SCIENCE

MontaVista Software has announced the release of MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition (CGE) 6.0, the next generation of its leading carrier grade quality Linux development platform. CGE 6.0 delivers the technologies required for next generation multi-core architectures with the new MontaVista Bare Metal Engine for extremely high performance, new multi-core resource management capabilities to fully maximize multi-core designs, and new high availability features incorporating the latest open source technologies. At the same time, CGE helps Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) and Telecom companies lower their total cost of ownership with extended power management capabilities and support for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware.

Traffic demands on 3G and 4G networks are rapidly growing with the explosion of multimedia content, yet NEPs are measured on a cost/performance basis. CGE6.0 delivers the performance they need at a lower cost with the new Bare Metal Engine (BME).

--  The Bare Metal Engine in CGE 6.0 provides a light-weight, configurable run-time environment that delivers RTOS performance inside a Linux environment. Based on standard Linux features, BME lets users create a dedicated environment to run Linux processes, providing bare-metal execution and performance all in Linux. BME provides multiple configurations, allowing users to choose their own unique balance between system-services and no-overhead performance.

New equipment designs are rapidly turning to multi-core architectures to increase performance. However, the complexity of these architectures creates challenges for developers around configuration, proper core utilization, effectively mapping the hardware to multiple cores, and rewriting legacy applications. With its new multi-core resource management capabilities, CGE 6.0 helps developers simplify multi-core application development and deployment. CGE 6.0 delivers the first multi-architecture support for Linux Containers and KVM in a carrier grade Linux, and for Cavium OCTEON(R) customers adds support for EMVisor.

--  Linux Containers provide resource partitioning and an isolated application space without the need for a complete virtualization solution, reducing overhead and complexity. CGE 6.0 offers the first cross architecture, carrier grade quality implementation of Linux Containers, supporting MIPS, PPC, and x86 architectures.

--  The KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) provides a complete virtualization solution allowing developers to run multiple operating systems and/or legacy applications on a single architecture. CGE 6.0 adds the first support for KVM on MIPS and PPC processors. Previously only available on x86, this gives developers added flexibility to select the best hardware for their design.

--  CGE 6.0 adds support for EMVisor from Cavium Networks. Used with Cavium Networks OCTEON processors, EMVisor abstracts the underlying hardware, allowing developers to create virtual SoCs by grouping processor cores and I/O to quickly set up an optimized system.

NEPs and Telecom providers demand high availability and reliability in a carrier grade product. Downtime for their customers is costly and unacceptable. Previous versions of CGE have already achieved six 9's availability (99.9999% or less than 31.5 seconds of downtime per year) and provided unique features that allow administrators to update running systems in place. With CGE 6.0 MontaVista extends the high availability capabilities of CGE by incorporating OpenSAF 4.0, the latest version of the open source high availability software consistant with the Service Availability Forum (SAF) specifications.

CGE 6.0 also brings advanced power management features to carrier grade Linux for the first time by incorporating power management features found in the standard Linux kernel. Combined with the ability to leverage COTS hardware, this helps NEPs and Telecom providers lower their total cost of ownership.

Supporting Quotes: "Cisco is relying on the performance and reliability of MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition to power many of Cisco's networking products. MontaVista's innovative approach to virtualization sets a new standard for next generation network equipment on multi-core architectures," said Greg Lavender, VP of Foundation Engineering, at Cisco. "The addition of advanced power management in a carrier grade Linux helps further Cisco's goal of environmental sustainability using energy-wise core technology. We look forward to continuing our long partnership with MontaVista as they continue to drive innovation in the embedded Linux market."

"As carrier equipment designs turn to multi-core processors to achieve the required performance, the complexity of the software increases. One area of concern is around the use of virtualization and hypervisors in embedded devices/systems. The requirement for virtualization in an embedded environment is far different than the server IT market," said Chris Rommel, Senior Analyst, at VDC Research. "MontaVista's approach to virtualization and resource partitioning in CGE 6.0 with containers, KVM, and Bare Metal Engine offers customers alternatives to develop the solutions that best meet their requirements."

"MontaVista has been at the forefront of innovation in embedded Linux since the company's founding. CGE 6.0 continues that trend of innovation in Linux by delivering the platform customers need to develop next-generation 4G wireless applications," said Dan Cauchy, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at MontaVista. "The new Bare Metal Engine in CGE 6.0 delivers extremely high performance for multi-core architectures. The first cross-platform support for Linux containers and KVM provides customers unmatched flexibility in multi-core application design. Finally, support for OpenSAF 4.0 and the incorporation of advanced power management features in a carrier grade quality Linux provide the high availability and efficiency customers demand today."

"The high performance and availability capabilities provided in MontaVista Linux CGE 6.0 will enable RadiSys customers to rapidly develop new 4G applications that meet their unique price/performance goals," said Venkataraman Prasannan, General Manager, ATCA, RadiSys. "Our broad ecosystem of partners allows us to provide our customers with more complete network-ready solutions, enabling faster TTM, lower development cost and risk to address new revenue generating services."