TenAsys
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Embedded and Real-time Software |
| Headquarters |
Hillsboro, Oregon, USA 45°31′52″N 122°52′53″W / 45.531°N 122.8814°WCoordinates: 45°31′52″N 122°52′53″W / 45.531°N 122.8814°W |
| Products | iRMX, INtime, and eVM |
| Website | www.tenasys.com |
TenAsys (rhymes with tenacious) is a privately owned company providing real-time software and services based on the x86 Intel Architecture and Microsoft Windows operating system.
History
The company was founded in 2000 as a spin-off of RadiSys Corporation to exploit the RTOS technology based on the iRMX and INtime for Windows products originally developed by Intel Corporation. RadiSys acquired the iRMX and INtime RTOS technology when they purchased Intel's Multibus division in 1996.[1][2]
RadiSys released version 1.0 of the INtime RTOS in June, 1997.[3] The product was selected as one of two finalists in the EDN 1997 "Innovation of the Year" embedded development category.[4]
Effective 2000 iRMX III is supported, maintained, and licensed worldwide by TenAsys Corporation, under an exclusive licensing arrangement with Intel.
Products
TenAsys develops real-time operating system (RTOS) products designed to merge two separate computing platforms into one. Specifically, their products provide a means by which an RTOS can run in parallel with Windows on a standard PC platform. Their products are specific to the x86 Intel architecture.
iRMX III
iRMX is a real-time operating system designed specifically for use with the Intel 8080 and Intel 8086 family of processors. It is an acronym for Real-time Multitasking eXecutive. Intel developed iRMX in the late 1970s and originally released it in 1980 to support and create demand for their processors and Multibus system platforms.[5]
iRMX for Windows
iRMX for Windows provides legacy support for existing applications based on the iRMX III real-time operating system and the iRMX for Windows RTOS produced by Intel beginning in 1992.
The iRMX for Windows RTOS loads and runs on a standard Windows system. Upon initialization, it sets up a separate execution environment, takes over the CPU, and encapsulates Windows as the lowest priority iRMX task. The iRMX operating system scheduler then determines which tasks will run; whenever a real-time task is ready to run, it preempts Windows, handles all real-time activities, and then resumes Windows (the lowest priority iRMX task) after all real-time activities have completed.
INtime RTOS for Windows
Like iRMX for Windows, the INtime RTOS also installs on a standard Windows system. Once installed, the INtime RTOS schedules all real-time processes to run first, at a higher priority than Windows. The INtime RTOS runs as a separate, independent kernel outside of the Windows kernel, without modifying the Windows kernel, drivers, or applications.
Real-time processes run on the INtime kernel, and non-real-time processes run on Windows. Windows application threads communicate with their real time counterparts on the INtime kernel through a special API that facilitates coordination and data sharing.
eVM Virtualization Platform for Windows
The eVM virtualization platform provides a virtual machine that hosts real-time and embedded operating systems running alongside Microsoft Windows. The eVM platform requires Intel virtualization technology (or Intel VT) in order to operate. The guest OS that runs within the VMM runs in parallel with Windows, on an industry-standard, PC-compatible, multi-core platform.
Legacy I/O can be emulated using Intel VT. Virtual communication channels, such as a virtual Ethernet or a virtual serial link, provide a means for embedded applications running on the VMM to coordinate with Windows applications.
Direct hardware (access to I/O) and deterministic timing (interrupt latency) needs are addressed by giving the guest OS direct access to time-critical hardware. I/O is assigned exclusively to each guest OS so existing native device drivers have direct access to real hardware.
Development Environment
TenAsys RTOS tools are integrated into the Microsoft Visual Studio IDE.
Notes
- ↑ RadiSys to Acquire Multibus Business From Intel Corp., Intel to Take 17% Equity Stake in RadiSys
- ↑ who owns Multibus? or older Intel product?
- ↑ RadiSys Ships INtime to Customers Worldwide
- ↑ EDN 8th Annual Innovation Awards (1997) Winners and Finalists
- ↑ Real-time Elements, Donald J. Ewing, Professor Emeritus, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science University of Toledo, EECS 4170/5170/7170 Class Notes
References
- Schwaderer, Curt (May 2006). "Real-time OS for multicore processors: Serious implications for AdvancedTCA systems" (PDF). CompactPCI & AdvancedTCA Systems. (history and technology overview)
- Neumann, Dean; Kulkarni, Dileep; Kunze, Aaron; Rogers, Gerald; Verplanke, Edwin (August 2006). "Intel Virtualization Technology in Embedded and Communications Infrastructure Applications" (PDF). Intel Technology Journal. (application of virtualization to embedded systems)
- Mick, Robert (August 2006). "Virtualization Technology Enables a Common Automation Platform" (PDF). ARC Brief. (impact of virtualization technology on manufacturing systems)
- Shaum, Loren (July 2007). "When RTOS Really Is Needed". Control Design. (application of an RTOS to machine-control)
- Ciufo, Chris (July 2008). "Virtualization yields hardware optimization and new embedded architectures". Military Embedded Systems. (COTS virtualization software for military system applications)