SYSGO and AMD Cooperate on Virtualization and Multi-Core Technology for the Embedded Market

PikeOS for AMD-V Technology

Mainz/Germany, April 10, 2007
SYSGO, the global supplier of highly reliable device software, and AMD (NYSE: AMD) have formed a cooperative venture to exploit AMD multi-core technology in conjunction with SYSGO’s PikeOS paravirtualization real-time operating system. AMD and SYSGO aim to provide a unique combination of multi-core technology, hardware virtualization, and software virtualization for the embedded industry. The first result of this partnership demonstrates the cooperative execution of Windows Embedded XP and a real-time application in clearly separated partitions.

“To realize our vision of a broad use of AMD-V™ virtualization technology and AMD multi-core technology in the embedded market, the right software solution must be available. With SYSGO’s PikeOS technology, hardware and software virtualization can be combined in hard real-time, secure and safety-critical environments,” said Jeff Chu, marketing manager of AMD’s embedded computing solutions division.

Virtualization is a powerful technique that enables hardware convergence efforts, legacy code reuse, IP protection, and security and safety solutions. Both AMD and SYSGO provide broad support for these market issues, using different but complementary virtualization approaches.

“Since AMD, with its leadership role in hardware virtualization, drove their AMD-V technology into the embedded domain, we see a unique opportunity to join forces and to amplify the benefits exponentially, by combining AMD and SYSGO technologies. With PikeOS and AMD-V technology, virtualization is greatly empowered in the embedded market,” said Detlev Schaadt, CTO at SYSGO.

PikeOS is a unique combination of a complete real-time operating system that’s based on a separation microkernel, and a hypervisor with all its virtualization capabilities. Within PikeOS, the separation microkernel manages the partitioning of the user space, and therefore enables virtualization. With AMD-V virtualization technology, some if the separation work runs in hardware. These features will enable PikeOS to become even more efficient, by avoiding the execution of some rather complex algorithms. The very compact implementation of PikeOS will be reduced even further when using AMD-V, and overall performance will definitely be improved.

The SYSGO/AMD joint solution will be able to handle:

• Running real-time applications cooperatively with Linux and/or Microsoft Windows
• Running applications with different security and safety levels on one hardware
• Combining several electronic control units on one platform
• Running legacy code that’s clearly separated from, but cooperates with, new technology
• Enabling several instances of Linux running on one machine

Aside from the technical advantages, the SYSGO/AMD solution helps to reduce and control implementation costs, as well as the overall embedded project risk.

The first step of the cooperation roadmap is general support of AMD multi-core CPU’s within PikeOS. This will be followed immediately by support for AMD-V technology. As soon as the new I/O MMU is available, PikeOS will utilize it. This will be the last step to a complete virtualization environment. SYSGO will continue to support AMD’s single-core line.

About AMD
Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is a leading global provider of innovative processing solutions in the computing, graphics and consumer electronics markets. AMD is dedicated to driving open innovation, choice and industry growth by delivering superior customer-centric solutions that empower consumers and businesses worldwide. For more information, visit www.amd.com

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