Open Source Real-Time Operating Systems: RTLinux and RTEMS

Title: Open Source Real-Time Operating Systems: RTLinux and RTEMS

Research Question: How do RTLinux and RTEMS compare in terms of performance, features, and development environment?

Methodology: The study compares RTLinux and RTEMS, two popular open-source real-time operating systems. It examines their architecture, development environment, API, supported target architectures, and performance. The performance comparison focuses on interrupt latency and context switching delay.

Results: Both RTLinux and RTEMS feature popular CPUs, several APIs (including Posix), networking, portability, and optional commercial support. They have different development environments and performance characteristics. RTLinux has a simpler architecture with a layer hooked into the standard Linux interrupt handlers, while RTEMS is a standalone operating system with its own scheduler and interrupt handling mechanism. In terms of performance, RTEMS generally performs better in interrupt latency and context switching delay.

Implications: The choice between RTLinux and RTEMS depends on the specific requirements of the project. RTLinux might be a better choice for projects that want to leverage the power of Linux's features while maintaining real-time performance, while RTEMS might be more suitable for projects that require better real-time performance and a standalone operating system.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0111035v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0111035v1