A preliminary version of the RTAI real-time extension for Linux is now available for testing with Linux kernel 2.4.xx. Paolo Mantegazza, RTAI project leader, says the new release “is a relatively advanced porting of RTAI to the approaching Linux [kernel] 2.4.xx, both for [Intel-x86] and PowerPC architectures”. The current RTAI version supports kernel 2.3.99-pre6 and 2.4.0-test1.

With this release, the RTAI project has adopted a new naming convention: for example, the current version of RTAI, 24.1.0, indicates that it is for Linux kernel 2.4 (“24”), that it is a development version (“1”, an odd number), and that it is the first release (“0”) in the series.

“RTAI,” which stands for Real Time Application Interface, consists of an add-on module that takes control of system resources and runs the Linux kernel as a subordinate task. By responding quickly to high priority real-time events, RTAI adds “hard real-time” capabilities to Linux, while preserving full compatibility with standard Linux APIs and applications. RTAI development has been spearheaded by programmers at the Dipartimento di Ingegneria Aerospaziale Politecnico di Milano (DIAPM) in Italy.

RTAI, including the new version (rtai-24.1.0.tgz), is available for public download at the RTAI ftp site.

Related stories:
DIAPM-RTAI: Real-time Linux API
RTAI: Real-Time Application Interface
DIAPM-RTAI Hard Real Time Support for Linux

 
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