RTLinux Boasts Enterprise Linux/BSD OS Support with RTOS Performance on AMCC in a Range of Applications

Socorro, NM - March 13, 2006 - FSMLabs, a core system software development company targeting mission-critical applications, today announced support for a range of embedded PowerPC processors from AMCC, specifically the AMCC 440EP and 440GP. Deployed in storage, networking, software-defined radio, data acquisition, and motor control, these CPUs combine high-performance, low-power processor cores with rich peripheral sets with both vertical and horizontal applications. RTLinux gives AMCC PowerPC systems targeting these and other areas an unprecedented mix of hard real-time responsiveness combined with the openness and enterprise software compatibility of Linux and BSD operating systems.

Software content in intelligent devices is doubling year-over-year. In the last five years, to address the ever-increasing software load and increasing complexity of embedded applications, device developers have moved from proprietary embedded RTOS platforms like VxWorks to open enterprise-class OSes like Linux and BSD. However, even with an emphasis on application-centric software stacks, core embedded platforms still need to deliver hardware-centric near line-rate performance.

FSMLabs RTLinuxPro and RTCoreBSD let developers meet requirements for low-latency hard-real-time responsiveness without sensitivity to application load for a wide range of CPU clock rates. For example, on an AMCC 440EP "Yosemite" reference platform, with a 533 Mhz system clock, RTLinux delivers worst case interrupt latency of 3.5 microseconds, and real-time context switch time of 13.5 microseconds. By comparison, native Linux and BSD limit real-time performance, with response times for comparable operations measured in terms of milliseconds, not microseconds.

RTLinux and RTCore also provide an extremely robust "host" operating system for "guest" enterprise-class Linux and BSD operating systems. This host/guest architecture enables developers of intelligent devices to build high-reliability systems and to support the ever-increasing software content on those devices.

"RTLinux lets developers maximize performance and reliability, even on low-power deeply embedded silicon," comments Victor Yodaiken, president and CEO of FSMLabs. "AMCC PowerPC 440 family provides a particularly good combination of performance and functionality, and also leverages our company's history of innovation on PowerPC-based systems." RTLinux helps silicon providers and their customers meet their design goals, too.

"We are pleased to see the introduction of RTLinux support for our embedded PowerPC," said Charlie Ashton, Director of software at AMCC. "Quick, predictable real-time response is a critical need in many of our customers' systems and we are delighted that RTLinux from FSMLabs is now an option to address their requirements. We look forward to FSMLabs supporting additional AMCC PowerPC processors in the future."

About FSMLabs
FSMLabs provides hard real-time solutions designed for reliability and simplicity of operation, that target mission-critical applications. FSMLabs was founded in 1998 and is privately held, with headquarters in New Mexico and sales and engineering staff in Alaska, Maryland, Texas, India, Russia, Korea, and Japan. FSMLabs products include RTLinux, RTCoreBSD, Lnet real-time networking, PSDD protected memory real-time, VxIT legacy emulation, Carrier Grade Linux, RTCore Eclipse IDE, and ControlsKit XML/RPC interface builder.

About AMCC
AMCC is a global leader in network and embedded PowerPC processing, optical transport and storage solutions. Our products enable the development of converged IP-based networks offering high-speed secure data, high-definition video and high-quality voice for carrier, metropolitan, access and enterprise applications. AMCC provides networking equipment vendors with industry-leading network and communications processing, Ethernet, SONET and switch fabric solutions. AMCC is also the leading vendor of high-port count SATA RAID controllers enabling low-cost, high-performance, high-capacity storage. AMCC's corporate headquarters are located in Sunnyvale, California. Sales and engineering offices are located throughout the world.

RTLinux, RTCore, Lnet, PSDD, ControlsKit, and FSMLabs are registered trademarks of Finite State Machine Labs Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. OSDL is a trademark of Open Source Development Labs, Inc. LSB is a trademark of the Free Standards Group.