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Motorola MVME162-222 68040 25MHz VME Embedded Controller

  • Model: MVME162-222
  • Brand: Motorola
  • Series: Motorola MVME162 Embedded Controller
  • Core Function: Industrial real-time embedded controller with floating-point + network
  • Product Type: VME single board computer (SBC) / embedded controller
  • Key Specs: 25 MHz MC68040, 4MB DRAM, 512KB SRAM, 4× EIA-232 serial ports
  • ⚠️ Obsolete Model – Limited Stock Available
  • Condition: New surplus / refurbished (tested)
Categories: , , , , SKU: MVME162-222 Brand:

Description

Key Technical Specifications

Parameter Specification
Manufacturer Motorola (Motorola Embedded Computing)
Model Number MVME162-222
Processor MC68040 (25 MHz)
L1 Cache 8 KB
MMU Yes (Memory Management Unit)
FPU Yes (Floating Point Unit)
DRAM 4 MB parity-protected DRAM
SRAM 512 KB with battery backup
Flash Memory 1 MB (on-board monitor/debugger)
NVRAM 8K × 8 with time-of-day clock + battery backup
Serial Ports 4× EIA-232-D DTE ports
IndustryPack Slots 2 ports for I/O module expansion
Optional Interfaces SCSI (32-bit local bus burst DMA), Ethernet (32-bit local bus DMA)
Timers 6× 32-bit timers + 1 watchdog timer
VMEbus Interface VME64 (dual-high board), A16/A24/A32 addressing, D8/D16/D32 data widths
System Controller Yes (supports system controller functionality)
Operating Systems VxWorks, LynxOS, OS-9 (real-time OS)
On-Board Debugger Yes (diagnostic firmware included)
Form Factor 6U VME (dual-high)
Dimensions 233 mm (H) × 160 mm (D) × 17 mm (T)
Weight ~1000 g
Applications Power, petrochemical, rail transit, semiconductor equipment, industrial automation
Origin USA

 

Product Introduction

Motorola MVME162-222 is an embedded controller built around the 25 MHz MC68040 microprocessor with floating-point unit and MMU for industrial real-time control and data acquisition. It is part of the MVME162 series, known for reliability and versatility in embedded systems.

This board features 4MB parity-protected DRAM, 512KB battery-backed SRAM, 1MB flash, and four EIA-232-D serial ports. It supports VxWorks, LynxOS, and OS-9 real-time operating systems, making it suitable for power, petrochemical, rail transit, semiconductor equipment, and industrial automation applications. The MVME162-222 is a dual-high VME64 board with system controller functionality and optional SCSI/Ethernet DMA interfaces.

MVME162-222
MVME162-222
MVME162-222
MVME162-222

 

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

Symptom Possible Cause Relevance to this Part Quick Check Method Recommendation
System will not boot SBC fault or poor VME backplane seating ✅ High Power down, reseat board, inspect VME connector pins for damage Replace if boot failure follows the board
No POST or console output CPU fault, memory failure, or flash corruption ✅ High Check front-panel LEDs, measure 5V/±12V rails, read diagnostic buffer Replace if CPU does not initialize
Random crashes or lockups Memory parity error or overheating CPU ✅ High Monitor CPU temperature, run memory test if software available Improve cooling or replace if errors persist
Serial communication failure on all ports Serial controller fault or power issue ✅ High Test with loopback connector, check 5V rail stability Replace if all ports fail loopback test
One or two serial ports dead Port driver failure or cable fault ✅ Medium Swap cables, test with known-good device on same port Replace board if multiple ports fail with good cables
SRAM data lost on power cycle Battery dead or SRAM circuit fault ✅ Medium Check battery voltage (should be ~3V), verify NVRAM contents Replace battery first; if data still lost, replace board
Board overheats Failed thermal path or CPU overload ✅ High Thermal check after power-up; verify heatsink contact and airflow Replace if overheating continues with proper cooling

If you are stuck, contact technical support with photos of the board, front-panel LEDs, VME connector, and system diagnostic logs.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is MVME162-222 a direct replacement for my existing board?
A: Only if your system uses the exact same model (MVME162-222). The processor speed (25 MHz MC68040), memory size (4MB DRAM, 512KB SRAM), and number of serial ports (4) must match. Other MVME162 variants (like MVME162-220, MVME162-213) have different specs. Check your board revision and firmware version.

Q: Is this part new or used?
A: This model is obsolete and typically sold as new surplus or refurbished (tested). No new factory stock exists. All available units are surplus or refurbished from EOL inventory.

Q: What warranty do I get?
A: Warranty varies by vendor: typically 1 year for new surplus, 90 days to 1 year for refurbished units. Confirm before ordering.

Q: Can I hot-swap this board?
A: No. VMEbus SBCs are not hot-swappable. Power down the entire rack before removing or installing. Backplane damage is a real risk if you try.

Q: Will this fix a system that will not boot?
A: Maybe. A bad backplane, power supply, or other VME card can cause similar symptoms. Check supply rails (5V, ±12V), reseat the board, and confirm the fault follows the SBC before replacing it.

Q: Do I need to reprogram the board after replacement?
A: Yes, likely. The MVME162-222 has 8K × 8 NVRAM with time-of-day clock and battery backup, plus 1MB flash for on-board monitor/debugger. Back up the existing configuration (firmware version, serial port settings, system parameters) before removal and restore it on the new board. Document DIP switches/jumpers with photos.

Q: Why is this cheaper than PowerPC-based MVME162 models?
A: The MVME162-222 uses the older MC68040 (25 MHz), which is slower than PowerPC 603E models (100–133 MHz) like MVME162-213/220. The 68040 is a legacy 68000-family processor, while PowerPC models support Linux and newer real-time OS versions with better performance.

Q: What should I verify before ordering?
A: Match the model (MVME162-222), processor (MC68040 25 MHz), memory (4MB DRAM, 512KB SRAM), serial port count (4), and operating system version. Confirm firmware/OS compatibility with your application. Always back up configuration before swapping. Take a photo of DIP switches/jumpers before removal and mirror the exact configuration on the new unit.