VxWorks
VxWorks is a real-time operating system (or RTOS) developed as proprietary software by Wind River Systems, a subsidiary of Aptiv. First released in 1987, VxWorks is designed for use in embedded systems requiring real-time, deterministic performance and, in many cases, safety and security certification for industries such as aerospace, defense, medical devices, industrial equipment, robotics, energy, transportation, network infrastructure, automotive, and consumer electronics.
VxWorks 7 boot-up screen | |
| Developer | Wind River (a wholly owned subsidiary of Aptiv) |
|---|---|
| OS family | Real-time operating systems |
| Working state | Current |
| Initial release | 1987 |
| Latest release | VxWorks 7 23.09 / September 8, 2023 |
| Marketing target | Embedded systems |
| Platforms | x86, x86-64, MIPS, PowerPC, SH-4, ARM, RISC-V |
| Kernel type | Monolithic |
| License | Proprietary |
| Official website | Windriver.com/products/vxworks |
VxWorks supports AMD/Intel architecture, POWER architecture, ARM architectures and RISC-V. The RTOS can be used in multicore asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP), symmetric multiprocessing (SMP), and mixed modes and multi-OS (via Type 1 hypervisor) designs on 32- and 64-bit processors.
VxWorks comes with the kernel, middleware, board support packages, Wind River Workbench development suite and complementary third-party software and hardware technologies. In its latest release, VxWorks 7, the RTOS has been re-engineered for modularity and upgradeability so the OS kernel is separate from middleware, applications and other packages. Scalability, security, safety, connectivity, and graphics have been improved to address Internet of Things (IoT) needs.