Embedded Systems Design Europe - October 2007 - (Page 6)

news Linux set to dominate Embedded system manufacturers are increasingly committing to Linux as the operating system (OS) of choice, and this migration from more traditional and commercial operating systems is set to continue, according to market research group Venture Development Corporation (VDC). A survey by VDC suggests the majority of current Linux users surveyed plan to use Linux again as their primary operating system on future projects. Asked which OS they would use in their next project, 71 percent of embedded system engineers who responded said they would opt for Linux on a free distribution basis, 16 percent would use Linux on a paid distribution basis, 12 percent planned to use a commercial OS while 1 percent indicated they would stick with an in-house developed OS. Corresponding percentages for the OS used on their current project indicated 39 percent for commercial operating systems, 29 percent for Linux (free distribution), 11 percent Linux (paid distribution) 7 percent an in house OS, while 11 percent indicated they do not use a formal OS. VDC says Linux remains an attractive operating system choice for a range of embedded development teams for a number of reasons, including: royalty free run-time costs, advanced networking capabilities and technical features and the large base of engineers familiar with the OS. “Linux has proven itself to be well suited for a wide range of applications across various industries, and continues to gain market share, despite not being particularly well matched for certain embedded applications types,” said Matt Volckmann, Senior Analyst/Program Manager with VDC’s Embedded Software Practice. “Changes in the way that systems are designed will also allow Linux to continue to penetrate into segments of the market where the lack of capability was previously perceived as a barrier.” Volckmann suggests a more complex question is how opportunities for commercial solution suppliers will progress given the promise of more widespread Linux adoption in the embedded market. Currently, a majority of Linux projects do not obtain their Linux distributions from commercial suppliers. However, innovation within embedded Linux to date has relied heavily on support from commercial suppliers like MontaVista and others to make Linux a more viable operating system option within the embedded market. Torvalds updates Linux kernel Linux developer Linus Torvalds has released the latest kernel update to the open source operating system. In a posting on the Linux kernel mailing list on October 9, Torvalds wrote that the release was delayed slightly due to some minor bug ﬁxes, “not because of any huge issues.” Linux 2.6.23 includes a number of technical enhancements that will be of most interest to developers, including better support for Sun Microsystems’ 64-bit Sparc chips and Analog Devices’ embedded Blackﬁn processors. “Ignoring those arch updates, there’s basically a number of mostly one-liners” related to drivers and networking support, Torvalds said. In releasing the newest version of Linux, Torvalds was mum on whether he plans to eventually publish the software under a controversial new license that places more restrictions on how open source software can be used in commercial environments. In the past, Torvalds has said he’s unlikely to move Linux to the General Public License, Version 3, because of such provisions. GPLv3 forbids commercial developers from placing restrictions on end users’ right to modify software published under the license. ARM establishes SecurCore smart card foundry program ARM has launched another foundry program, dubbed SecurCore, focusing on 32-bit smart card IP, with fabless design houses TMC and HED, and pure-play foundry HHNEC, as the ﬁrst partners. The initiative enables fabless design companies to license the ARM SecurCore SC100 processor technology, optimized for smart card and secure applications, and have their designs manufactured with the support of accredited foundries. The project is an adaptation of ARM’s established Processor Foundry 6 Program, expanding the availability and supply of 32-bit smart cards. “We are seeing a strong demand from our partners, particularly in China, for ARM solutions targeting the next generation 32-bit smart card market,” Jun Tan, president, ARM China, said ina statement. “Our partners are aggressively seeking signiﬁcant design enhancements for their secure applications …….and we are now able to provide our partners around the world with IP targeted to the smart card industry.” According to market research group IMS Research, by 2010 more than six billion smart cards will be in use worldwide with 50 per cent of those deployed in Asia, and around 3.5 billion will be sold each year. Fabless design companies signing up for the program gain access to the SecurCore design kit with manufacturing enabled through approved foundries. The model ensures the secure details of the design remain solely within the design company and allows innovation through lower barriers to entry. OCTOBER 2007 | embedded systems design europe | www.embedded.com/europe 006_ESDE.indd 6 12/10/07 10:31:40 http://www.embedded.com/europe

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Embedded Systems Design Europe - October 2007 Contents Linux Set to Dominate Torvalds Updates Linux Kernel ARM Establishes Smart Card Foundry Program Emerson Buys Motorola's Embedded Comms Group LynuxWroks and TTTech to Cooperate on Avionics MontaVista CEO Looks for Acquisitions in Europe Ready: Multiprocessing Technology Provides Opportunity Automotive to Drive MCU Market New Supporters Join COM Express Group Analyst Weighs TI Versus Xilinx Versus PicoChip Cover Feature: Embedded Systems Security Has Moved to the Forefront Trace Exposes the Toughest Real-Time Bugs Employ a Secure Flavor of Linux Use an MCU's Low-Power Modes in Foreground/Background Systems Transporting Video Over Wireless Networks New Products Advertising Contacts

Embedded Systems Design Europe - October 2007

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