Preview shows three secure Linux partitions running on a single Intel Core2 Duo hardware platform utilizing its advanced virtualization features
SAN JOSÉ, Calif. — Feb. 9, 2009 — LynuxWorks™, Inc., a world leader in the embedded software market, today announced the availability of LynxSecure 2.0, a next-generation separation kernel and embedded hypervisor for high-assurance systems, on the latest Intel® Core™2 Duo processor-based systems.
LynxSecure takes advantage of Intel’s latest hardware-enhanced Intel Virtualization technology (Intel VT) to provide a standards-based, secure software platform for applications with low-, medium- and high-assurance requirements running concurrently on a single system. This meeting of two new technologies generated much interest when previewed with multiple operating systems being run simultaneously on a single Intel chipset with real-time performance and security applications being demonstrated.
LynxSecure was designed from the ground up to offer a reliable, secure and extendable platform to meet the demanding needs of embedded software developers building complex systems that require application separation. Designers of military, aerospace, medical and financial systems can utilize the safety and security features offered in LynxSecure, and combined with Intel’s latest processors gives very low latency when compared with traditional multi-CPU systems. LynxSecure 2.0 works closely with Intel VT to enable multiple, heterogeneous operating systems (OS) to coexist on the same platform, enabling developers to build a diverse array of applications on a single processor, reducing hardware costs and allowing for easier reuse of legacy software.
“LynxSecure is a Type-1 hypervisor, running directly on system hardware and utilizing Intel’s Virtualization Technology to provide platform virtualization for the guest operating system. This architecture provides near-native performance for the guest OS and superior security, since LynxSecure has complete control of the hardware,” said Arun Subbarao, vice president of engineering at LynuxWorks. “The combination of LynxSecure and Intel’s VT-enabled processors is already being used in new high-profile secure designs in the Military, and is being considered with great interest by many others.”
The latest generation of Intel Core2 Duo processors offers a number of new features and enhancements that are applicable to embedded developers. Intel’s enhanced virtualization provides hardware-enhanced I/O virtualization and facilitates interactions between the embedded hypervisor and the guest operating systems running on it. There are some new integrated security features which include integrated TPM building blocks and a network outbreak containment block that improve network security with new packet filtering capabilities. Enhancing of both the on-chip power management features and the graphics capabilities offers better performance at lower power, a real benefit for embedded applications.
“The combination of our virtualization-enabled Intel Core2 Duo processors with the LynxSecure embedded hypervisor is helping to meet the hardware and software needs for our embedded customers’ next generation of devices,” said Tony Franklin, marketing manager, Intel Embedded and Communications Group, “The clearly demonstrated ability to run multiple operating systems on a single Intel processor without performance degradation is very appealing to our A&D, medical and gaming customers.”
LynxSecure, with its extremely small code size, maintains hard real-time characteristics and determinism for real-time applications. The software is the first separation kernel and hypervisor to bring multi-core processor support to the high-assurance world, providing scalability from deeply embedded applications up to workstations and servers.
LynxSecure is designed to run on any 32-bit or 64-bit processor with a memory management unit (MMU) and provides 100% application binary compatibility between a standalone OS and its virtualized version. Like all LynuxWorks products, LynxSecure is based on open standards, but it also offers the highest real-time, safety and security capabilities, conforming to the MILS standard and certifiable to DO-178B/C level A.
About LynuxWorks
LynuxWorks, a world leader in the embedded software market, is committed to providing open and reliable real-time operating systems (RTOS) and software tools to embedded developers. The company’s LynxOS family of operating systems offers open standards with the highest level of safety and security features, enabling many mission-critical systems in defense, avionics and other industries. Additionally, LynuxWorks’ BlueCat Linux provides the features and support of embedded Linux for companies wanting to use open-source technology for their embedded applications. The Eclipse-based Luminosity IDE gives a powerful and consistent development system across all LynuxWorks operating systems. Since it was established in 1988, LynuxWorks has created technology that has been successfully deployed in thousands of designs and millions of products made by leading communications, avionics, aerospace/defense, and consumer electronics companies. LynuxWorks is an Affiliate Member with the Intel Embedded and Communications Alliance, a community of embedded and communications developers and solution providers. LynuxWorks headquarters are located in San José, CA.
LynuxWorks is a trademark and LynxOS and BlueCat are registered trademarks of LynuxWorks, Inc. Other brand or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective holders. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Intel, Intel VT and Intel Core2 Duo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.