Security panel maker embeds Linux in smart controller
Sep 27, 2000 — by LinuxDevices Staff — from the LinuxDevices Archive — viewsESC, San Jose, CA — (press release excerpt) — Neoware Systems today announced that Security Applications, Inc. has selected Neoware's Eon information appliance platform and NeoLinux software to power its new, fully networkable security panel, e-Panel. Security Applications (SAI) joins several major retailers and customers from a variety of other industries that have deployed NeoLinux and Eon-based… information appliances.
Utilizing Neoware's Eon information appliance platform and NeoLinux software, Security Applications has created a building-access-control device that includes software to read most of the security badges provided by leading security system vendors. Unlike traditional access-control devices, SAI's e-Panel is based upon an information appliance platform and designed around Neoware's NeoLinux operating system. This allows Security Applications to remotely configure, control and update security panels across an Internet-based network, and also allows customers to standardize on one security panel for all of their buildings.
Security Applications has ported its proprietary UNIX software to Neoware's Eon platform running the NeoLinux operating system. Because NeoLinux is based upon Official Red Hat Linux, this process required very little actual porting effort. NeoLinux is the first embedded version of Official Red Hat Linux, and includes important Neoware-developed security features designed specifically for information appliance applications.
Neoware ezOff allows users to turn off a NeoLinux-powered appliance without worrying about file synchronization and other parts of the normal Linux shutdown process. ezSecure makes the NeoLinux operating system “read-only” so applications and viruses can't change the operating system.
ezManage lets users remotely discover NeoLinux devices on the Internet or a LAN, and configure and upgrade them without traveling from device to device. ezCompress streamlines the Linux operating system for embedded applications, allowing it to operate in small devices without hard drives or other moving parts. ezConnect provides a simple graphical interface to connect NeoLinux to the web or to remote servers with minimum input from the user or system administrator.
Security Applications, Inc. has been dedicated to the design and advanced development of open, integrated electronic security management systems since 1982. SAI was the first company to offer multi-user, multi-tasking security management software based on the UNIX operating system and the Company is a pioneer of open architecture software that integrates access control, alarm monitoring and CCTV hardware from multiple manufacturers. e-Panel is the most advanced field hardware currently available in the electronic security industry. It combines industry standard computer architecture with open systems technology to create the most powerful, enterprise-wide security hardware in the industry. Its standard features include 10BaseT/100BaseT auto sensing Ethernet port, two serial RS-485 ports, two serial RS-232 ports, one parallel printer port, two USB ports, keyboard, and a mouse port; all packaged in a small laptop sized enclosure.
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