computer science

VxWorks

VxWorks is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand VxWorks rather than just read about it. In short: VxWorks is a real-time operating system (or RTOS) developed as proprietary software by Wind River Systems, a subsidiary of Aptiv. First released in 1987, VxWorks is designed for use in embedded systems requiring real-time, deterministic performance and in many cases, safety and security certification for industries such as aerospace, defense, medical devices, industrial equipment, robotics, energy, transportation, n…

Key takeaways

VxWorks belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect VxWorks to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of VxWorks from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

VxWorks is a real-time operating system (or RTOS) developed as proprietary software by Wind River Systems, a subsidiary of Aptiv. First released in 1987, VxWorks is designed for use in embedded systems requiring real-time, deterministic performance and in many cases, safety and security certification for industries such as aerospace, defense, medical devices, industrial equipment, robotics, energy, transportation, network infrastructure, automotive, and consumer electronics. VxWorks supports AMD/Intel architecture, POWER architecture, ARM architectures, and RISC-V. The RTOS can be used in multicore asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP), symmetric multiprocessing (SMP), and mixed modes and multi-OS (via Type 1 hypervisor) designs on 32- and 64-bit processors. VxWorks comes with the kernel, middleware, board support packages, Wind River Workbench development suite, complementary third-party software and hardware. In its latest release, VxWorks 7, the RTOS has been re-engineered for modularity and upgradeability so the OS kernel is separate from middleware, applications, and other packages. Scalability, security, safety, connectivity, and graphics have been improved to address Internet of Things (IOT) needs.

History VxWorks started in the late 1980s as a set of enhancements to a simple RTOS called VRTX sold by Ready Systems (becoming a Mentor Graphics product in 1995). Wind River acquired rights to distribute VRTX and significantly enhanced it by adding, among other things, a file system and an integrated development environment. In 1987, anticipating the termination of its reseller contract by Ready Systems, Wind River proceeded to develop its own kernel to replace VRTX within VxWorks. Published in 2003 with a Wind River copyright, "Real-Time Concepts for Embedded Systems" describes the development environment, runtime setting, and system call families of the RTOS. Written by Wind River employees with a foreword by Jerry Fiddler, chairman, and co-founder of Wind River, the textbook is an excellent tutorial on the RTOS. (It does not, however, replace Wind River documentation as might be needed by practicing engineers.) Some key milestones for VxWorks include:

1980s: VxWorks adds support for 32-bit processors. 1990s: VxWorks 5 becomes the first RTOS with a networking stack. 2000s: VxWorks 6 supports SMP and adds derivative industry-specific platforms. 2010s: VxWorks adds support for 64-bit processing and introduces VxWorks 7 for IoT in 2016. 2020s: VxWorks continues to update and add support, including the ability to power the Mars 2020 lander.

Platform overview VxWorks supports Intel architecture, Power architecture, and ARM architectures. The RTOS can be used in multi-core asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP), symmetric multiprocessing (SMP), mixed modes and multi-OS (via Type 1 hypervisor) designs on 32- and 64- bit processors. The VxWorks consists of a set of runtime components and development tools. The run time components are an operating system (UP and SMP; 32- and 64-bit), software for applications support (file system, core network stack, USB stack, and inter-process communications), and hardware support (architecture adapter, processor support library, device driver library, and board support packages). VxWorks core development tools are compilers such as Diab, GNU, and Intel C++ Compiler (ICC) and its build and configuration tools. The system also includes productivity tools such as its Workbench development suite and Intel tools and development support tools for asset tracking and host support. The platform is a modular, vendor-neutral, open system that supports a range of third-party software and hardware. The OS kernel is separate from middleware, applications, and other packages, which enables easier bug fixes and testing of new features. An implementation of a layered source build system allows multiple versions of any stack to be installed at the same time so developers can select which version of any feature set should go into the VxWorks kernel libraries. Optional advanced add-ons for VxWorks provide additional capabilities, including the following:

Advanced security features to safeguard devices and data residing in and traveling across the Internet of Things (IoT) Advanced safety partitioning to enable reliable application consolidation Real-time advanced visual edge analytics allow autonomous responses on VxWorks-based devices in real-time without latency Optimized embedded Java runtime engine enabling the deployment of Java applications Virtualization capability with a real-time embedded, Type 1 hypervisor

Features Core features of the OS include:

Multitasking kernel with preemptive and round-robin scheduling and fast interrupt response Native 64-bit operating system (only one 64-bit architecture supported: x86-64). Data model: LP64 User-mode applications ("Real-Time Processes", or RTP) isolated from other user-mode applications as well as the kernel via memory protection mechanisms SMP, AMP and mixed mode multiprocessing support Error handling framework Bluetooth, USB, CAN protocols, Firewire IEEE 1394, BLE, L2CAP, Continua stack, health device profile Binary, counting, and mutual exclusion semaphores with priority inheritance Local and distributed message queues POSIX PSE52 certified conformity in user-mode execution environment Dual-mode IPv6 networking stack with IPv6 Ready Logo certification Memory protection including real-time processes (RTPs), error detection and reporting, and IPC Multi-OS messaging using TIPC and Wind River multi-OS IPC Symbolic debugging In March 2014 Wind River introduced VxWorks 7, emphasizing scalability, security, safety, connectivity, graphics, and virtualization. The following lists some of the release 7 updates. More information can be found on the Wind Rivers VxWorks website.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with VxWorks

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what VxWorks claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to VxWorks before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about VxWorks ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of VxWorks

In research: VxWorks appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses VxWorks in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: VxWorks is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics ARM operating systems, Embedded operating systems, IA-32 operating systems, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for VxWorks outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study VxWorks in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what VxWorks means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain VxWorks out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is VxWorks in simple terms?

Why does VxWorks matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study VxWorks?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on VxWorks.