Operating-system-level security for mil/aero SBCs
LynxOS 7.0 will run on GE’s 3U OpenVPX SBC312 and SBC324 rugged single board computers. It is also available on GE’s 6U VME EP2A single board computer. The LynxOS 7.0 real time operating system brings new levels of security to demanding military/aerospace applications. LynxOS 7.0 includes a new military grade security package which conforms to the GPOSPP (General Purpose Operating System Protection Profile) that, LynuxWorks believes, enables military and aerospace customers to confidently build products that meet the most stringent requirements for real-time mission-critical applications in a cost-effective and timely manner. GE’s single board computers already provide a range of hardware-based security features. These include ‘trusted boot’ which allows users to verify that the software code being used is the sanctioned code, and has not been sabotaged or tampered with.
GE says that it sees two obvious trends in its market space; one is the need to reduce size, weight and power (SwaP); and the other is the need for enhanced security, exemplified by the anti-tamper measures and trusted-boot operation.
GE’s SBC312 is based on Freescale’s QorIQ P4080 technology, providing up to eight processing cores within the power envelope of previous dual core boards. Combined with an extensive and flexible range of I/O options, the SBC312 is ideal for a wide range of high performance computing mil/aero applications.
The SBC324 features a high performance, highly integrated Core i7 processor platform from Intel. The 2nd Generation Core i7 with fully integrated graphics and memory controller, with dual or quad core processing up to 2.5 GHz, offers outstanding performance per watt.
“GE and LynuxWorks have a long history of working together, and have a number of customers in common,” said Andy West, Product Manager, Software, Military & Aerospace at GE Intelligent Platforms. “Ensuring maximum security is, unsurprisingly, a key concern for these customers – and today’s announcement addresses those concerns. The combination of GE’s 3U VPX single board computers and LynxOS 7.0 will be one that is very attractive to many of them.” West also notes that GE’s business increasingly focusses on taking commercial silicon into a battlefield context, where the military are also increasingly using commercial communications techniques, “Security has to use a holistic approach… many techniques have to be merged. LynxOS 7.0 brings all the protection [available in] the commercial world, and runs in a military context.” GE also disclosed that it will offer boards with 4th-generation Intel Core processors towards the end of 2013.
“Increasing numbers of embedded devices are being connected to create what are often critical infrastructure systems – but security has not received the same attention in the embedded world as it has in, for example, the PC desktop world, putting those critical systems at risk,” said John Blevins, Director of Product Marketing at LynuxWorks. “LynxOS 7.0 looks to redress the balance, helping organizations using embedded computing to achieve the same degree of protection from potential cyber threats and helping to maximise availability and uptime. We’re looking forward to working with GE to bring those benefits to customers in the military/aerospace market.”
GE Intelligent Platforms, https://defense.ge-ip.com/products/single-board-computers/c1
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