Datalight released a new version of its Reliance Nitro file system aimed at embedded Linux devices. Reliance Nitro SDK for Linux 2.0 offers improved read and write performance, fast boot times, solid reliability, and a wide assortment of validation and testing tools, says the company.

The Reliance Nitro SDK for Linux 2.0 is the latest in a number of Linux-compatible file system products from Datalight, including the Datalight Flash File System announced in early 2008. That product combined the Linux version of the Reliance file system with DataLight's FlashFX Pro flash media manager and block device driver, an earlier version of the FlashFX Tera software mentioned farther below.

The new Reliance Nitro 2.0 SDK offers tools to validate hardware, including DCLTest, DevIOTest, and RelTest, says Datalight. Performance testing tools include FSIOTest and FSStressTest, while other tools help perform standard file system preparation activities such as formatting (relFsVolFormat) and integrity checking (relFsChk), says the company.

Reliance Nitro's platform-independent FSIOTest and FSStressTest performance and reliability testing utilities, meanwhile, are said to be compatible with any file system. Also included is a Reliance Nitro Windows Driver "for seamlessly moving data between a Linux system and a Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7-based system," says Datalight.

Reliance Nitro's tree-based architecture

Touted for providing faster performance and boot times, Reliance Nitro uses a tree-based metadata and "transactional extent-based" architecture. The architecture integrates a system of configurable transaction settings dubbed "Dynamic Transaction Point," claimed to balance performance with the amount of at-risk user data, says Datalight. It also provides immunity from file corruption, even after unexpected system interruption, claims the company.

The Reliance Nitro architecture is compatible with "virtually any storage medium," and maintains efficiency "whether an OEM is designing with hardware-managed or software-managed storage media," says Datalight.

Reliance Nitro can be used in combination with Datalight's Linux-compatible FlashFX Tera flash media manager for a complete flash memory based file system solution, says the company. FlashFX Tera supports over 300 flash parts, including MLC, and works with virtually any NAND controller, says the company. The software is also said to feature wear leveling, bad block management, and background compaction.

Stated Datalight VP of Engineering Ken Whitaker, "With Reliance Nitro 2.0, OEMs using Linux no longer have to choose between performance, reliability, a full set of tools and professional support."

Availability

The Reliance Nitro SDK for Linux 2.0 is available now at an undisclosed price. More information, including a number of videos, may be found at Datalight's Reliance Nitro page.

---

This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.