[Updated Feb. 8] — Concurrent Computer is accepting orders for its first VME/VXS system available with Linux. The “iHawk VME” system runs Concurrent's Red Hat-based RedHawk operating system for multi-processor x86 chips, and enables userspace software to respond to external events in under 30… microseconds, the company claims.

(Click for larger view of iHawk VME)

VME (VersaModule Eurocard) is a venerable board and bus standard with a history stretching back more than 25 years. It is primarily used in legacy military and aerospace systems. The VITA 41 VXS standard appears to be an update to VME that adds support for modern serial interconnects.

Concurrent says its iHawk VME/VXS system will provide a Linux-based upgrade path to customers of its legacy Unix-based VME platforms. The comprises a 6U VME card powered by Intel Core multi-core processors, with support for up to 4GB of RAM, and a VME chassis with removable peripheral bays.

Additional touted features include:

• 10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet
• Ultra320 SCSI, SAS and SATA disk drives
• Real-Time Clock & Interrupt Module (RCIM)
• A wide range of I/O interfaces and VME controller options
• Keyboard, mouse, USB and serial ports

Concurrent's RedHawk operating system uses processor shielding technology on top of symmetric multiprocessing to ensure deterministic response times on multi-core x86 processors. Along with Concurrent's custom multithreaded, fully preemptible kernel, RedHawk includes a Red Hat-based filesystem.

Additionally, Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Real-Time (SLERT) product is based on Concurrent's processor shielding technology.

Concurrent says its iHawk VME system also supports its NightStar development tools.

Gary Beerman, director of marketing, stated, “iHawk VME provides an attractive Linux migration path for Concurrent's Power Hawk UNIX-based VME systems.”

Availability

Concurrent's iHawk VME system is available now for custom orders, with pricing dependent on customer options, Concurrent said.

 
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