OTTAWA, August 17, 2004 - QNX Software Systems today announced that Cisco Systems® is using an optimized version of the QNX® Neutrino® microkernel in the recently announced Cisco IOS® XR Software, the newest member of the Cisco IOS Software Family. Cisco IOS XR Software is designed to deliver industry-leading continuous system operation and advanced routing features on the multiterabit distributed architecture of the Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System.Renowned for its extreme reliability in mission- and life-critical applications, the QNX Neutrino microkernel provides a field-proven, modular architecture optimized for carrier-class availability, scalability, and dynamic service upgrades. Cisco engineers used QNX Neutrino as a technology base and built upon it to develop the Cisco CRS-1's self-healing capabilities and industry-leading network scalability.
With millions of installations worldwide and 24 years of proven performance in the field, QNX microkernel technology supports customers running continuous applications where failure is simply not an option - from life-critical medical instruments and 9-1-1 call centers to control systems for nuclear reactors, high-speed trains, and semiconductor manufacturing.
"We are delighted to contribute to Cisco's breakthrough routing innovation through the development of the Cisco CRS-1," said Dan Dodge, CEO of QNX Software Systems. "By leveraging the QNX Neutrino microkernel as a key building block of Cisco IOS XR Software, Cisco is delivering a next-generation routing system that raises the bar in terms of reliability and service flexibility."
Key features of the QNX Neutrino microkernel include:
Modular architecture - QNX Neutrino cleanly separates components such as drivers, protocol stacks, file systems, and applications from each other and from the microkernel itself, enabling system upgrades and software hotswaps on the fly - without costly downtime or service interruptions. Full memory protection enables fault isolation and maximum reliability.
Transparent distributed processing - In the QNX Neutrino microkernel, applications and system services become network distributed without any special code, simplifying the design of fault-tolerant multiprocessor applications and enabling large, highly distributed systems.
Symmetric mulitprocessing (SMP) - The only realtime microkernel capable of symmetric multiprocessing, QNX Neutrino allows carriers to leverage the massive compute power of multi-core and multi-processor platforms based on x86, MIPS, and PowerPC architectures.
Critical process monitoring - The QNX Neutrino microkernel offers a fine-grained approach to fault isolation and recovery, increasing MTBF and reducing MTTR. Critical process monitoring allows automatic recovery from even low-level faults, enabling self-healing networks.
POSIX conformance - QNX Neutrino was the first microkernel to conform to POSIX and is in certification testing for the 2003 edition. By adhering to POSIX API specifications, QNX Neutrino ensures maximum interoperability and portability, accelerating time-to-market and reducing risk.
About QNX Software Systems
Founded in 1980, QNX Software Systems is the industry leader in realtime, microkernel OS technology. The inherent reliability, scalable architecture, and proven performance of the QNX Neutrino RTOS make it the most trusted foundation for future-ready applications in the networking, automotive, medical, military, and industrial automation markets. Companies worldwide like Cisco, DaimlerChrysler, Harris, Siemens, and General Electric depend on QNX technology for their mission- and life-critical applications. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, QNX Software Systems maintains offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, and distributes its products in more than 100 countries worldwide. Visit http://www.qnx.com.
Editorial Contacts
Paul Leroux
QNX Software Systems
+1 613 591-0931
paull@qnx.com