USB-IF issues SuperSpeed USB peripheral development kit

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF; www.usb.org) has unveiled the USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) peripheral development kit (PDK). According to the consortium, the kit helps promote interoperability and provides SuperSpeed USB developers with the opportunity to benchmark and test against host solutions in the emerging SuperSpeed USB ecosystem.

USB-IF maintains that the PDK is key to SuperSpeed USB development, and that its delivery marks the availability of host solutions to test emerging SuperSpeed USB designs. The kit contains reference hosts, which enable the testing of a wide variety of peripherals. The reference hosts are devices that have been utilized in extensive testing of the USB 3.0 specification. It is recommended that all systems developed in conjunction with the PDK engage in compliance testing, when available, to ensure compliance to the USB 3.0 specification.

The PDK includes two PCIe host add-in cards, a 1-meter SuperSpeed USB cable, PDK documentation, and the USB 3.0 Command Verifier tool, which is the official tool for USB 3.0 Hub and Device Framework testing. The PDK also includes a prototype driver and a compliance driver that have been tested on the Windows 7 platform.

Kits are available to USB-IF members for immediate purchase through the USB-IF eStore.