Wind River Updates VxWorks MILS Platform

Wind River, a developer of embedded and mobile software, released an updated version of its VxWorks MILS Platform that includes an optional high-assurance network stack and support for Wind River Linux as a guest operating system.

VxWorks MILS Platform 2.1 is an embedded real-time operating system designed to ensure customers have a protected platform for developing high-assurance applications. The new high-assurance network stack enables MILS-based secure networking, a vital component of cross-domain solutions and multilevel secure connected devices, according to Wind River, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel.

By supporting Wind River Linux guest OS support, customers can use their existing Linux applications in MILS-based secure systems, the developer said. The latest version also supports partner software technologies such as Ada, DDS and Java, and includes the newest release of the Eclipse-based Wind River Workbench development suite of tools, designed to deliver insight into all layers of software running on VxWorks MILS Platform 2.1. Eclipse also supports simultaneous VxWorks and Wind River Linux guest OS debugging and analysis, Wind River said.

VxWorks MILS Platform 2.1 supports Wind River's SBC8548E customizable 6U evaluation board, enabling low-cost development on commercial off-the-shelf PowerPC-based hardware. In addition, Wind River's updated offering delivers a High Assurance environment for Evaluation Assurance Level 6+ user components such as applications, middleware and drivers, as well as optional JTAG debugging support through Wind River's on-chip debugging solution. Lastly, the platform provides high-performance and scalability from its two-level scheduling architecture with Type 1 hypervisor-based embedded virtualization.

"VxWorks MILS Platform is the foundation of information assurance (IA) systems for consolidation of applications when multiple security domains are required," said Marc Brown, vice president of marketing and strategy for VxWorks products at Wind River. "Leveraging VxWorks MILS to combine multiple systems into one platform can lead to significant cost savings and reduction in size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements. Wind River is committed to the safety and security needs of the aerospace and defense markets by evolving our VxWorks MILS Platform 2.1 to include increased functionality and additional safety-critical components with a high assurance of protection from threats."

Customers such as Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing and GE Intelligent Platforms Embedded Systems are using VxWorks MILS Platform 2.1 in their solutions.

"With the addition of the high assurance network stack, Wind River is providing an off-the-shelf solution for connected devices requiring separation of data and applications from multiple domains, which allows our customers to develop precise applications in a secure environment," said Andy West, global product manager of SBC Software at GE Intelligent Platforms.

In related news, the National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP), which is operated by the National Security Agency (NSA), accepted the VxWorks MLS Platform. The technology is listed as "In Evaluation: for EAL6+ and High Robustness, according to Wind River. The NIAP also is evaluating Wind River Linux Secure, a secure embedded Linux, to be certified to Common Criteria EAL4+, the vendor said.