Timesys Announces LinuxLink support for AppliedMicro’s PowerPC 460EX Processor

Minimize schedule risks while achieving all the benefits of a true open-source Linux solution

Pittsburgh, PA, USA – July 9, 2009 – Timesys Corporation (https://timesys.com), provider of LinuxLink, the first commercial software development framework for building custom embedded Linux based products, today announced LinuxLink availability for the PowerPC 460EX processor from AppliedMicro (Nasdaq:AMCC).

With full support for the 460EX Canyonlands evaluation platform, Timesys’ LinuxLink solution is based on the latest 2.6.30 kernel and includes drivers for on-chip peripherals such as the PCI and PCI-Express ports, USB 2.0 interface, DDR2 controller, SATA port and 10/100/1G Ethernet controllers.

The release of LinuxLink for the 460EX processor represents the latest stage in Timesys’ support of AppliedMicro’s Power Architecture-based SoCs, extending the support already available for other 4xx processors within the LinuxLink framework.

Users of the PowerPC 460EX benefit from the LinuxLink framework which features an award-winning build system (called Factory) that provides both an easy-to-use wizard for creating an initial Linux starting image and a build engine that enables customers to design and build a completely custom and highly optimized Linux platform from source code.

The Factory wizard allows customers to choose from the latest GNU-based optimized toolchains enabled with uClibc and glibc libraries. The framework allows for creation of a footprint-optimized root file system (RFS) with application-specific features selected from hundreds of available software packages. Package categories include multimedia, networking, storage, security, industrial and more.

For maximum flexibility, developers take advantage of both the online build system and the desktop-hosted version. With either interface, customers leverage the best Linux code from AppliedMicro as well as from the open source community. The desktop version offers more flexibility than any other Linux build platform by allowing users to integrate third-party packages and proprietary software. LinuxLink’s update service automatically notifies customers of changes to any of the components used in their project.

LinuxLink customers have access to commonly used development tools, including, but not limited to GDB, OProfile and mpatrol. These tools help customers ensure the quality of their final product. Customers receive technical support from expert Timesys engineers and have access to a vast suite of documentation.

The subscription includes access to the recently updated Eclipse-based TimeStorm tools that provide an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for use in application development and debugging.

“We are delighted that Timesys has added PowerPC 460EX processor support to the LinuxLink framework,” said Chris Bergen, Director of Systems Engineering at AppliedMicro. “A number of our existing customers already use LinuxLink with other 4xx processors, and the addition of the 460EX support allows AppliedMicro and Timesys to continue providing our mutual customers with the solutions that they prefer.”

“We are excited about adding LinuxLink support for the 460EX processor,” said Charlie Ashton, Vice President of Business Development at Timesys. “LinuxLink is well suited for AppliedMicro’s target markets, offering an aggressively-priced development environment combined with easy access to a wealth of open-source software components. Our mutual customers leverage all the benefits of using open-source software through working within a framework that minimizes their schedule risk while accelerating their development cycle.”

For a limited time, developers can obtain free LinuxLink access to quickly configure, build and evaluate embedded Linux on the AppliedMicro 460EX Canyonlands platform by registering at https://timesys.com/register.

Additional information about LinuxLink subscriptions for AppliedMicro processors can be found at https://timesys.com/supported/processors/amcc.

About Timesys

Timesys is the provider of LinuxLink, a high-productivity software development framework for embedded Linux applications. The LinuxLink framework includes the Linux kernel, cross-toolchain, application development IDE, an award winning build system called Factory, a vast library of middleware packages, software stacks and libraries, documentation and expert technical support. LinuxLink enables development teams to consistently build and maintain a custom, open source embedded Linux platform through regularly updated Linux sources, proven middleware packages, and a scriptable GNU-based build environment. LinuxLink reduces the time, resources, risk and cost associated with building a product based on open source Linux. For more information, visit https://timesys.com.

Timesys Press Contact

Theresa Kisha
Tel: (+1) 412.325.6362
Email: theresa.kisha@timesys.com

About AppliedMicro

AppliedMicro is a global leader in energy efficient sustainable solutions to process, transport, and store information for the next generation of Internet data center and carrier central office. A leader in high speed signal processing, IP and Ethernet packet processing, and embedded processors, AppliedMicro’s patented innovations provide high value solutions in telecom, enterprise and consumer applications. AppliedMicro’s corporate headquarters are located in Sunnyvale, California. Sales and engineering offices are located throughout the world. For further information regarding AppliedMicro, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.appliedmicro.com.

AMCC Press Contact

Tally Kaplan
Tel: +1.408.702.3139
Email: tkaplan@amcc.com


Editors’ Notes:

Timesys® is a registered trademark of Timesys Corporation.
AMCC is a registered trademark of APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORPORATION.
Power Architecture is a trademark licensed by Power.org.
Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and other countries.
All other company and product names mentioned are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.