"Addressing interoperability head-on is very important. It is the number one reason TEMs (telecom equipment manufacturers) aren't reaching the mainstream market for standards-based communications platforms. Once this is tackled, other challenges such as availability and management can be effectively addressed. By developing a consistent methodology for interoperability testing, CP-TA is a logical choice to take on these challenges and help deliver the promise of interoperability that has been unfilled to date." -- Brian Partridge, Senior Analyst, Communications Network Infrastructure, Yankee Group				Frequently Asked Questions What is the Communications Platforms Trade Association? The Communications Platforms Trade Association (http://www.cp-ta.org/) is a global organization comprised of companies dedicated to accelerating the adoption of open specification-based xTCA communications platforms through interoperability compliance guidelines and member advocacy. What is CP-TA's Mission? The mission of CP-TA is to drive the market expansion of open specification-based xTCA communications platforms by actively cultivating a global ecosystem that delivers interoperable xTCA products. To achieve this mission, CP-TA will... Develop xTCA interoperability compliance and test procedure documents recommended for verifying product interoperability. Base xTCA interoperability compliance guidelines on specifications and profiles developed by PICMG®, Service Availability Forum™, SCOPE Alliance, and The Linux Foundation. Foster industry preference for interoperable xTCA building blocks and tools from CP-TA member companies through proactive marketing programs. Who are CP-TA’s members? CP-TA members span the Telecom, Military, Aerospace, and Data Center markets and can include communications platforms companies, building block vendors, and service providers (operators). CP-TA’s members currently include: ADLINK, Advantech, Continuous Computing, Emerson Network Power, ENEA, Intel, Interphase, Kontron, PFU, Polaris Networks, RadiSys, Shanghai B-Star, and Simclar. What is the scope of CP-TA? The scope of CP-TA is to provide interoperability test procedures and requirements based on existing open specifications from PICMG, the Service Availability Forum (SA Forum) and the Linux Foundation and on system-level profiles developed by the SCOPE Alliance. During the past three years CP-TA has focused on interoperability requirements for ATCA; the charter has recently been broadened to include all of xTCA, including ATCA, MicroTCA, and AMCs. What is the relationship between CP-TA, SCOPE Alliance, PICMG and other organizations? CP-TA is working with the SCOPE Alliance, PICMG, the SA Forum, the Linux Foundation and other industry organizations that support the goals of CP-TA. As described above, CP-TA has developed interoperability testing requirements and test methodologies and procedures based on the profiles created by SCOPE Alliance and specifications developed by PICMG, the SA Forum and other standards development organizations. What are the deliverables of CP-TA? CP-TA members have developed an Interoperability Compliance Document (ICD) and test suites that define objective and verifiable interoperability criteria. CP-TA develops interoperability test requirements coupled with detailed test procedures, and supported by industry-harmonized automated test suites and benchmarks. These test requirements are based on existing open specifications from the SA Forum, PICMG and the Linux Foundation and on system-level profiles developed by the SCOPE Alliance. Periodic CP-TA-sponsored or CP-TA endorsed Interoperability Plugfests provide a confidential environment for the industry ecosystem members to harmonize the execution of automated test suites, as well as offer a true multi-vendor environment for enhanced interoperability testing. The ICD 3.0 is available for download at www.cp-ta.org/interoperability/icd. The Test Procedure Manual is also available for download at www.cp-ta.org/interoperability/tpm. How does CP-TA define interoperability? For CP-TA, interoperability is defined as the ability of a communications platform or building block to operate in the intended environment, exchange information with another system or product, and use that information without special effort by the customer. CP-TA has helped to create an environment of multi-vendor interoperability by making open specifications-based communications platforms a compelling alternative to proprietary architectures. Interoperability requires a common test environment that serves as a benchmark to compare communications platforms building blocks. Will CP-TA certify products? No. Service Providers, Network Equipment Providers, and industry ecosystem members have all been clear in stating that they prefer to self-test and self-certify according to CP-TA interoperability compliance guidelines rather than a formal CP-TA certification process which would add additional time and expense to product development and deployment. What is the CP-TA structure? CP-TA is made up of three working groups with specific responsibilities for meeting the organization's overall objectives. The Technical Work Group is responsible for determining interoperability requirements and test plans. The Compliance Work Group is responsible for developing test procedures, compliance test tools, organizing plugfests. The Marketing Work Group is responsible for creating CP-TA awareness and driving RFQ pull from Network Equipment Providers and Service Providers for interoperable xTCA building blocks. How do Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) benefit from CP-TA? CP-TA-compliant products enable NEPs to have greater economies of scale, faster time-to-market, and lower xTCA integration costs. More specifically, CP-TA’s work helps NEPs simplify the xTCA selection process, increase supply chain flexibility, increase predictability of successful xTCA product integration, and reduce lifecycle management costs. NEPs benefit from increased xTCA building block interoperability, innovation, and ecosystem competition that enables them to build and deploy new products faster and less expensively. For example, CP-TA completed a proof of concept demonstration comparing integration time based on CP-TA tested hardware components versus non-tested components. The exercise showed that integration time for CP-TA tested components was only 25% of that required to integrate non-tested components – a 75% time savings. A white paper outlining the process for the exercise and the detailed results can be found here. How do Service Providers (Operators) benefit from CP-TA? CP-TA-compliant products enable service providers to have more supplier choice for xTCA solutions, faster time-to-revenue, and lower operational costs. More generally, operators benefit directly from equipment built from open xTCA specifications with greater interoperability, manageability, and availability. Service providers are able to increase the flexibility of their networks as well as realize faster time-to-revenue with new, innovative services and lower operational costs. How do xTCA ecosystem members benefit from CP-TA? As a result of CP-TA’s interoperability and advocacy work, xTCA ecosystem members enjoy broader awareness of xTCA products, faster xTCA component adoption, and lower testing and development costs. For CP-TA member companies in particular, they enjoy stronger influence on xTCA interoperability guidelines; higher credibility with customers, partners, and suppliers; and greater exposure within the communications industry. Why join CP-TA? There are numerous reasons for joining CP-TA, which offers its members many opportunities to participate and benefit: Lead.  We are leading the industry to improve xTCA product interoperability and fulfill the promise of open specification-based communications platforms. As a CP-TA member, you will help drive technical work group activities for interoperability compliance guidelines optimized for the telecommunications, data center, military, and aerospace communities. Advocate. Our active marketing work group provides a strong voice in the xTCA industry. With targeted activities throughout the year including webinars, press and analyst outreach, exhibits and speaking slots at industry events, online awareness, and our very own blog, CP-TA magnifies and complements members’ own in-house marketing programs. Learn. CP-TA includes some of the communications ecosystem’s brightest minds on important and relevant xTCA interoperability topics such as thermals, manageability, and data transport. We provide an engaging forum for members to exchange ideas, identify gaps, implement solutions, and share best practices from across markets and around the world. Succeed. Our members enjoy more opportunities for exposure and influence via technical work groups, marketing campaigns, industry-wide plugfests, and collaboration with other organizations. If success means more xTCA business opportunities, a higher industry profile, and tangible return on investment, then CP-TA membership is for you. Join us! How do I join CP-TA? It’s easy! Spanning the Telecom, Military, Aerospace, and Data Center markets, CP-TA welcomes communications platforms, building block, and service providers (operators) as members. Membership information can be found at www.cp-ta.org/join/apply.