Address IoT challenges with open source solutions

Open Virtualization, Security Profile and Carrier Grade Profile have been updated with the latest Linux kernel, toolchain and user space from the Yocto Project 1.7 release. These software profiles are high-value add-ons to Wind River Linux, with features that seamlessly integrate with validation tools, documentation and hardware support.

In IoT, a steady flow of intelligence and actionable insights can emerge only if connectivity is present and persistent. However, as a result of persistent connectivity, exposure to security threats increases. Additionally, if devices are not properly protected, the ability for persistent connectivity itself is threatened.

Built to align with the Common Criteria for Operating System Protection Profile and Evaluation Assurance Levels, Security Profile delivers security capabilities to help developers protect against future threats from the growth of IoT. As other industries, such as networking, industrial and automotive, are increasingly asked to comply with similar Common Criteria requirements to evaluate and certify products that demand greater security and connectivity, developers are facing new challenges. Meeting these needs can be expensive and time-consuming, adding cost and risk to programmes. Customers can reduce risks by relying on Wind River to deliver a fully maintained and securely monitored commercial embedded Linux distribution with built-in security features such as a hardened kernel, secure user space, and secure boot process.

Virtualisation, a game-changing technology in the IT, networking and communications industries, also offers the promise of system consolidation, reduced capital and operational expenses and new cloud services ripe for IoT opportunities, to many other industries, from aerospace and defence to medical and automotive. Using open source Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) technology combined with the proven commercial Wind River Linux distribution, Open Virtualization delivers near-native hardware performance and enables many applications and functions running on dedicated operating systems and hardware to consolidate into one intelligent system, enabling highly scalable systems at lower cost.

As more devices become connected in the IoT age, they will require increased performance and zero downtime. For certain applications, such as critical infrastructure for energy or medical use cases, the network simply cannot go down, and carrier grade reliability is essential. Strict requirements to achieve these specifications are mandated by the Linux Foundation in the Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) specifications. Carrier Grade Profile meets the registration requirements of the Linux Foundation’s CGL 5.0 specification. This turnkey solution delivers all of the technologies essential to building a powerful, flexible, responsive, stable and secure platform.

Wind River Linux delivers the flexibility and innovation that comes with open source technology, combined with the long term commercial support needed for the lifetime maintenance of a device. Wind River Linux can help developers significantly reduce production and maintenance costs and speed build cycles by more than 30% compared to roll-your-own in-house efforts.

In addition to security and connectivity, flexibility and scalability are essential to an IoT infrastructure. The Yocto Project provides the technical flexibility to allow teams to scale one common runtime across a variety of IoT devices of virtually any size, industry or architecture, all leveraging the same technical infrastructure for greater efficiencies and cost savings. Developed from the Yocto Project open source development infrastructure, Wind River Linux uses the latest Linux kernel as its upstream source to ensure customers have commercially supported access to the newest advancements from the open source community.

"The challenges around security and connectivity are becoming more complex with the growth of IoT. Developers must work on projects demanding higher levels of security and performance within tighter schedules and budgets. Our Linux profiles provide a jump-start to address these demands for intelligent, connected, and more secure devices for a range of IoT needs,” said Dinyar Dastoor, Vice President and General Manager, Operating System Platforms, Wind River. “In addition to the challenges that arise with deploying large IoT systems, companies also face the difficulties of maintaining many deployed devices over a long period of time, well after repeated updates to the Linux kernel and its packages. Wind River provides support for long lifecycles, including updates and security patches for new vulnerabilities.”

Wind River Linux and its software profiles are part of the Wind River Helix portfolio of products enabling IoT advancements. Wind River open source solutions will be showcased at Wind River booth 9 at Embedded Linux Conference 2015 in San Jose.

Separately, Wind River also recently announced the addition of application and data services in the cloud to Wind River Linux via Wind River Edge Management System, its cloud-based IoT platform.