What is HOST

Hardware Open Systems Technologies (HOST) is a standards framework that applies a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to ruggedized high-performance embedded computing. More specifically, HOST provides a hardware framework based on open architecture standards for developing open embedded systems for the U.S. military. The HOST standard ensures that all developed HOST components use standardized open hardware interfaces. HOST components are interchangeable with newer technologies and enable system components to be added, removed, or replaced throughout the DOD platforms lifecycle.

What is HOST

HOST supports the rapid evolution of capabilities and leads to an overall cost reduction by avoiding expensive non-recurring costs, avoiding vendor lock from proprietary technologies, and significantly increases competition in the marketplace. The HOST technical standard is under active development and sponsored by the NAVAIR PMA-209 Avionics Architecture Team. Unlike other open architecture standards, HOST is not managed by a consortium. Rather, it is maintained by NAVAIR PMA-209 as well as select Industry and Academia who help coordinate with integrators, module vendors, and related standards groups such as VITA.

Open Architectures Benefits Through HOST

Address Broad Market Needs

Open standards enable a flexible framework for greater diversity in system function

Building Block for Innovation

Open standards define key interfaces which allows for modularity. This modularity encourages a ‘building block’ approach that accelerates innovation

Drive Innovation & Advancement

Open standards remove the effort of defining interfaces. Companies can instead devote resources to research and development of new capabilities

Drive Interoperability & Scalability

Defined key interfaces encourage components to ‘Speak the Same Language’. The modular approach of open standards is inherently scalable

Encourage Market Competition

Open standards increase competition by enabling more companies to participate via well-defined modularized components

Reduce Costs

Open Architecture reduces costs by increasing competition and allowing for a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) design approach

Embody Diverse Perspectives

Open standards allow smaller companies to engage in the industry – adding their perspectives to the field

Streamline Development & Implementation

Open architectures accelerates development and integration by encouraging reusability

Leverage Proprietary Knowledge

Open standards allow the use of proprietary knowledge by only defining key interfaces and allowing innovation within components

Engage New Markets & Applications

The modularity and reusability of open standards components allows more resources to be focused on expanding functionality with new designs

 

HOST Standards Architecture Overview

The Host Standards Framework is made up of three tiers of documents: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. 

The Tier 1 Standard provides an overview of the tenants of the HOST Standards framework as a whole. It defines the core tenets of HOST and establishes the requirements that apply to all HOST Tier 2 Standards. The Tier 1 defines terminology that applies to all HOST documentation, and requirements that constrain the lower tiers. It presents a governing logical architecture to ensure a Tier 2 technology implementation fulfills the primary goals of the HOST Standard. More simply, it enforces the central concepts of modularity, interoperability, and interchangeability as the tenets that HOST strives to implement.

A HOST Tier 2 Standard applies a specific ruggedized embedded computing technology or approach to the HOST Tier 1 Standards architecture while maintaining the tenets of clarity, interoperability, and upgradability established in the tier 1. All Tier 2 Standards are platform agnostic and do not incorporate specific requirements of a target systems. Furthermore, each Tier 2 standard focuses on a different embedded computer approach and individual tier 2s specify a distinct subset of the standards rules that specific Tier 3 hardware components aligned to a tier 2 need to follow. The current Tier 2s are largely centered around the VITA standards and individual Tier 2s focus on different subsets of the vita standards based on a specific embedded computing approach. Essentially, each Tier 2 establishes the platform agnostic rules, requirements, and guidelines that are used to define a Tier 3 HOST component targeted at a specific platform. The current, in development, and planned HOST Tier 2 Standards are centered are OpenVPX (Vita65), Small Form Factor (Vita 74 and 90), and Next Generation VPX (Vita 100).

A Host Tier 3 Component Specification captures the performance, design, and interface requirements for a HOST Component. The guide instructs the author how to capture all applicable requirements from a HOST Tier 2 Core Technology Standard as well as performance requirements derived from the target system. The HOST Standard Tier 3 Specification Guide, if adhered to, results in a complete and properly formatted document which can be used as a ‘source of truth’ for HOST conformance. To create a Tier 3 component specification, vendors utilize a HOST Tier 2 technology standard along with format in the Tier 3 specification guide to define the sub-set rules and variables from a Tier 2 specification that apply to the specific HOST component.

HOST Component Registry – Once a Tier 3 component specification has been created, it is placed in the HOST registry to enable re-use of the HOST component specification. 

The Tier 1 Standard provides an overview of the tenants of the HOST Standards framework as a whole. It defines the core tenets of HOST and establishes the requirements that apply to all HOST Tier 2 Standards. The Tier 1 defines terminology that applies to all HOST documentation, and requirements that constrain the lower tiers. It presents a governing logical architecture to ensure a Tier 2 technology implementation fulfills the primary goals of the HOST Standard. More simply, it enforces the central concepts of modularity, interoperability, and interchangeability as the tenets that HOST strives to implement.

A HOST Tier 2 Standard applies a specific ruggedized embedded computing technology or approach to the HOST Tier 1 Standards architecture while maintaining the tenets of clarity, interoperability, and upgradability established in the tier 1. All Tier 2 Standards are platform agnostic and do not incorporate specific requirements of a target systems. Furthermore, each Tier 2 standard focuses on a different embedded computer approach and individual tier 2s specify a distinct subset of the standards rules that specific Tier 3 hardware components aligned to a tier 2 need to follow. The current Tier 2s are largely centered around the VITA standards and individual Tier 2s focus on different subsets of the vita standards based on a specific embedded computing approach. Essentially, each Tier 2 establishes the platform agnostic rules, requirements, and guidelines that are used to define a Tier 3 HOST component targeted at a specific platform. The current, in development, and planned HOST Tier 2 Standards are centered are OpenVPX (Vita65), Small Form Factor (Vita 74 and 90), and Next Generation VPX (Vita 100).

A Host Tier 3 Component Specification captures the performance, design, and interface requirements for a HOST Component. The guide instructs the author how to capture all applicable requirements from a HOST Tier 2 Core Technology Standard as well as performance requirements derived from the target system. The HOST Standard Tier 3 Specification Guide, if adhered to, results in a complete and properly formatted document which can be used as a ‘source of truth’ for HOST conformance. To create a Tier 3 component specification, vendors utilize a HOST Tier 2 technology standard along with format in the Tier 3 specification guide to define the sub-set rules and variables from a Tier 2 specification that apply to the specific HOST component.

HOST Component Registry – Once a Tier 3 component specification has been created, it is placed in the HOST registry to enable re-use of the HOST component specification. 

Introduction to HOST Video Series

The Introduction to HOST Video Series provides a more detailed introduction of the architecture of the HOST Standard. This video series is focus around the OpenVPX HOST Tier 2 core technology standard. Detailed information on the HOST standard can be found on the HOST documents page of this website. 

   

 

For videos on HOST Tier 1, Tier 2, and/or Tier 3, email your request to: [email protected]