N e w s a n d I n f o r m a t i o n f o r R e a l - T i m e C o m p u t i n g T e c h n o l o g y a n d B u s i n e s s P r o f e s s i o n a l s

2005, Vo l . 9 , No . 1

iHawk Blade SystemsPage 3

New RedHawk Linux ReleasePage 3

Oval Office in the SkyPage 4

How Robust is Your Linux?Page 5

Partner Program Takes OffPage 6

In This Issue Concurrent iHawk™ On the Move WorldwideConcurrent continues its tradition as a high performance real-time technology innovator, with its iHawk™ system is being chosen around the globe for an ever-increasing range of time-critical requirements.

Australian Synchrotron Project Embraces iHawk for Data Acquisition

Concurrent’s Australian subsidiary announced that it has delivered the first of multiple iHawk™ systems to Major ProjectsVictoria for the Australian Synchrotron Project (ASP). iHawkpowered by Concurrent’s RedHawk real-time Linux®, was selected for its highly deterministic response and high

performance capabilities to respond to ASP’s data acquisition and I/O control (IOC)system requirements. These high performance and distributed IOCs will providethe foundation control system for the synchrotron light beam storage ring. > continued on page 5

Simotion…. Driving Forward with iHawk!

Simotion is a system engineering services company based inMunich, Germany. It has been delivering hardware and softwareengineering in the automotive and radio network domain foralmost 20 years. Latest projects include the development of anadaptive light control system, various driver assistance systemsand other hardware-in-the-loop applications.

Recently Simotion purchased an iHawk 4-CPU realtime computer system to beused as the simulation host for a driving simulator of a major Bavarian automotivecompany. Mr. Franz Markus Reich, owner of the company commented, “The superior real-time performance and the compatibility of RedHawk Linux with openstandards greatly influenced our purchase decision.” In the future additional iHawksystems are planned to be used for simulation applications in the vehicle dynamicsand vibration control domain. www.simotion.com

Driving Simulation by Simotion

flexible

Executive Messages

Since joining Concurrent, I’ve had thepleasure of meeting many members of thecompany team for both the video-on-demand(VOD) and real-time product lines. In the timeI’ve been on board, I’ve seen some excitingchanges and technology developments thatindicate continued growth and expansionacross a wide spectrum of markets.

In North America, Concurrent was chosen byLockheed Martin as the real-time simulationhost in the development and build of a newfleet of presidential US101 helicopters. Forcustomers served by the VOD product lines,we continue to strengthen relationships,providing customers with the experience andreliability for which Concurrent is known.

On the technology front, the iHawk Series880 multiprocessing systems featuring Xeon blade technology are now available.Concurrent has also announced its RedHawk2.3 release. The VOD product line introducedour MediaHawk IMS (Interactive MediaSolution), enabling cable service providers toenhance the navigation experience and drivesignificant revenue opportunities withcontent-specific promotion. The companyannounced its LifeCycle Support Services,enabling support for customers across allproduct lines and industries.

Innovative developments and businessexpansions signify expanding opportunitiesand a vibrant future, and I’m excited to be apart of the Concurrent team.

Welcome to our latest issue of the Solutions newsletter.

Within the last year, my role at Concurrent has expanded to ChiefOperating Officer of the Company. One of the strategic initiativesundertaken was to further unite our company for continuedservice improvement to our customers and new Channel Partnercommunity worldwide. I’m pleased to say that we haveaccomplished this goal by uniting our Video-On-Demand andIntegrated Solutions divisions, creating product lines representedby a single business entity. This action offers more commontechnologies, processes, and organizational structures and this“one company” approach further fortifies Concurrent as a supplierfor all your time-sensitive computing requirements.

On the international front, in all our products we are experiencingan exciting increase in activity, verifying our product strategy. Inlate March, Concurrent announced that our iHawk running onreal-time RedHawk Linux was chosen by Major Projects Victoriafor the Australian Synchrontron Project. This representsenormous potential for innovative advancements inbiotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental sciences andadvanced manufacturing for researchers since the synchrotronwill be such a valuable tool in a wide arc of industries.

Our iHawk was also selected by Simotion in Germany forsimulation applications in the vehicle dynamics and vibrationcontrol domain. Concurrent VOD is clearly the industry leader inJapan with J-Com representing 30% of the Japanese cablemarket and the choice of European telecommunications carriers.

Real-time high performance computing requirements are growingevery day and as a result, Concurrent is expanding our time-critical solutions to meet these exciting opportunities.

Gary BrustVice President, Worldwide Sales & Marketing

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Warren NeuburgerChief Operating Officer

Executive Messages

Product News

Announcing RedHawk Release 2.3

innova

tive

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iHawk Series 880 multiprocessing systems featuring Xeon bladetechnology are now available from Concurrent. Series 880 bladesprovide highly scalable, flexible and cost-effective configurationsfor applications requiring a large number of processors in a smallspace.

iHawk blades are an excellent choice for distributed data acquisition or simulation. Once a solution is developed using ablade platform, additional processing power can be added in thefuture without major re-engineering.

Each ultra-slim iHawk processor blade is itself a two or four-CPUXeon SMP system running Concurrent’s RedHawk Linux operating system. Up to fourteen processor or I/O blades can be configured in a single 7U rackmount chassis. iHawk processorblades can be interconnected using Gigabit Ethernet. Series 880also features Concurrent’s Real-time Clock & Interrupt Module(RCIM), ideal for time-critical applications requiring rapidresponse to external events.

iHawk processor blades offer on-board disk drives along with arange of add-on SCSI drive blade options. Each processor bladecan also be configured with two 64-bit 100 MHz PCI-X slots, providing up to fourteen PCI slots per chassis. Series 880 bladesare fully supported by RedHawk Linux and Concurrent’sNightStar™ tool set.

Processor blades can also be interconnected using fabrics suchas InfiniBand or Myrinet for high-speed, low-latency inter-bladecommunication. Fabric interfaces and supporting cluster protocolsoftware are available via special quotation.

Concurrent Introduces iHawkSeries 880 Blade Solutions

Concurrent’s RedHawk Release 2.3,based on kernel.org version 2.6.9, is nowavailable. It is based on Red Hat®

Enterprise Linux® 3.0 Update 4. Highlights of this new release include:

• New iHawkTM platforms supporting new64-bit Intel® XeonTM processors MP (multi processor)

• New iHawk packaging options includeBlade Servers

• Support for the RCIM II. This includesmore real-time clocks, edge-triggered interrupts and programmable interrupts.The real-time clocks are now 32 bits wide. An optional GPS module allows the system's time to be synchronized to GPS time, allowing systems at different locations to have synchronized time

• Process Dispatch Latency (PDL) improvements when using PCIe graphics cards

• Determinism improvements for user-level program execution

• New kernel-level support allows NightTune™ to provide information about physical memory usage on both a system-wide and per-process level

• Inclusion of the latest NVIDIA driver (version 1.0-7167)

• New user-level priority inheritance

• New iHawk hardware guide for optimizing the interrupt priorities of peripherals and physical placement ofPCI cards to maximize real-time performance

Product News

mission-critical

Customer Solutions

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The Evolution of Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation The Migration to Automatic Code Generation

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation allows engineers to interactivelydesign and test complex controllers in real-time. The heart of aHIL simulation system is the validated software model of theequipment that will be connected to the controller. In theautomotive industry, the controller for a powertrain is called thePowertrain Control Module (PCM). In the aerospace industry, thecontroller for a jet engine is called the Full Authority DigitalElectronic Computer (FADEC).

Both of these industries have a need to quickly and efficientlytest their control algorithms for best time to market. Originally,controllers were tested on physical prototypes of the finalequipment. This was a long, expensive and arduous process.The first step toward HIL simulation was the use of non-real-timesoftware models. These would effectively test out the logicalpaths, but would not take any timing dynamics into consideration.Though this step was helpful, it still required a long prototypephase in the design cycle.

Transitioning the software model from a non-real-time system toa hard real-time system, such as a Concurrent iHawk, allows theengineer to test the controller against a validated software modelin real-time, thereby minimizing or possibly eliminating theprototype phase.

The next evolution in HIL softwaremodeling makes use of autocodegenerators such as The Mathworks’

MATLAB®/ Simulink® products. Engineers can select icons thatcorrelate to mathematical libraries and build a block diagram ofan algorithm/model. When this has been simulated to theirsatisfaction, they can automatically generate the software.

Concurrent’s RT-LAB RLX allows therunning of autocode-generated software on an iHawk, fully synchronized andconnected with the I/O required to support

a controller such as, PCM or FADEC. Generated software caninteract with legacy software modules through the use ofConcurrent’s Frequently Based Scheduler. Concurrent solutionsaddress all HIL systems, whether based on legacy software orstate-of-the-art autocode generators.

iHawk Selected forUS PresidentialHelicopter SimulationLockheed Martin, as part of the US101Team, was chosen by the U.S. Navy todevelop and build a new fleet of presidential US101 helicopters.Concurrent’s high-performance iHawk multiprocessor systems will be used byLockheed Martin and serve as the real-time simulation host in the building of the fleet.

Concurrent’s ImaGen™ image generation(IG) servers will provide image generationservices. iHawk multiprocessor systemsand ImaGen are powered by Concurrent’sreal-time RedHawk™ Linux® operating system. The US101 medium-lift helicopterwill provide a safe and secure “Oval Officein the Sky” for the President.

Customer Solutions

ion-critical

A synchrotron is a powerful machine(about the size of a football field), whichuses beams of light a million timesbrighter than sunlight to probe the physical structure of materials down tothe level of atoms and molecules.Synchrotrons are essential tools forresearch and development in manyindustries, including: biotechnology anddrug design; advanced manufacturing;and medical research and diagnosis; aswell as meeting requirements for theAustralian Defense Force to extend thelife of engine components and provideimproved ceramic coatings in military jetengines. The Australian synchrotron willact as an essential new tool for groundbreaking scientific and industrialresearch.

Concurrent iHawk™ On the Move Worldwidecontinued from page 1

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Linux® kernel development happens at an extremelyfast pace. To ensure that the latest Linux kernelupdates are properly merged into a continuallyengineered and enhanced Linux kernelenvironment, Concurrent has developed acomprehensive automated testing framework.

Concurrent generally merges all official kernel.org releaseswithin one or two days of their public availability. Failure to keepup with the changes can result in missing key bug fixes. Evenworse, locally developed features can get stranded in time,usable only with outdated kernel versions, requiring significanteffort to bring the features up to date and working again with themost recent kernels. To better survive in this chaoticenvironment, Concurrent has developed a comprehensivetesting framework called the “Automated Nightly Test System” orANTS for short. Every night, ANTS builds the completeRedHawk product from source, performs a complete productinstallation and then runs component tests, system tests andbenchmarks on the newly installed systems, providing concisetest reports upon completion. This testing is fully automated andis done in parallel on each iHawk model that is sold andsupported by Concurrent, including Intel® XeonTM and 64-bit AMDOpteronTM based systems. To read the complete white paper,please visit: www.ccur.com/isddocs/ANTS.pdf

Take Advantage of Concurrent Expertise Through Classroom and Customized On-Site Training

For the most up-to-date training schedule in PowerMAX™ UNIX® and RedHawk™ Linux®, please visit Concurrent’s Training web page at:

www.ccur.com/isd_support_training.asp

RedHawk Linux - Engineered andTested For Maximized Real-TimeFunctionality and Reliability

Synchrotron Lightscan Storage Ring

excellence

Partners

BinghamtonSimulator CompanyExpands SimulationServices WithConcurrent

Concurrent ImaGen™ Chosen for Aerospace Simulationby Diamond Visionics

BSC is a leading provider of military andcommercial flight simulation productsand services worldwide. LeveragingBSC’s executive team engineeringexperience dating back to the LinkFlight Simulation Division of the SingerCompany, BSC has relocated over 200devices in the past six years forcustomers worldwide.

The complementary technologies ofConcurrent and BSC will provide ahighly deterministic simulation solutionfor the U.S. Air Force's T45Undergraduate Navigation TrainingSystem (UNTS). The T45 UNTSconsists of six T45 training complexesand a Trainer Software Support Center.The UNTS is intended to provideintermediate training for navigation andweapons systems operators.

BSC offers a range of simulationsupport services for all brands ofsimulation products including sparessupport, relocation, emergency call-outservice, simulator maintenancetechnician training, facility evaluationand more.

BSC is a Concurrent Channel Partnerand offers Concurrent’s iHawk™ COTSmultiprocessor powered by Concurrent’sreal-time RedHawk™ Linux® as keycomponents in its simulation solutionsdevelopment. For more information,please visit: www.bsc.com

Concurrent partnered with Diamond Visionics, a leader ininnovative simulation technology, to deliver the highest levels ofcomputer-generated image quality and fidelity to a top tensupplier to the U.S. Department of Defense. Diamond Visionicshas expertise and products in the three elements of visualsystems - Image Generators, Databases and Display Systems.

Diamond Visionics product line features GenesisRT (WorldwideDatabase) for visual simulation. Customers can rapidly producehigh-quality databases directly from source data, therebyenabling changes to be instantly visualized. GenesisRT uses thisdata at runtime to dynamically generate the visual environment,which dramatically reduces the time, cost and effort of thedatabase development process.

Diamond Visionics has also become an authorized reseller ofConcurrent ImaGen Visual Servers and iHawk-related productsthrough membership in Concurrent's Channel Partner Program.By joining the Channel Partner Program, Diamond Visionicsoffers its customers an integrated image generation solutionusing Concurrent's ImaGen Visual Server and Diamond Visionics’image generation software products. This integrated solutionprovides customers with a proven and reliable hardware platformusing the latest in COTS graphics engines and dynamicallygenerated image databases. For more information, please visit:www.diamondvisionics.com

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GenesisRT (Worldwide Database) Imagery

Partners

low

-late

ncy

News To Keep You Current

Concurrent recently announced its LifeCycleSupport Services™ program that providescomprehensive, personalized support tocustomers. The new LifeCycle program setsa new standard for industry-wide servicesolutions, offering customers access to an

expanded array of services to fulfill specificnetwork and operational requirements. From

occasional support to dedicated, full-time, on-siteassistance and preventive maintenance, the new

program advances Concurrent’s commitment to provide customers andpartners with the highest possible level of performance.

• LifeCycle Support Services program provides personalized, more responsive support for customers

• Delivers expanded training services to increase reliability andimprove productivity

• Offers customizable support tiers, allowing customers to match support programs to their specific network and system requirements

• Ensures maximum service value, empowering Concurrent customers and enabling them to focus on their core business and increase revenue

Concurrent recently combined its divisional Service and Supportdepartments into one unified organization, leveraging nearly 40 years ofmission-critical, world class expertise that serves a global customerbase across a variety of markets.

Concurrent hit the streets of LaDefense, Paris with the internationalintroduction of its new visual imagegeneration system called ImaGen at theSolutions Linux conference the week ofFebruary 1-3 2005. Concurrent waswell positioned at the show as theprimary open source real-time Linuxprovider. While other vendorshighlighted technology, Concurrenthighlighted solutions utilizing RedHawkReal-Time Linux as the deterministicOperating System for applicationdevelopment. Concurrent’s low-latencyreal-time Linux differentiated oursolution. Our team from Francedisplayed interactive simulation flightprograms and its real-time developmentand analysis toolset call NightStar. The SolutionsLinux show was very wellattended with over 10,000 attendeesinterested in Linux.

Concurrent Launches LifeCycleSupport Services™

ConcurrentIntroduces ImaGenat Solutions LinuxConference

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