NetworkWorld: Getting embedded with a penguin

“Developers have been putting Linux on small devices and
cramming the operating system into a space the size of a SIMM for
some time, but embedded versions of the operating system are on the
verge of coming to mainstream devices, such as slimmed-down
Internet clients, handheld devices and network
appliances.”

“One of the major markets for embedded Linux systems lies in
e-business and enterprise networks. Last fall, Red Hat bought
Cygnus Solutions, which develops embedded Linux tools and embedded
operating systems, creating the biggest open-source company in the
world. The merger brought together the Red Hat development team’s
expertise in the operating system (they are the leading Linux
distribution company) and the unique gadget-related technology of
Cygnus, such as its embedded configurable operating system (eCos),
embedded Linux tools and application programming interfaces.”

“Last month, Red Hat began offering eCos as its own product,
coinciding with the release of Red Hat Linux 6.2. Red Hat is
banking on Linux to emerge as the standard technology in enterprise
handheld and server connectivity. The leaders in server and
handheld operating system development are currently Microsoft and
Palm Computing, but Red Hat proclaims that having the same core
operating system running on the front and back ends of these
post-PC, wireless handheld network environments will lead to better
performance and scalability. With Linux running on the client and
the server, business applications will come to market more quickly
as software can be written once for server applications, then only
slightly modified for compatibility for the wireless handheld
client, Red Hat says.”

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