Lynx adds Support for Motorola MPC860 chip

Targets line cards, high volume datacomm and telecom applications

SAN JOSÉ, Calif., June 2, 1997—Lynx Real-Time Systems Inc., a leader in embedded software solutions, announced today its support of the Motorola MPC860 PowerQUICC™ (Quad Integrated Communications Controller) embedded microprocessor.

The announcement signifies that vendors of line cards and other high-volume data and telecommunications applications will be able to design in Lynx's powerful, reliable, and compact real-time operating system, LynxOS™.

"Motorola is excited about the combination of Lynx's scalable operating system combined with Motorola's PowerPC family, ranging from the powerful PowerPC 604 down through the highly integrated MPC860," said Mike Shoemake, MPC860 program manager in Motorola's Networking and Communications Operation. "We believe that Lynx offers a very broad and powerful range of embedded OS solutions for the communications marketplace."

"Line cards embedded with LynxOS will be more stable, reliable, and powerful than those without LynxOS because of Lynx's standards-compliant and patented technology," said Dino Brusco, Vice President of Marketing at Lynx. "Our customers will cut costs and speed production time because LynxOS is based on a POSIX®/UNIX® API, which is reusable across a broad range of products from low-end to high-end."

Supporting the Motorola PowerQUICC family enhances Lynx Real-Time Systems' well-established lead in support for PowerPC-based communications and networking. LynxOS is the only real-time operating system that provides mission critical embedded systems with standards-based APIs, fully deterministic hard real-time performance, choice of hardware platforms, and the reliability of protected address spaces with integrated MMU support.

LynxOS support for the PowerQUICC™

The standard reference platforms for LynxOS support of the MPC860 include the MPC860ADS (Application Development System) from Motorola Semiconductor Sector and the MBXC Series boards from Motorola Computer Group. Lynx also offers source code and porting kits to adapt LynxOS to custom MPC860-based designs.

The LynxOS support for the MPC860 includes:

Embedded PowerPC core
Integrated MMU and eight bank memory controller
Timer support for on-board watchdogs, periodic, and other timers
Four multi-protocol serial interface (UART, Ethernet, etc.) channels
Two hardware serial management channels
PCMCIA, I2C, and parallel printer interfaces
System Interface Unit—clock synthesis, power management, real-time clock, JTAG interface, other functions

Development options

LynxOS users will be able to choose cross development of MPC860 applications from a Sun or AIX system, or a LynxOS-based PowerPC system.

One time-savings feature that most competitive products don't offer is the ability to use LynxOS as a native development system running directly on the MPC860 target. While this demonstrates the power and robust character of LynxOS, it will be limited by the streamlined nature of the target hardware. The addition of RAM and a local disk or NFS will enhance this native development environment as will running the processor at the optional faster clock rate.

Lynx also improves reliability of high-volume applications by supplying its own startup monitor which can be configured to reside in flash memory or to load over a network. This monitor establishes a serial console connection and allows users to configure the boot environment to control use of flash partitions, network and console characteristics, processor clock speed, and other system parameters.

Primarily this monitor facilitates the loading and test of LynxOS kernels, either from on-board flash memory or over a local network. This monitor is not limited to use with just the MPC860 reference platforms (i.e., MPC860ADS and MBXC) but may be ported to custom user hardware.

Availability

LynxOS support for the MPC860 will be available beginning in July 1997.

About the MPC860

The MPC860 is a versatile, single-chip microprocessor family that integrates a PowerPC core, a RISC communications engine, a memory controller and a circuit board's worth of system functions on a single chip. The PowerQUICC family excels in a variety of embedded applications in the telecommunications, internetworking, and data communications markets.

The PowerQUICC family incorporates much of the 68360's unique communications oriented peripheral set and integrates additional enhancements, making it the highest-integration family of embedded PowerPC devices available from Motorola today.

MPC860 family members span a wide variety of applications such as ATM line card controllers, branch office and multi-protocol routers, cellular base stations, primary rate ISDN protocol termination, remote access routers, set-top boxes, smart Ethernet hubs, T1 and E1 line card controllers, and wireless access points.

Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors, and advanced electronic systems, components, and services. Major equipment businesses include cellular telephone, two-way radio, paging and data communications, personal communications, automotive, defense and space electronics and computers. Motorola semiconductors power communication devices, computers, and millions of other products. Motorola's 1996 sales were $28 billion.

Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc. is a worldwide supplier of real-time operating systems and development tools. Its products shorten product development cycles and lower costs for software engineers who design embedded applications. By committing to POSIX, UNIX, and other industry standards, the company enables customers to leverage their investments in software development and education. Founded in 1988 as a privately-held company, Lynx has offices in the U.S., Europe and Japan, and worldwide headquarters in San José, California.

LynuxWorks press contacts

Kirsten Long Director, Marketing Communications LynuxWorks, Inc. USA +1 408-979-4404	Barbara Stewart Patterson & Associates USA 480-488-6909
Hamid Mirab Managing Director EMEA LynuxWorks Ltd. United Kingdom +44 208-906-9506	Peter van der Sluijs Neesham Public Relations Europe +44 1442-879222