igt wins big with qnx - symmetry and whitepapers/qss... · igt (international game technology) of...

IGT (International GameTechnology) of Reno, Nevada,manufactures and operatescomputerized casino gamingequipment. With annual revenuesof more than $1B US and sales of100,000 machines a year, IGT isthe largest gaming manufacturer in the world.

As part of its business, IGTdevelops electronically linked,inter-casino systems thatconnect statewide gamingmachines with a centralcomputer. The jackpot buildswith every wager, until somelucky player hits the rightcombination, potentiallywinning millions of dollars.

IGT’s latest generation ofinter-casino gaming machinesare part 3-D video game, partsecurity box, and part multi-connected network device—highly sophisticatedequipment with enormouscomputing demands: Themachines produce fullyanimated video at 85 framesper second; they’re protectedby a sophisticated onlinesecurity system; they trackuser loyalty and payouts; theyhandle money; and theyemploy a variety of standardand proprietary networkprotocols, each runningsimultaneously and each withstrict timing requirements.

IGT wins big with QNX

Q N X® N e u t r i n o® R T O S — S u c c e s s f u l S o l u t i o n s .

In the high stakes world of gaming, the QNX

Neutrino RTOS provides unparalleled reliability for

computerized gaming equipment like the “Lifestyles

of the Rich and Famous” game, based on IGT's

sophisticated Advanced Video Platform technology.

• IGT (International GameTechnology) developselectronically linked, inter-casinosystems that connect statewidegaming machines

• These machines, which can payout multi-million-dollar winnings,must perform a host of complexfunctions with zero tolerance for error

• To run these machines, IGTadopted the QNX Neutrino RTOSfor its modular microkernel basedarchitecture

• This architecture allows IGT tosegregate processes and achievethe extreme reliability and systemintegrity that the company requires

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Zero tolerance for systemfailure

“These machines have to runreliably 24 hours a day, seven days aweek,” says Steven LeMay, director,Advanced Video Platform (AVP)with IGT. “If a touch screen interfacefails, we don’t want that malfunctionto create some stray pattern thaterroneously produces the biggest winpossible. We can’t tolerate failure.”

With stakes that high, IGT neededan operating system that wouldreliably manage the machines’ manycomplicated real-time functions. Thecompany considered many operatingsystems, including Linux andMicrosoft solutions, but only QNXmet their stringent requirements.“Other systems couldn’t handle ourreal-time operating system needs,”says Mr. LeMay. “In our business,‘really fast’ just doesn’t cut it.”

QNX selected formicrokernel architecture

IGT selected the QNX Neutrino 6.1real-time operating system (RTOS)because its modular microkernel

architecture offered the necessaryreliability. IGT was able to segregateand protect logic processes so thatthe failure of one would not affectanother. Despite this segregation,processes communicate with oneanother highly efficiently—anothercredit to QNX.

“By taking advantage of the QNXmicrokernel architecture and itsinherent modular design, we’re ableto make sure that every part runsreliably,” says Mr. LeMay.

IGT wrote virtually all of its codewith C++ and used CodeWarriorfor QNX RTOS 2.1 fromMetrowerks for creating, compiling,linking, and debugging.

Modular architecturepermits efficientdevelopment

“The project has gone very, verywell,” says Mr. LeMay. “The QNXOS allowed us to achieve ourdesired reliability levels, and itenabled our developers to work ondifferent tasks without affecting oneanother. As a result, we conductedour development process veryefficiently. We were also able to testeverything individually, which givesus a higher potential for reliabilitywhen all the pieces come together.”

Mr. LeMay says that QNX is theright choice for real-time operatingsystem applications. “QNX givesyou the flexibility to create solutionscompletely on your own, and thestandard APIs allow you to adaptopen-source solutions as well,” hesays. “On top of that, QNXSoftware Systems stands behind itsproduct and supports you. That’s anattractive combination.”

© 2002 QNX Software Systems Ltd. QNX, Momentics, Neutrino, Photon microGUI, and “Build a more reliable world” are registered trademarks in certain jurisdictions, and PhAB, Phindows, and Qnet aretrademarks, of QNX Software Systems Ltd. All other trademarks and trade names belong to their respective owners. All rights reserved. Printed in Canada. 301621

www.qnx.com

OTHER SYSTEMS COULDN’T HANDLE OURREAL-TIME OPERATING

SYSTEM NEEDS. IN OUR BUSINESS, ‘REALLY FAST’ JUST

DOESN'T CUT IT.