Abstract: A bus control module as a terminal stage for a multi-stage clock/alarm distribution scheme in a signaling server organized into addressable shelves. A system timing generator provides a framed serial control signal, SFI, addressing hierarchically arranged clock distribution modules and the bus control modules, to distribute a system clock to the bus control modules. Each bus control module provides a copy of the system clock to line cards with which it interfaces. The bus control module reports alarms and status signals from its line interface cards to the system timing generator using another framed serial signal. The bus control module forwards upstream towards the system timing generator a clock signal selected from clocks signals recovered by its line interface cards from received network signals.

Abstract: A storage card module having a front panel card component and a rear panel transition module disposed on a backplane in accordance with the Compact Peripheral Component Interconnect (CPCI) bus standard, wherein the front panel card component is provided with at least one Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) storage medium drive. Power is supplied to the SCSI drive from a CPCI bus connector on the backplane, whereas a user-defined I/O connector on the backplane provides interconnection between the drive and the SCSI bus that is coupled to an I/O controller via an interface formed on the real panel transition module. Bus cabling coupled via the user-defined I/O connector may be used to daisy-chain other SCSI-based cards, mass storage devices, or may be terminated. A power cable deriving power from the CPCI bus connector provides auxiliary power output via a rear panel power connector to such daisy-chained mass storage devices.