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What does Virtio do?
About Virtio
Virtio delivers software models of embedded systems for early software
development. Virtio speeds the development and distribution of these software
models delivered as virtual platforms. Virtio headquarters are in Campbell, California. Virtio has a development centre in Scotland.
Innovate Software on Software
Virtual prototyping allows the creation of high-performance
software models of the complete system - without the need for physical hardware. The
technology is powerful and scaleable enough to model a complex embedded system and
yet fast enough to develop and execute production-quality software very early in
the design cycle. The Virtio technology allows software developers to innovate software on software.
Why do I need Virtio?
Product functionality of embedded systems is shifting from largely a
hardware-based focus in the past to a new software application focus. For example,
embedded systems like mobile phones, personal digital assistants and home Internet
gateways are characterized by growing software content. This new focus marks the
beginning of the golden age of software. Obviously, the dawning of the golden age
of software elevates the priority and the importance of creating software for
embedded systems and requires companies to reengineer their development processes
to support the change in focus. To manage the design cycle in the golden age of
software, the focus shifts to starting the software portion of the design earlier
in the design cycle and integrating the software with the hardware as early as
possible. In this scenario, software development defines the critical path for
the product design.
This early focus on software development and integration also
requires new tools and methodologies previously not used by the design community.
Virtual platforms offer the most promising vehicle for early software development
on a realistic, fast and accurate representation of the hardware. Virtio Virtual Platforms are software models of the hardware that are
developed from the software perspective. The technology is powerful and scaleable
enough to model a complex embedded system and yet fast enough to boot operating systems and
execute production-quality software very early in the design cycle.
What is virtual prototyping?
Concept - Virtual prototyping allows a software developer to create
a fast prototype in a soft form - without using physical hardware. The
technology is powerful enough to model both the hardware and software portion of
complex embedded systems in the very early stages of the design cycle.
Technology - A virtual platform builds upon the
following components:
- Fast processor models: or instruction-set simulators, connected
to standard software debuggers, enable the loading and execution of the real
software on the prototype.
- Hardware/peripheral models: standard processor peripherals,
busses, and hardware accelerators can be captured as high-level C/C++ models,
compiled and executed on top of a system simulator, to capture the hardware
portion in a design.
- Co-simulation APIs: between the processor models and hardware
simulator enables a seamless communication between the hardware and software
domain.
- Test Bench/human-machine interface models: like the
keyboard and LCD of a cell phone, mimic the real appearance of and interaction
with the system being designed, and generate "real" stimuli to the
prototype.
Virtual platforms span multiple levels of accuracy, ranging from
functional-accurate and timed-accurate to cycle-accurate models. They
combine instruction-accurate or cycle-accurate processor models and
functional peripheral models, and employ appropriate bus functional
models whenever needed. For example, software development typically
requires only functional accurate models, with relatively little detail
incorporated in the peripheral models. Exploiting this capability will
render models that allow designers to boot operating-systems on top of
the platform.
How do I get started and what do I need to use Virtio Virtual
Platforms?
Getting started is easy and all you need is an Internet connection and
a web browser. Go to Virtio's web site at www.virtio.com
and try Test-drive a Virtual Platform. On-line evaluations
allow developers to try out a platform free of charge.
How much does a virtual platform cost?
Virtio's virtual prototyping offers platform evaluation to early software development and
integration. Virtio offers free evaluations of virtual platforms either on-line or downloaded to your
desktop. To start go to the Virtio web site, where the developer can explore a variety of embedded
platforms for free and determine which platform is the best starting point for their own system. The
next step is to purchase the Virtio Virtual Platform or the Platform Development Kit (PDK).
Virtual platforms range from $1,990 to $5,990 and Platform Development Kits range from $9,990 - $13,990
depending on the platform.Yearly license renewal and maintenance are charged separately.
Volume discounts are available. For more information, please contact sales@virtio.com.
What does innovate software on software mean?
Innovating software on software describes the capabilities that
Virtio delivers to software developers. Virtio's virtual prototyping technology makes it easy to create a
software model that can be used to develop and integrate production software without the physical
hardware. The advantages of developing and integrating software on this software model, a virtual platform,
include fast and easy setup of the platform for your software development team, a
powerful debug environment able to quickly locate problems in both the software and
the hardware functionality, and because it is software the virtual platform can be
distributed electronically by e-mail to the entire software development team, partners and customers.
The bottom-line is more time for the software developers to focus on
innovation rather than integration.
Who are Virtio's partners?
Virtio continues to attract premier embedded system suppliers, because of the
benefits virtual platform offers them. Our current list of partners includes:
- ARM
- Green Hills Software
- IBM
- Intel
- LynuxWorks
- Metrowerks
- MIPS Technologies
- Mentor Graphics
- MontaVista Software
- Wind River
This represents our starting list of
partners with a goal to continue to add partners to broaden the number of platforms
available. Virtio is also a Microsoft Windows
Embedded Partner. See the complete list in the partner section for the up-to-date list.
How do I get in touch with Virtio?
You can contact us by e-mail at info@virtio.com
or call us at 866.284.7846 or 408.341.0844. |
