Product Change/Discontinuation Procedures

ITOX, LLC. puts products into the two categories of commercial and industrial for purposes of change control. The product classification and life expectancy for each product is published periodically.

Commercial products are produced by our parent company, DFI and change is administered by DFI. DFI procedures and rules are followed for such products.

Industrial products are engineered and controlled by ITOX, LLC. and the following procedures apply.

1. If absolutely no changes are allowed, (as in TEMPEST or certain medical applications) ITOX, LLC. will agree to immediately produce whatever quantity of boards is necessary for the life of the contract if the customer is willing to make a firm commitment to a price and delivery schedule.

2. Or, ITOX will agree to keep the product in production as a standard item. However, ITOX LLC. reserves the right, and plans, to make evolutionary changes that do not change the form, fit, function or utility of the product.

Form, fit, function and utility are defined as the ability to perform all functions associated with the existing product. Specifically, the size, shape, mounting holes, expansion slot configuration and location, CPU type and mounting will not be changed.

As an example, changes may be planned to the ITOX motherboard to enhance the capability of a motherboard using the Intel® Pentium® processor to handle higher performance Socket 7 CPU’s such as the AMD K6/2. There will be no impact on the boards handling of existing CPU’s.

Changes that may be made are broken into classes, as follows:

Insignificant changes, i.e. the vendors of components such as connectors, resistors, etc. are made with each manufacturing run. An approved list of vendors can be supplied periodically if necessary but no notice is given. No notification is given and the version control number (shown on the part number sticker on each board) is not changed.

Minor component changes may be made from time to time to solve particular problems that may be discovered. An example of a minor change is the change in the value of a component such as a resistor.Notice is not normally published outside of ITOX, as such changes do not affect the vast majority of customers. The version control number is changed in the third character – i.e. CA1 would become CA2.

Major component changes, i.e. versions/vendors of video, I/O, core logic chips may have to be made as parts go out of production or are upgraded. Such changes are made infrequently, approximately every 12 to 18 months and the new components are selected so as to have a minimal effect on the use of the board.  Backward compatibility will be maintained and customers input will be solicited before any changes are made and the customer will be given the opportunity for a last buy if the necessary components can be obtained. Notification is published to major customers that have requested notification of such changes. The version control number is changed in the second character and the third character is reset – i.e. CA2 would become CB0.

Board layout changes may be necessary when vendors make changes in components or components are added to the board.  Notification is published on the ITOX web site and emailed to major customers that have requested notification of such changes in advance. The version control number is changed in the first character and the other two characters are reset – i.e. CB0 would become DA0.

There may also be occasions where the board layout is modified, but no components are changed. This may be done to change the orientation of a connector or to provide additional clearance for expansion cards. Notification is not normally published to customers in advance; the revision control number is changed in the second character and the third character is reset – i.e. CB0 would become CB2 would become CC0.

Safety related changes – in the event a hazard is found, it will be corrected.  Notification will be given but DFI will not knowingly ship dangerous parts. The revision control number will be changed as described above.

The expected life of commercial boards is short to keep up with the normal cycles of the consumer marketplace.Commercial motherboards offer the advantages of the latest technology and the lowest possible price. Industrial users should keep in mind that the board is likely to be discontinued before an extensive evaluation can be completed.

ITOX industrial boards are designed with a view towards a life cycle of three to five years. They are designed with current technology but with a view towards using components that are expected to remain stable for a long period of time. Such components are frequently one step behind the most recently advanced technology but have proven functional and reliable.