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Difference Between VxWorks and Linux

  • Post last modified:March 21, 2023
  • Reading time:9 mins read
  • Post category:Technology
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Contents hide
  1. 1. Brief history of VxWorks and Linux
  2. 2. Definition of VxWorks and Linux
  3. 3. Importance of understanding the difference between VxWorks and Linux
  4. 4. VxWorks
  5. 5. Linux
  6. 6. Differences between VxWorks and Linux
    1. 6.1. Which one should you choose?
    2. 6.2. Reference Books
    3. 6.3. References Website

Brief history of VxWorks and Linux

VxWorks was first developed by Wind River Systems in 1987 as a proprietary real-time operating system for embedded systems. It was initially designed for use in the aerospace and defense industries, but later expanded to other industries such as automotive, telecommunications, and medical devices. Today, VxWorks is used in a wide range of embedded systems and is known for its high reliability, real-time capabilities, and small memory footprint.

Linux, on the other hand, was first developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991 as a free and open-source operating system. It was based on the Unix operating system and was designed to be modular, flexible, and portable. Over the years, Linux has gained popularity and has become the operating system of choice for many enterprise computing, cloud computing, and IoT applications. Today, Linux is used in a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to servers and supercomputers. It is also used in various industries, including finance, healthcare, and education.

Definition of VxWorks and Linux

VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) that is commonly used in embedded systems, such as network equipment, medical devices, and aerospace and defense systems. It is designed for systems that require high reliability, availability, and performance, and offers features such as real-time scheduling, preemptive multitasking, and a small memory footprint.

Linux, on the other hand, is a general-purpose operating system that is widely used in desktops, servers, and mobile devices. It is an open-source software that is freely available for use and modification, and offers features such as a large library of software, robust security features, and strong networking capabilities. It is often used in enterprise computing, cloud computing, and internet-of-things (IoT) applications.

Importance of understanding the difference between VxWorks and Linux

Understanding the difference between VxWorks and Linux is important because they are both operating systems with different design philosophies, capabilities, and limitations. Choosing the right operating system for a particular use case can have a significant impact on the performance, reliability, and security of a system.

For example, if the system requires real-time processing capabilities and high reliability, VxWorks may be a better choice than Linux. However, if the system requires a general-purpose operating system with a large library of software and strong networking capabilities, Linux may be a better choice.

Additionally, developers and engineers who work with embedded systems or IoT devices may encounter both VxWorks and Linux in their work, and understanding the differences between these two operating systems can help them make informed decisions about which one to use for a particular project.

VxWorks

VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) developed by Wind River Systems. It is designed to provide high performance, reliability, and real-time capabilities for embedded systems, such as network equipment, medical devices, and aerospace and defense systems. Here are some key features of VxWorks:

  1. Real-time scheduling: VxWorks provides real-time scheduling capabilities, which means that tasks can be scheduled to run at specific times or intervals. This is critical in applications that require precise timing, such as control systems.
  2. Preemptive multitasking: VxWorks supports preemptive multitasking, which means that the operating system can interrupt a running task to allow another task to run. This enables VxWorks to provide high responsiveness and low latency.
  3. Small memory footprint: VxWorks has a small memory footprint, which makes it ideal for use in embedded systems with limited resources.
  4. Real-time networking: VxWorks provides real-time networking capabilities, which means that it can handle network traffic with low latency and high reliability. This is important in applications such as telecommunications and industrial control systems.
  5. Debugging tools: VxWorks provides a range of debugging tools, including a kernel debugger, system trace, and memory analysis tools. These tools help developers to diagnose and fix problems in their code.
  6. Safety-critical certifications: VxWorks has been certified for use in safety-critical systems, such as those used in aerospace and defense. It meets standards such as DO-178B/C and IEC 61508 SIL 3/4.

VxWorks is known for its high reliability, real-time capabilities, and small memory footprint. It is used in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, defense, medical devices, and telecommunications.

Linux

Linux is a free and open-source operating system that was first developed by Linus Torvalds in 1991. It is based on the Unix operating system and is known for its flexibility, modularity, and portability. Here are some key features of Linux:

  1. Open-source: Linux is open-source software, which means that it is freely available for use and modification. This has led to a large community of developers who contribute to the development and improvement of Linux.
  2. Large library of software: Linux has a large library of software, including thousands of free and open-source applications that can be easily installed using package managers.
  3. Robust security features: Linux is known for its robust security features, including user and group permissions, firewall and intrusion detection software, and file encryption.
  4. Strong networking capabilities: Linux provides strong networking capabilities, including support for a range of network protocols and services, such as DHCP, DNS, and HTTP.
  5. Customizable: Linux is highly customizable, with a range of desktop environments and window managers that allow users to configure their desktops to their preferences.
  6. Scalability: Linux is highly scalable, from small embedded devices to large supercomputers. This makes it ideal for use in a wide range of applications, from desktops and servers to internet-of-things (IoT) devices.

Linux is known for its flexibility, modularity, and portability. It is widely used in enterprise computing, cloud computing, and IoT applications, and is available in a range of distributions, each with its own unique set of features and capabilities.

Differences between VxWorks and Linux

Here are some key differences between VxWorks and Linux:

  1. Real-time capabilities: VxWorks is a real-time operating system designed for use in applications that require high performance and precise timing. It provides real-time scheduling and real-time networking capabilities, which are not available in Linux.
  2. Safety-critical certifications: VxWorks has been certified for use in safety-critical systems, such as those used in aerospace and defense. Linux does not have the same level of safety-critical certifications.
  3. Memory footprint: VxWorks has a small memory footprint, which makes it ideal for use in embedded systems with limited resources. Linux, on the other hand, has a larger memory footprint and is more suited to applications that require a full-featured operating system.
  4. Open-source: Linux is open-source software, which means that it is freely available for use and modification. VxWorks, on the other hand, is proprietary software and requires a license for use.
  5. Large library of software: Linux has a large library of software, including thousands of free and open-source applications that can be easily installed using package managers. VxWorks has a smaller library of software and is not as well-suited to general-purpose computing.
  6. Cost: VxWorks is a commercial product and requires a license for use, while Linux is available for free.

VxWorks and Linux have different design philosophies and capabilities. VxWorks is designed for use in real-time systems with high reliability requirements, while Linux is a general-purpose operating system with a large library of software and strong networking capabilities. The choice between VxWorks and Linux will depend on the specific requirements of the application.

Which one should you choose?

The choice between VxWorks and Linux will depend on the specific requirements of the application. If the application requires real-time capabilities and high reliability, then VxWorks may be the better choice. VxWorks is also better suited for safety-critical systems that require certification.

If the application requires a full-featured operating system with a large library of software and strong networking capabilities, then Linux may be the better choice. Linux is also more cost-effective as it is free and open-source. Ultimately, the choice between VxWorks and Linux will depend on the specific needs of the application and the resources available.

Conclusion

VxWorks and Linux are two distinct operating systems that have different design philosophies and capabilities. VxWorks is designed for use in real-time systems with high reliability requirements and safety-critical systems, while Linux is a general-purpose operating system with a large library of software and strong networking capabilities. The choice between VxWorks and Linux will depend on the specific requirements of the application.

VxWorks may be the better choice for applications that require real-time capabilities, high reliability, and safety-critical certification, while Linux may be the better choice for applications that require a full-featured operating system with a large library of software and strong networking capabilities. Ultimately, the choice between VxWorks and Linux will depend on the specific needs of the application and the resources available.

Reference Books

  1. “VxWorks: The Real-Time Operating System for the IoT” by Bryon Moyer
  2. “Real-Time Concepts for Embedded Systems” by Qing Li, Caroline Yao, and Alan Burns
  3. “Linux Kernel Development” by Robert Love
  4. “The Linux Programming Interface: A Linux and UNIX System Programming Handbook” by Michael Kerrisk
  5. “Understanding the Linux Kernel” by Daniel P. Bovet and Marco Cesati
  6. “Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical Real-World Approach” by Christopher Hallinan
  7. “Building Embedded Linux Systems” by Karim Yaghmour, Jon Masters, Gilad Ben-Yossef, and Philippe Gerum.

References Website

  1. VxWorks documentation: https://docs.windriver.com/bundle/vxworks_7_sr0640/page/vxworks_7_documentation_library.html
  2. Linux documentation: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/index.html
  3. VxWorks user forum: https://forums.windriver.com/
  4. Linux user forum: https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/
  5. Linux command line tutorial: https://linuxsurvival.com/linux-tutorial-introduction-to-the-command-line-interface-cli/
  6. VxWorks video tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrO7VvoaT8u30s7sHuQSVs09RX9AH9eCq
  7. Linux video tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtK75qxsQaMIlPzFtCMiVhhdYETMiPxPf