QNX Introduces Breakthrough Partitioning Solution for Secure Embedded Systems

News at a Glance... QNX Adaptive Partitioning technology offers ability to build secure compartments around applications, improving system integrity and availability, without compromising performance. First partitioning solution to provide CPU guarantees that are compatible with the standard POSIX scheduling model. Solution targeted at networking, automotive, medical, security, and industrial markets.

NÜRNBERG, Embedded World 2006, February 14, 2006 — QNX Software Systems, the leader in innovative embedded operating systems and design tools, today announced a revolutionary new operating system extension that allows developers to build hardened, secure compartments around their software applications while providing the flexibility to maximize CPU resources. A first in the embedded industry, the new QNX® Neutrino® Adaptive Partitioning technology offers embedded designers the “best of both worlds” — resource guarantees for greater security and full CPU utilization for maximum performance.

One of the keys to QNX’s new adaptive partitioning solution is a patent-pending scheduler that guarantees CPU time for partitioned applications when the system is heavily loaded. Unlike the rigid, fixed-partitioning offerings of the past, QNX Neutrino Adaptive Partitioning can dynamically reassign resources from partitions not under full load to those that need additional processing time. This provides a higher overall level of performance by increasing CPU utilization.

“Software complexity is escalating so rapidly that without the means to cleanly and efficiently partition system resources, embedded designers face an insurmountable challenge,” said Dan Dodge, CEO of QNX Software Systems. “Our adaptive partitioning technology takes the current restrictive concepts of software partitioning and dramatically improves upon them, giving customers the secure, realtime guarantees they need, with the intelligent and flexible hardware maximization that embedded designs demand.”

QNX Neutrino Adaptive Partitioning technology is an extension of the QNX Neutrino realtime operating system. It is ideal for embedded designs that demand secure operation and guaranteed response times, such as security applications, high-speed telecommunications, industrial control systems, and in-car computing devices.

To maximize ease of use and application portability, adaptive partitioning uses industry-standard POSIX APIs and allows embedded developers to employ the exact same task-prioritization schemes that they use today. Existing POSIX/QNX Neutrino applications can benefit from QNX Adaptive Partitioning without recoding or redesign.

Product details and availability

The QNX Neutrino Adaptive Partitioning Technology Development Kit (TDK) is available in beta now, and will be commercially available 2Q 2006. The TDK comes complete with the Adaptive Partitioning-enabled QNX Neutrino kernel, the instrumented Adaptive Partitioning-enabled QNX Neutrino kernel, and full product documentation.

About QNX Software Systems

QNX Software Systems, a Harman International company (NYSE: HAR), is the industry leader in realtime, embedded OS technology. The component-based architectures of the QNX® Neutrino® RTOS and QNX Momentics® development suite together provide the industry’s most reliable and scalable framework for building innovative, high-performance embedded systems. Global leaders such as Cisco, DaimlerChrysler, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens depend on QNX technology for network routers, medical instruments, vehicle telematics units, security and defense systems, industrial robotics, and other mission- or life-critical applications. Founded in 1980, QNX Software Systems is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and distributes products in over 100 countries worldwide.

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Editorial Contacts

Paul Leroux
QNX Software Systems
+1 613 591-0931
paull@qnx.com

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