LAUREL, Md., and SUNNYVALE, Calif. — PRNewswire — Computer I/O Corporation, a leading supplier of software that simplifies network access to live and real-time data streams, and MontaVista Software Inc., a provider of open source operating systems for embedded software, today announced a strategic relationship that will allow embedded application developers to easily create high performance Linux I/O… servers and appliances. The joint effort will deliver a Linux-based real-time server platform designed for the unique needs of time-sensitive, high-bandwidth applications using streaming media such as multi-media, telecommunications and web servers.

Computer I/O designed Easy I/O to allow developers to build real-time Linux I/O servers without the need to understand low-level real-time programming issues. MontaVista is focused on enabling the use of Linux in embedded environments where delivery response guarantees are needed for streaming media and other latency-sensitive devices.

Under the agreement, Computer I/O will use MontaVista's Hard Hat Linux as an embedded platform for its Easy I/O product line that simplifies the creation and access of deterministic I/O servers and appliances. The combination of Hard Hat Linux and Easy I/O will give application developers an embedded I/O server platform with transparent network access for both data transfers and browser-based hardware configuration and monitoring.

“Having Easy I/O and Hard Hat Linux together as a platform for real-time applications will address some of the industry's most challenging development issues,” comments Jason Smith, Computer I/O Vice President of Marketing. “This integrated solution protects developers from the complexities of real-time programming at the same time that it delivers optimized real-time performance for Linux.”

“Easy I/O technology adds a new dimension to our embedded solutions,” states Kevin Morgan, MontaVista vice president of engineering. “Where Hard Hat Linux addresses embedded implementation and real-time performance issues, Easy I/O makes real-time simple to implement for the application developer. We see it as a powerful combination that will open new applications to the Linux operating system.”

Technology Overview

Computer I/O's Easy I/O technology delivers an entirely new approach to the creation and remote access of I/O servers, peripherals, and appliances for telecommunications, multi-media, or any other application utilizing real-time data streams. Easy I/O provides unified interfaces for applications, network access, and real-time data collection and transfer. This includes web browser-based access for configuration and monitoring of I/O devices; a unified I/O application programming interface (API) that remains consistent across different I/O hardware; and Computer I/O's patented Virtual File System that allows data streams to be viewed and accessed as simply as dealing with a file.

MontaVista's royalty-free Hard Hat Linux, based entirely on the standard Linux kernel and open source components is optimized for embedded applications, including communications. Hard Hat Linux brings developers an impressive array of embedded systems features and capabilities, including scalable memory footprint down to 0.5 megabytes, embedded operation (no console, no disk), flash ROM memory boot and file system, support for high-integration processors and accompanying peripherals. Hard Hat Linux
targets x86/Pentium CPUs from Intel and PowerPC processors from Motorola and IBM, offering board support for COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) and custom embedded systems hardware infrastructure and Internet appliances.

About Computer I/O Corporation (www.computerio.com)

Computer I/O Corporation is a leading supplier of software and services that simplify network access to live and real-time data streams. Through its software-based Easy I/O product line, Computer I/O is dedicated to giving embedded and enterprise application developers the ability to easily create and access network I/O servers for real world data. Computer I/O products and services address the needs of the communications, multi-media, industrial automation and defense industries. Founded in 1988, Computer I/O recently received funding from SpaceVest, a venture capital firm specializing in technology development, to market its Easy I/O solutions. Computer I/O is headquartered in Laurel, Maryland with field sales offices in California, Texas, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

About MontaVista Software, Inc. (www.mvista.com)

MontaVista Software Inc., founded in 1999 by real-time operating system pioneer James Ready, delivers open-source software solutions for the worldwide embedded software market. MontaVista's principal offering is the Linux operating system tailored for embedded software applications. MontaVista products include Hard Hat Linux, a standard off-the-shelf binary distribution of Linux for PowerPC and x86 architectures. Hard Hat Linux is supported by a comprehensive tool suite including optimizing compilers for C, C++ and other languages; high-level language debuggers; and performance monitoring tools. The company's Subscription Plans also provide Linux support, porting and customization services to customers worldwide. MontaVista headquarters are in Sunnyvale, Calif., in the heart of the Silicon Valley.

 
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