Talk abstract: High Availability (HA) doesn't only apply to FIVE-9s system with redundant hardware and automatic fail-over. “Availability” is simply readiness for use — a requirement of all embedded systems. Although redundant hardware is needed to tolerate permanent hardware faults, it isn't needed for overcoming transient hardware faults or software faults. Since the risk of software faults increases with the amount of software, Linux-based embedded systems may be subject to greater risk than traditional embedded systems based on smaller embedded OSes. Internet connection further increases the likelihood of transient faults. Techniques like watchdog timers, process restart, checkpoint and rollback, and fault monitoring can be used to improve availability in embedded systems independent of the use of hardware redundancy.

Speaker bio: Mitchell Bunnell co-founded Digital Lynx, in Dallas, Texas in 1986. In 1988, the company moved to California and was re-incorporated as Lynx Real-Time Systems. More recently, the company has taken on a new name, LynuxWorks. Mitch was the main designer of the LynxOS kernel and served as Vice of Engineering. He is now responsible for LynuxWorks' future technology strategies and development of key evolutionary enhancements to LynxOS. Prior to founding Digital Lynx, Mitch worked on real-time projects as a programmer and consultant, including oil pump control, petroleum distillation, high-speed data acquisition for wind tunnel testing, and video games. Mitch holds a BSEE Summa Cum Laude from the University of Houston.

Talk slides: here

 
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