Home
Company

QNX News Releases

QNX Releases Source Code for New Networking Stack

News at a Glance...

  • QNX gives community members access to new networking stack source code.
  • New stack offers security enhancements, performance gains, and code portability.
  • Source is available for viewing and download on Foundry27, the community site for QNX developers.
  • OTTAWA, December 12, 2007 — QNX Software Systems announced today the widespread availability of the source code to its new networking protocol stack.

    Furthering QNX’s commitment to developer enablement through its hybrid software model, the new networking stack for the QNX® Neutrino® RTOS offers standard, open source-based compatibility with protocols and networking drivers as well as significant performance benefits. Based largely upon the NetBSD4 code base, the stack includes a number of new features that address security, enhance speed, and aid in code portability.

    Full support for Jumbo Frame packets is also built into the stack and drivers. Developers now have better application and stack portability with the updated stack APIs, as well as the ability to easily port existing BSD drivers using an included driver porting library. Security protocols in the networking stack have also been expanded. In addition to support for protocols such as IPSec, IKE, SSL, NAT, and IP filtering, the new stack also supports hardware-accelerated cryptography. This allows the QNX Neutrino RTOS to offload compute-intensive, repetitive security functions to a hardware-based cryptography engine, freeing up CPU cycles to do other protocol processing tasks at the same time.

    Other networking protocols supported include IPv4/IPv6, L2 VLAN, STP, and WiFi support for 802.11a/b/g/ wireless nodes and networks. The QNX-built solution maintains NetBSD APIs to allow for straightforward use of existing open source tools and applications. The new networking stack also supports legacy QNX Neutrino drivers with a binary compatibility layer.

    Because the QNX Neutrino RTOS utilizes a microkernel architecture where components are modular, independent, and protected from each other, these qualities extend into the networking stack. For instance, the microkernel allows users to dynamically upgrade protocol stacks and device drivers, and can intelligently restart any stack or driver that fails, without rebooting.

    The networking stack and QNX Neutrino microkernel code base is visible to QNX community members on Foundry27 (http://community.qnx.com), QNX’s developer and source code portal. There, developers wanting to download the source code can visit the Networking Project and also access wikis, forums, and other resources, as well as partner technologies for protocols such as SNMP v1/v2/v3.

    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. Visit www.qnx.com.

    Editorial Contacts

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

    QNX, Aviage, Momentics, and Neutrino are trademarks of QNX Software Systems GmbH & Co. KG, registered in certain jurisdictions and are used under license. All other trademarks and trade names belong to their respective owners.