Aerospace Journal

LynuxWorks has announced the immediate release of LynxSecure 3.1, the latest version of its next-generation and award-winning separation kernel and embedded hypervisor. This update to LynxSecure takes advantage of new technologies, including guest operating support for the latest Microsoft Windows® and the latest Intel® Core2 Duo systems.

As with prior versions, LynxSecure 3.1 can virtualize the underlying hardware to enable multiple, heterogeneous operating systems (OS) to co-exist on the same platform. This mix can include traditional desktop OSes like fully virtualized Windows and para-virtualized Linux® along with hard real-time OSes like the LynxOS® RTOS family. LynxSecure 3.1 introduces support for Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows 2003 which are run as fully virtualized guest OSes, adding to the existing Windows XP support offered in version 3.0. LynxSecure 3.1 gives embedded systems developers the ultimate flexibility of full desktop systems, while retaining military-grade security with real-time performance and determinism.

LynxSecure also offers built-in virtual networking, allowing Windows applications to seamlessly communicate via TCP/IP with other virtualized OSes, such as Linux, running in a separate partition. This rapid and secure inter-partition communication is handled entirely by LynxSecure, without modifying the applications or the virtualized OS.

Unlike other hypervisor solutions and as a testament to the performance of LynxSecure, applications that require 3D graphics support can also be run at near-native performance on virtualized guest OSes. These applications are very commonly required in industries such as A&D, medical and gaming, bringing the functionality of LynxSecure to the reach of many more embedded developers.

Support for some of the latest Intel Core2 Duo devices, including reference platforms such as the American Portwell Wade 8067, is included in LynxSecure 3.1. The multi-core processor and hardware virtualization capabilities of these boards mean virtualized guest OSes can now operate at near-native performance.

"With the release of LynxSecure 3.1, we've again raised the bar for software virtualization solutions," said Gurjot Singh, CEO, LynuxWorks. "This new version gives our customers even more flexibility for their application development without compromising the performance and security that has defined LynxSecure as the leader in this new and exciting space."

LynxSecure can run on any 32-bit or 64-bit processor with a memory management unit (MMU) and provides 100 percent application binary compatibility between a stand alone OS and its virtualized version. Like all LynuxWorks products, LynxSecure is based on open standards, but it also offers the highest real-time and security capabilities, conforming to the MILS standard and designed to be certifiable to Common Criteria EAL 7+.