VxWorks facts for kids
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VxWorks 7 boot-up screen
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| Company / developer | Wind River (a wholly owned subsidiary of Aptiv) |
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| OS family | Real-time operating systems |
| Working state | Current |
| Initial release | 1987 |
| Latest stable release | VxWorks 7 24.03 / February 27, 2024 |
| Marketing target | Embedded systems |
| Supported platforms | x86, x86-64, MIPS, PowerPC, SH-4, ARM, RISC-V |
| Kernel type | Monolithic |
| License | Proprietary |
VxWorks is a special kind of computer program called a real-time operating system (RTOS). It's made by a company called Wind River Systems.
VxWorks was first released in 1987. It's designed for use in embedded systems. These are computer systems built into other devices. VxWorks helps these devices work very quickly and reliably. It's used in many important areas like space, defense, medical devices, and robots.
This operating system works with many different computer chips. These include AMD/Intel, PowerPC, ARM, and RISC-V. It can run on systems with one or many processors.
VxWorks comes with its main program (the kernel), tools, and other software parts. The newest version, VxWorks 7, is built in a way that makes it easy to update. It also has better security, safety, and ways to connect to other devices. This helps with things like the Internet of Things (IoT).
Contents
History of VxWorks
VxWorks began in the late 1980s. It started as improvements to an older RTOS called VRTX. Wind River added new features like a file system and development tools.
In 1987, Wind River decided to create its own main program (kernel). This new kernel would replace VRTX within VxWorks.
A book published in 2003 explains how VxWorks works. It was written by people from Wind River. This book helps explain the development environment and how the system calls work.
Here are some important moments for VxWorks:
- 1980s: VxWorks started working with 32-bit processors.
- 1990s: VxWorks 5 was the first RTOS to have a networking system.
- 2000s: VxWorks 6 added support for SMP. This means it could use multiple processors at once.
- 2010s: VxWorks started supporting 64-bit processing. VxWorks 7 was released in 2016 for IoT devices.
- 2020s: VxWorks continues to get updates. It even helps power the Mars 2020 lander.
How VxWorks Works
VxWorks supports many different computer chip types. These include Intel, PowerPC, and ARM. It can work on systems with multiple cores. This includes asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP) and symmetric multiprocessing (SMP). It works on both 32-bit and 64-bit processors.
The VxWorks system includes many parts. It has the main operating system program. It also has software for things like file systems, network connections, and USB devices. There's also hardware support for different computer boards.
VxWorks comes with tools for developers. These include compilers like Diab and GNU. It also has a special development suite called Workbench. This helps people create programs for VxWorks.
The system is designed to be flexible. Its main program (kernel) is separate from other parts. This makes it easier to fix problems and add new features. Developers can also choose which versions of features to use.
VxWorks can have extra features added. These include:
- Better security to protect devices and data.
- Advanced safety features for important applications.
- Tools for analyzing data very quickly on devices.
- Support for running Java applications.
- Virtualization, which lets multiple operating systems run on one device.
Key Features of VxWorks
Here are some of the main things VxWorks can do:
- It can run many tasks at the same time. This is called multitasking.
- It is a native 64-bit operating system for certain processors.
- It keeps different applications separate. This protects them from each other and the main system.
- It supports using multiple processors together (SMP and AMP).
- It has ways to handle errors if something goes wrong.
- It supports many ways for devices to connect, like Bluetooth and USB.
- It has different types of semaphores for managing tasks.
- It uses message queues to send information between different parts of the system.
- It follows certain standards for how programs should work.
- It supports different file systems for storing data.
- It has a modern networking system that supports IPv6.
- It protects memory and helps find problems.
- It allows different operating systems to talk to each other.
- It has tools for finding and fixing problems in programs.
In 2014, Wind River released VxWorks 7. This version focused on making the system more flexible, secure, and connected. Some updates in VxWorks 7 include:
- A design that lets you update parts of the code separately.
- A very small version of the RTOS (as small as 20 KB).
- New security features like digital signatures and password management.
- Better ways to create user interfaces with graphics.
- Updated tools for setting up and building VxWorks projects.
- Improved ways to connect devices, like Bluetooth.
- New networking features with 64-bit support.
- A new development environment called Wind River Workbench 4.
- Support for different compilers.
Hardware Support
VxWorks can run on many different types of computer hardware. This includes Intel, MIPS, PowerPC, and ARM processors. It provides a standard way for the operating system to work with all this different hardware. This makes it easier for developers to create software that runs on many devices. VxWorks also works with popular security libraries like wolfSSL.
Development Tools
When people create software for VxWorks, they often use a "host" system. This is a powerful computer where they write and test their code. The code is then made to run on the "target" system, which is the device that will actually use VxWorks. This allows developers to use strong tools while working with smaller, more specialized hardware.
VxWorks supports many target computer chip types. These include ARM, Intel, PowerPC, and RISC-V.
The Workbench IDE (Integrated Development Environment) comes with VxWorks. It's a tool that helps developers set up, analyze, and fix problems in their VxWorks systems. Older versions of VxWorks used an IDE called Tornado. Workbench is now used for VxWorks 6.x and later versions.
Wind River Simics is another tool. It can create a virtual version of the target system. This means developers can test their software without needing the actual hardware. It helps teams work together and find problems early.
Where VxWorks is Used
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VxWorks is used in many different products and industries. These include aerospace, defense, cars, industrial equipment, consumer electronics, medical devices, and networking. Here are some famous examples:
Space and Defense
- Spacecraft
- The Mars 2020 rover
- The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
- The Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity rover)
- NASA Mars rovers (Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity)
- The Clementine (spacecraft) spacecraft, launched in 1994, used VxWorks. It was one of the first times a commercial operating system was used on a spacecraft.
- The Phoenix Mars lander
- The Deep Impact space probe
- The Mars Pathfinder mission
- NASA's Juno space probe, which went to Jupiter
- Aircraft
- AgustaWestland Project Zero (a special aircraft)
- Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (a drone)
- Airbus A400M Airlifter
- Parts of the Tornado GR4 aircraft
- The Boeing 787 airplane
- Space Telescopes
Cars
- Toshiba systems for advanced driver assistance in cars.
- Bosch Motor Sports systems for race cars.
- Hyundai Mobis car entertainment systems.
- BMW iDrive 2.0 systems (from 2003-2008).
- Siemens VDO car navigation systems.
- Many electronic control units in Renault Trucks.
- European Volkswagen RNS 510 navigation systems.
Consumer Electronics
- Apple Airport Extreme (a Wi-Fi router)
- Brother printers
- Drobo data storage devices
- Honda robot ASIMO
- Some Linksys WRT54G wireless routers
- Motorola's DCT2500 digital set-top box
- ReplayTV home digital video recorders
Industrial Use
- Industrial Robots
- ABB industrial robots
- KUKA industrial robots
- Stäubli industrial robots
- Yaskawa Electric Corporation's industrial robots
- Comau Robotics SMART5 industrial robot
- Transportation
- FITSCO Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
- Bombardier Train Information System.
- Controllers
- National Instruments CompactRIO controllers.
- Emerson distributed control system controllers.
- AMX controls system devices.
- Rockwell Automation PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) used in factories.
- Schneider Electric Industrial Controllers.
- Storage Systems
- External RAID controllers from LSI Corporation/Engenio (now NetApp).
- Fujitsu ETERNUS DX Sx data storage arrays.
Medical Devices
- Varian Medical Systems Truebeam (a device for treating cancer).
- Olympus Corporation's surgical generator.
- General Electric Healthcare: CT and MRI scanners.
- Carl Zeiss Meditec: Humphrey Field Analyzer (for eye tests).
- Philips C-Arm Radiology Equipment.
Networking and Communication
- Many of Huawei's telecom devices use VxWorks.
- Nokia Solutions and Networks FlexiPacket series microwave products.
- Acme Packet Net-Net series of Session Border Controllers.
- Alcatel-Lucent IP Deskphones.
- Cisco CSS and ONS platforms.
- Dell PowerConnect switches.
- Ericsson SmartEdge routers.
- Hewlett Packard HP 9000 Superdome Guardian Service Processor.
- HughesNet/Direcway satellite internet modems.
- Mitel Networks' MiVoice Business phone systems.
- Motorola cable modems and cable headend equipment.
- Nortel CS1000 PBX phone systems.
- Samsung DCS and OfficeServ series PBX.
- SonicWALL firewalls.
- Thuraya satellite phones.
Keeping VxWorks Safe
Sometimes, experts find ways that computer systems could have problems. In 2019, a group called Armis found some issues in VxWorks. These issues could potentially allow someone to cause problems with devices using VxWorks. This could include making devices stop working or getting information.
Since VxWorks is used in many important devices, it's very important to fix these issues. Wind River works to provide updates to help keep these systems safe.
See also
In Spanish: VxWorks para niños
