LinuxPR: MontaVista Enables Seamless Real-Time Scheduler For Linux

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“Scheduler plug-in expands Linux application space; offers
real-time priorities while preserving Linux programming
model”

“MontaVista Software, Inc., supplier of Hard Hat Linux for
embedded applications, today announces the availability of a new
real-time scheduler for the Linux kernel. The MontaVista real-time
scheduler gives developers of embedded applications new options for
meeting real-time performance requirements while preserving the
standard Linux programming model and Application Programming
Interfaces (APIs).”

“In contrast to other real-time add-ons to Linux, the MontaVista
real-time solution does not introduce a second kernel underneath
Linux, nor does it attempt to substitute so-called
“Linux-compatible” real-time operating system (RTOS) components for
Linux itself. Rather, the MontaVista real-time scheduler is
integrated into the standard Linux kernel, fully realizing the
already-present “real-time” scheduling policies, but with enforced
hard prioritization. The benefit to embedded Linux applications is
twofold. First, applications with real-time requirements behave
more predictably and reliably. Second, developers can still
leverage the standard Linux APIs and memory-protected programming
models, resulting in shorter development cycles, better code reuse
and high reliability.”

“The MontaVista scheduler, which executes before the standard
Linux scheduler, optimizes Linux process/thread scheduling by only
examining and dispatching the highest priority real-time entity
that is ready to run. Unlike the Linux scheduler, overhead for
process selection is fixed, yielding extremely high performance. If
no real-time entity is available for execution, or none has been
specified as real-time, then scheduling falls through to the
standard scheduler and fairness-based scheduling proceeds apace.
“Everyone benefits from a fully transparent solution,” states Kevin
Morgan, MontaVista Software vice-president of engineering. “Our
real-time scheduler doesn’t force the developer to learn another OS
in order to build predictable embedded applications – we just help
Linux accomplish the real-time mission using time-tested open Linux
APIs and programming paradigms.” Morgan adds that he and his
engineering team look forward to feedback from the open-source
community in response to releasing this technology.”

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