Lynx Announces New Release of Leading Embedded Real-Time Operating System

LynxOS 3.0 expands CPU, board and peripheral support; enhances networking functionality; adds application and communications development tools

SAN JOSÉ, Calif.—March 31, 1998—Lynx Real-Time Systems, Inc., a leader in embedded software solutions, today announced version 3.0 of its LynxOS® real-time operating system. LynxOS version 3.0—designed to meet the mission-critical, real-time requirements of demanding applications in military, aerospace and communications—adds support for new processors, CPU boards, and peripheral device drivers; offers expanded network services; includes small-footprint kernel profiles; and features several powerful new development tools.

"Building on the traditional quality and technical strengths of LynxOS, version 3.0 meets the challenges posed for reliability and availability in key markets," said Dino Brusco, Vice President of Marketing at Lynx. "Version 3.0 responds to real customer requirements for supporting the rapidly-changing hardware markets for PC compatibles, VME, and CompactPCI systems." Brusco continued, "Moreover, we have expanded our PosixWorks software development suite new tools and support for both Windows and UNIX platforms".

New in LynxOS version 3.0

• Kernel enhancements- Two new small-footprint run-time configurations of the LynxOS kernel are standard in version 3.0. Lynx has also added a new Board Support Package (BSP) architecture that allows developers to integrate new hardware more quickly and support third-party boards more cost-effectively.
• Windows Cross Development Toolkit- leverages customer investment in Wintel hardware and software, allowing embedded design engineers to develop LynxOS-based applications from Windows® 95 and Windows NT workstations.
• Enhanced Development Tools- LynxOS 3.0 supports an updated version of the Cygnus/ GNU Tools and compilers. Version 3.0 also introduces the Total/db debugger for source-level debugging of user applications, device drivers and kernel plug-ins. Lynx/HA (see accompanying news release) is also available as an add-on for high-availability applications.
• Augmented Network Services- LynxOS 3.0 now supports PPP; adds driver support for popular network interface cards; and includes SMB (Samba) for file sharing across multi-protocol networks. The Trillium networking protocol interface layer, available as an add-on, facilitates porting of ATM, SS7, ISDN, and other standard protocol-based communications applications to LynxOS-based systems. Lynx is also shipping the Java-based Spyglass web browser with LynxOS version 3.0, giving developers the ability to build lightweight web clients into their embedded applications.
• Expanded CPU and Board Support- Lynx extends its support for the PowerPC family to include the MPC750 (Arthur) and Mach V (604r, 760) chips. Version 3.0 enhances support for the MBX860 and MBX821 boards. It also offers off-the-shelf board support for additional popular boards from CETIA, FORCE and Motorola.
• Other Services- LynxOS v3.0 offers enhanced PCI services for bridging and multiple PCI buses; includes intelligent PMC services for daughter boards; upgrades the LynxOS SCSI services manager with support for connect/disconnect and full support for fast and wide SCSI; additionally, version 3.0 adds flash management capabilities.

Key LynxOS benefits and features

LynxOS offers a variety of features that help meet industry needs for performance and reliability, including:

• Stable, Proven Real-time Technology- LynxOS has long been the operating system of choice among the leaders in the communications, military and aerospace industries.
• Patented Interrupt and ROMing Technologies- Interrupt handling is the technology that gives LynxOS its industry leading performance. ROMing allows users to take a runtime kernel and easily put it onto read-only memory.
• On-chip Memory Management- Guarantees that errant program processes cannot corrupt the code or data of other processes, or write over the operating system itself.
• Support for Multiprocessing and Multi-threaded Applications- At both the user and kernel level, LynxOS offers architectural flexibility, with POSIX.1c threads and virtually-addressed process models.
• UNIX® and POSIX® Compliance with True Real-time Performance- LynxOS is the only real-time operating system with support for standard, off-the-shelf applications in a real-time setting, resulting in substantial software development cost savings and options for software re-use.

About Lynx Real-Time Systems

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, Calif.

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