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MDI Products
SMX® RTOS
SMX is a modular RTOS for embedded systems. It has been toughened by over 15 years of use in hundreds of embedded applications. SMX is a small, fast, no royalty RTOS. It supports ARM, ColdFire, PowerPC, x86, and other processor families.
Reduced development schedule and cost is assured by proven code, pre-integration with the selected processor, and good tool support.
Lower product cost. Because of the small size and high performance of its components, it frequently is possible to avoid using external memory and to use a lower-performance processor. Also, dual-processor designs can often be avoided.
Cost effective. SMX is a modular RTOS. Buy only what is needed. Most modules work standalone—even the smx multitasking kernel is not required.
Fast start, integrated solution. Prior to shipment, all modules ordered are integrated, tested, and zipped. All you need to do is unzip the delivery and get to work on your embedded project.
No device drivers to write. Further helping you to focus on your project, we provide a good selection of device drivers for most popular peripherals.
High success rate. We put your success first, via training, responsive support, and clear, understandable manuals.
Future needs are covered. Our broad line of integrated products assures that even though you do not need a particular capability, today, you can easily add it when needed in the future. We are working today on products you may need tomorrow.
Want more information?
Major SMX Components
- smx hard real-time multitasking kernel including smxBSP board support package for specific processors, boards, and tool suites
- smxFLog flash logger
- smxFFS flash filesystem for NAND flash
- smxFS and smxFile small DOS-compatible file systems with drivers for popular embedded storage devices
- smxNS and smxNet TCP/IP stacks and networking software with popular Ethernet and serial drivers
- smxSSL and smxSSH secure socket layer and secure shell for use with smxNS and portable to other TCP/IP stacks
- smxUSBD device and smxUSBH host stacks with USB controller drivers, class drivers, and class emulators and smxUSBO On-The-Go (OTG) add-on.
- smxWiFi wireless 802.11 MAC for use with smxNS and smxUSBH and portable to other TCP/IP and USB host stacks
- C/PEG and PEG+ multitasking graphical user interface libraries
- GoFast floating point emulators
- smxAware kernel-aware debug support with Graphical Analysis Tools
- Barracuda advanced web server
- x86 support products for real mode and protected mode systems
- Tools—we resell several popular tool suites and provide first-line support
What to Look For in a Commercial RTOS
- Commitment to good support. There are still some RTOS vendors who think they can get away with minimal support, so be careful. Ask for references.
- Integration of components, so you don’t have to. Most RTOS vendors offer some components from other vendors. Make sure your RTOS vendor delivers an integrated, fully tested solution.
- Support for good commercial tools. You should expect to get project files or makefiles and first line support for the development tools you have picked.
- Specific support for your processor. This includes startup code and BSP code needed by the RTOS. Availability of a free evaluation kit for your processor is a good sign.
- Quality code. Ask to see some representative source code. Is it clean and well commented?
- Flexible licensing. The RTOS vendor should be willing to negotiate a licensing plan that works for your company.
The Case for Commercial Embedded Software
In today’s highly competitive markets, explosive rates of technology advance, and shortage of good programmers, it makes absolutely no sense to reinvent the wheel vis-à-vis system software. System software should be purchased, whenever possible. If significant money has not been allocated in the project budget, someone is seriously out of tune with modern conditions. The question should be: What commercial software can we rely on? NOT Do we need it? Commercial software typically costs a fraction of what it costs to do it in-house. Also it is proven software, so there is less to debug. The same number of programmers using a commercial RTOS and tools will definitely get to market sooner—and with better code. For more information see: Why Use a Commercial RTOS? and Economics of Commercial Kernels and Other System Software.
"Free" software is a figment the imagination—there are no free lunches. Yet some misguided developers and managers opt for "free" solutions. The first thing they give up is effective support when they need it. Newsgroups and other volunteer support are for hobbyists, not for professional programmers. The second thing they give up is processor integration. Free software is seldom ported to the latest processors. Hence, a lot of time-consuming hard work results. Is this what you or your programmers are paid to do? The mentality that picks free software usually also picks free Stone Age tools. These must be rebuilt for the selected processor—another time-consuming process. Worse, they are a continual drain on productivity. By now, the project is seriously behind schedule, will end over budget, and will miss market goals. Why fiddle with all this nonsense when one should be focusing on delivering a good product on schedule? Isn’t this what we are paid to do? For more information see: Disadvantages of Linux vs. SMX.
Numerous free SMX evaluation kits are posted for download. These run on popular evaluation boards and prove how easy it is to get started with SMX.
Register now for more information and to be contacted by a product expert. Registration also enables us to mail you printed literature and is necessary to qualify for a free evaluation kit.
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"I use SMX because it has a well-thought-out feature set, excellent APIs, clear and thorough documentation, and excellent support from engineers who really know their products (and embedded systems in general). In addition, the system integration Micro Digital provided between SMX, the PEG graphics library, and the Motorola i.MX demo board was rock solid. I can unreservedly recommend SMX and Micro Digital."
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Ethan Grossman
Coast Computer Design
Mill Valley, CA
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Benefits
- Reduced development schedule and cost
- Lower product cost
- Cost effective—buy only what is needed
- Fast start, integrated solution
- No device drivers to write
- High success rate
- Future needs are covered
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What Good Support Means
To You
You should expect your RTOS vendor to be willing to give bug fixes top priority and to be willing to help track down bugs that appear to be in the RTOS. To facilitate this, it is obviously best if support comes from the programmers who wrote the code. This is our model, but not that of most larger RTOS vendors. We do not claim our code to be perfect, but we do put your interests first. Micro Digital has a 75% renewal rate for support. This attests to the high-level of satisfaction of our customers with our support and our products.
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Evaluation Boards
We recommend that your buy the evaluation board for the processor you have
selected early in your evaluation process. Then you can run our evaluation
kits and demos, which is the best way to decide if our products are right
for you. If you decide to buy our products with smx, the shipment we make
to you will run out-of-the-box on your evaluation board. This
gives you a point of reference when you encounter problems running our
software on your custom board.
We have made ordering an eval board easy for you — simply click on the
name of the board in the evaluation kit description. This will take
you directly to the source.
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