COTS and FOSS building blocks, Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) will be able to focus their resources on providing their customers with best-in-breed solutions, systems, applications, and services, without having to develop and manufacture the building blocks on their own. To date, the industry has developed a wide range of specifications. Consequently, developers and suppliers of building blocks and platforms need a guide to help companies select which one are mature and possible to implement at minimal risk. SCOPE is that guide. SCOPE will first identify the relevant interfaces and building blocks necessary to implement the base platform. It will then profile them (i.e., develop relevant subsets) and publish and promote the profiles to provide the industry with clear focus and direction. SCOPE is taking a phased approach, starting with the more mature areas. In areas where an open architecture, interface specifications, or required features are missing, SCOPE plans to identify gaps. Individual member companies can then work with specification organizations to address them. SCOPE’s initial goals were to publish a hardware profile based on PICMG’s AdvancedTCA (completed), an operating system profile based on OSDL Carrier Grade Linux (completed), a base platform middleware profile based on Service Availability (SA) Forum specifications (in process), and further PICMG profiles about AdvancedMC and MicroTCA (in process). SCOPE published version 1.0 of the AdvancedTCA profile on March 30, 2006. Its main purpose is to create a solid competitive environment for common building blocks, and avoid having a fragmented market in the control and service plane sectors. This profile provides guidelines to standardization bodies and to vendors who want to migrate away from proprietary solutions to PICMG’s open standards-based platform, AdvancedTCA. This first release of the document prioritizes the interchangeability of boards within the control and service planes. It also helps the adopters of AdvancedTCA� by identifying features important to telecom equipment providers. SCOPE has identified a subset of features from the AdvancedTCA specification that address most service and control applications of the telecom market’s needs. Equipment vendors can use this profile to develop products in phases, yet generate revenue with AdvancedTCA formally. Besides NEPs, the document is targeted at telecommunication industry providers, particularly hardware vendors, manufacturers of blade-level and shelf building blocks, base platform integrators, and anyone building Advanced TCA-based components Visit www.scope-alliance.org to download the ATCA profile or learn more about SCOPE. Magnus Karlson is an Expert in Open Systems Software Architecture at Ericsson AB in Group Function R&D, Platforms & Common Technologies. His work focuses on platform standardization and strategies. He has participated in several standardization initiatives and open source related activities. Magnus is currently Chairman of the Board for the SCOPE Alliance. He is also chair of the SA Forum Technical Work Group as well as a board member. Magnus holds a B.S. in system analysis from the University of Stockholm, Sweden. |