The Palo Alto, California-based real-time embedded operating system developer Ready Systems Inc has signed a deal worth in excess of $3m with Plessey Microsystems to market VXCEL, an integrated real-time Unix software environment, aimed at military and commercial VMEbus markets worldwide in demanding applications that require teams rather than a single programmer. VXCEL is an operating system which combines Ready System’s VRTX32 Versatile Real-Time Executive multi-tasking kernel with Unix System V Release 3 for real-time multiprocessor application developments, and will be marketed by Plessey for use throughout its VMEbus board level products range. For application development, VXCEL performs real-time target processing, while the Unix portion provides control and management functions. According to Plessey, the key features of VXCEL are that it incorporates Unix as an integral development environment; it allows the use of alternative host systems; it offers both Unix and real-time tools; it incorporates the widely used VTRX32 kernel; and is available for all popular microprocessors so users need not be dependent upon one particular silicon vendor. It also provides on-line support for Ada. The product will be ready in the second quarter and Plessey is understood to have already signed a contract for the product with a large European commercial customer; no prices were given.
