MARKHAM, ON — Unique Broadband Systems, Inc. today unveiled its development of “RealLinux”, a real-time open-source operating system based on Linux. Unique Broadband Systems' CEO, Alex Dolgonos, says “RealLinux is targeted to the global embedded hardware industry, and is especially focused on high speed 'industrial' processors such as Motorola's PowerPC and 68030, Intel's i960, and selected… DSPs.”

UBS' RealLinux offering will include documentation (how to implement systems based on RealLinux), board support packages (BSPs), target boards, and 24×7 technical support for companies wanting to incorporate RealLinux into their embedded system applications. The RealLinux software components will be available under the GNU open-source model, and will therefore be downloadable on the company's web site. The first implementation will be based on the Motorola 68030.

The paramount goals of RealLinux are to provide all Linux system calls and network support, add real-time extensions, yet be small enough to be executed from ROM or flash memory. Although Linux does not support real-time scheduling, UBS' RealLinux will have full real-time scheduling capabilities, which is critical for real-time embedded applications. The first version of RealLinux will be based on the Motorola 68360.

Unique Broadband Systems' CEO Dolgonos explains that the inspiration to develop RealLinux arose from the system architecture and performance requirements of the company's current products, which includes components, sub-systems, and systems for digital video broadcast, digital audio broadcast, PCS, CATV AML, MMDS, and LMDS. Typical customer applications include wireless digital audio and video broadcast to aircraft and other vehicles at high speed data rates up to 10 megabits/second. By contrast, cellular transmissions are limited to 56 kilobits/second.

Concurrent with this development, UBS is also developing a generic network management system based on RealLinux. Standard controllers powered by RealLinux will provide SNMP and web access to digital equipment over the Internet.

It is expected that these products will be commercially introduced to the market within the next 12 months.

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