Description
Product Overview
The Motorola 188987-008R 188987-008R001 is a legacy Motorola industrial computing board associated with VMEbus-based embedded control systems. Available technical references identify the assembly as an embedded controller or VME processor board rather than a conventional PLC I/O module. Its role is therefore best understood at the system-computing level: processor execution, VMEbus communication, memory access, and coordination with peripheral boards installed in the same VME chassis.
The Motorola 188987-008R 188987-008R001 appears in legacy Motorola VME equipment inventories alongside processor, I/O, and transition boards. This makes it relevant to older industrial computers, test systems, telecommunications equipment, and other embedded platforms that depend on the VME backplane. The Motorola 188987-008R 188987-008R001 should not be treated as interchangeable with an MVME2400, MVME162, or other VME processor merely because those products share the same general bus technology.
There is an important procurement issue here. Public documentation for this exact ordering number is sparse, and some secondary databases provide specifications that conflict with one another. One source calls it a 32-bit Motorola 68030-based controller, while another describes it as an analog module and supplies unrelated electrical data. Those discrepancies are significant enough that a responsible replacement decision should be based on the physical board identification, revision marking, connector layout, and host-system documentation rather than an online specification copied from another product.
For lifecycle maintenance, the Motorola 188987-008R 188987-008R001 is most valuable when an installed VME system must remain operational without redesigning the host chassis. Functional testing should include VMEbus access, processor startup, memory integrity, serial/I/O interfaces, and application firmware where applicable.
Key Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Model | 188987-008R |
| Alternate Part Number | 188987-008R001 |
| Manufacturer | Motorola |
| Product Type | VMEbus Embedded Controller / Processor Board |
| Bus Architecture | VMEbus |
| Processor Architecture | Reported as 32-bit Motorola architecture; exact CPU requires verification |
| Memory | Board-specific; exact capacity requires hardware revision verification |
| Firmware | Board/system dependent |
| Application | Legacy embedded computing, industrial control, test and data-acquisition systems |
| Mounting | VME chassis/backplane |
| Board Function | Processor and VMEbus system control |
| Revision Identification | -008R / -008R001 |
| Documentation Status | Limited public documentation for exact part number |
The broader Motorola VME ecosystem includes processor boards such as the MVME2400, whose documented architecture uses PowerPC 750 processors, ECC SDRAM, VMEbus, PCI, and PMC expansion. That architecture should not automatically be attributed to 188987-008R.
188987-008R-188987-008R001
Related Products
- Motorola MVME2400 — A documented PowerPC-based VME processor family. It provides a useful comparison for later-generation Motorola VME computing, but it should not be considered a direct replacement without application-level verification.
- Motorola MVME162 Series — Earlier embedded VME controllers using Motorola 68K processor technology. These are closer in architectural generation to descriptions associated with the 188987-008R, but exact interchangeability still requires verification.
- Motorola MVME147S-1 — Legacy 68030-based VME single-board computer with onboard memory, serial interfaces, timers, SCSI, and Ethernet. It represents another older Motorola VME computing platform rather than a confirmed substitute.
- Motorola MVME761-001 — VME transition module intended to expose rear-panel/network/serial resources from compatible VME processor systems. It is a supporting interface board rather than a CPU replacement.
- Motorola AET-3047 — VME-related industrial I/O hardware used with legacy Motorola embedded-control architectures. Its role is peripheral/interface support rather than processor execution.
- Motorola MVIP301 — IP/serial communication module for VME systems, suitable where additional serial communication resources are required.
- Motorola MVME2604 — PowerPC-based VME processor family used in later-generation embedded computing systems. It offers a substantially different processor and memory architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Motorola 188987-008R 188987-008R001 used for?
Available references identify it primarily as a VMEbus embedded controller/processor board. Its purpose is to provide computing and backplane-control functions within a legacy VME system.
Because exact public documentation is limited, the host equipment should be identified before assigning a more specific application.
2. Can I replace 188987-008R with another Motorola VME processor?
Not automatically.
Check these items first:
- Exact board revision
- CPU architecture
- Firmware/PROM version
- Memory configuration
- VMEbus system-controller requirements
- Application software
- Front/rear I/O arrangement
A mechanically compatible VME board can still be electrically or functionally incompatible.
3. Does 188987-008R support firmware v3.1?
There is insufficient reliable public documentation to confirm a specific firmware version for this exact part number.
For a field replacement, record the firmware/PROM identification from the existing board and compare it with the replacement before commissioning.
4. Will replacing the 188987-008R erase my application?
The answer depends on where the application resides. A processor board may contain firmware, boot code, configuration information, or application software depending on the original system design.
Before replacement, document:
- PROM/Flash contents
- RAM/NVRAM configuration
- Boot parameters
- Application storage location
- VME peripheral configuration
Do not assume that installing a replacement board automatically restores the original application environment.
5. How can I verify a New Surplus 188987-008R001?
For this particular part, visual identification is important because public listings contain conflicting specifications.
Verify:
- Full 188987-008R001 marking.
- PCB revision and assembly numbers.
- Processor identification.
- Memory devices and configuration.
- VME connector condition.
- PROM/Flash labels.
- Board startup and VMEbus functional test results.
6. Is 188987-008R an analog I/O module?
Some secondary listings call it an analog module, but other references identify the same part number as an embedded controller or VME processor.
For procurement purposes, I would not classify it as an analog I/O module without seeing the actual board or original system documentation. That distinction matters because substituting a processor board for an I/O board—or vice versa—would be a fundamental system mismatch.
7. Is the 188987-008R suitable for a legacy VME replacement project?
Yes, potentially, provided the replacement is matched to the original system configuration. This is a case where the complete part number and board revision should be treated as mandatory identification data rather than relying on the generic Motorola VME family name.
