Creating a True Open Standard for Embedded Development

Market Opportunities Internet Appliances Client = PC Server • Vertical • IBM, HP, Sun 16+ CPU 4 -8 CPU 1 -4 CPU H Internet M Low Cost L Web Infrastructure • x 86 (and imitators) • VALinux, Dell, Cobalt … “XYZ” • Linux prevailing over NT

The Spectrum of Post-PC Computing Server Platforms • Internet • File Server PC Comms Infrastructure • Routers • Telecom Client Platforms Thin Clients STB HH Deeply Embedded OA Cell Pager phones

The Vision – A Complete Solution for Post-PC Development • Use desktop tools and systems for embedded development • Develop software components for both desktop and embedded • Deliver tailored vertical solutions using a horizontal software infrastructure Create one solution to span whole Post PC spectrum

Benefits of Horizontal Market • • • Common software components Common software tools Common software platform High value for market leaders High value for customers The PC market got this right

Fragmentation: The Roadblock to Post-PC Computing • • • Proprietary offerings Competing “standards” Higher cost to customers Limited value solutions Lower quality solutions The embedded market is getting this wrong

Linux offers “World Domination” • Linus says so • IDC says so • Wall St. says so (RHAT) Can it dominate/consolidate the Post PC market, too?

Linux in Post-PC Computing Server Platforms • Internet • File Server PC Comms Infrastructure • Routers • Telecom • Currently on proprietary OS • Trend towards App-specific servers @ the low-end Client Platforms Thin Clients STB HH Deeply Embedded OA Cell Pager phones • Cost driven means custom to specific platform • Linux is an opportunity to make these open platforms • Linux brings a. developers - 3 rd party developers b. open-source c. low-cost PC-like (multi-func) • Hard Real-time required • Very small footprint required

BUT. . . Linux has limits • Not designed for Real Time • Monolithic kernel is not “smallable” • Lack of standard configuration technology • Threat of fragmentation

The Challenge • Preserve all that’s good with Linux • Fix what is wrong • Address the whole post-PC spectrum with a common solution

The Solution: EL/IX • A configurable set of API’s based on POSIX – Full set – Linux – Subsets – Embedded Linux – Scale from 32 MB down to 32 KB or less!

EL/IX Spans the Spectrum GNU Server Platforms • Internet • File Server PC Client Platforms Comms Infrastructure • Routers • Telecom Thin Clients STB HH Deeply Embedded OA Cell Pager phones EL/IX API Linux e. Cos Embedded Linux

EL/IX is Sourceware • • Open Source software Supported by all Linux kernels Can be ported to other RTOSs Sponsored by Cygnus

Open Source Model Prevents Fragmentation Benefits of Open Source • Royalty-free • Highly configurable • Accelerate innovation • Reuse code • Large developer base

Why Cygnus Can Deliver It • Designed/Implemented configure – Standard configuration tech for OSS • Designed/Implemented and support autoconf • Designed/Implemented e. Cos configure • Maintain software running on 100+ Host/Target combinations • Maintain glibc (user-level API for Linux) • Successfully coordinating contributions to GNU representing 1000 s of developers worldwide • We can do it right!

Why EL/IX Makes Sense • Best Dev. Environment • Fastest Time to Market • Largest available content and opportunity for software reuse • Least expensive solution – runtime royalty-free! • Best overall tech solution • Best vendor to develop/support

Analysts Praise EL/IX “By establishing a common, open API and working with members of the Linux community, Cygnus is making it possible for embedded software companies to build applications which can serve a broader array of customer requirements without resorting to special, one-off techniques. This would lower their overall development costs and improve their time to market. ” -- Dan Kusnetzky, Director, Operating Environments and Serverware, International Data Corporation

EL/IX Delivers The Vision for Post - PC Computing Development Environment Including GNU Tools Manual or Auto Configuration Application EL/IX API (gcc, gdb, etc. ) LINUX Thin Server e. Cos or Other RTOS Deeply Embedded User Config API Config Kernel-level Config

Be a Part of the Solution • Register at www. sourceware. cygnus. com/elix for a draft of the API or to contribute to the project • Visit www. cygnus. com/products for more information about GNUPro and e. Cos OR stop by any of the demo stations!