Foundries.io has launched the Linux and Zephyr microPlatform distributions for the embedded, IoT, edge and automotive markets.

Supported by a newly announced partner program, these microPlatforms are said to enable devices from light bulbs to connected cars to always be secure and updated to the latest available firmware, operating system and application(s).

George Grey, CEO of Foundries.io, explained: “Today’s connected devices require modern software and secure update techniques. Rather than legacy software builds being maintained for product lifetimes that can reach 10 years or more, the microPlatforms are built from the ground up to enable product manufacturers to always and immediately deploy the latest security updates, bug fixes and new features to their customers, ensuring the safety of the Internet of Things and the security of data throughout the network.”

Features
The Linux microPlatform includes updatable firmware, kernel and a minimal distribution built using Open Embedded/Yocto, running customer-specific services and applications natively or in Containers. This enables remote management of the product software from private or public cloud device management platforms on Edge devices, using standard enterprise tools such as Ansible and Kubernetes.

The Zephyr microPlatform is the first downstream distribution for the Zephyr Project, and uses the Zephyr RTOS, MCUboot software, services and reference applications to provide a continuously tested, secure, updatable, cross-architecture solution for microcontroller-based products.

Applications include upgradable smart devices for industry and home, gateways and edge computing devices reconfigurable OTA for newly attached hardware and/or services, and securely updatable software platforms for the automotive, robot and drone industries.

Cross-architecture Linux microPlatform builds support Arm, Intel and RISC-V. Popular development board support includes:

• Toradex Colibri i.MX7 SoM
• Raspberry Pi 3 (using 64 bit Linux and supporting Docker containers)
• Qualcomm DragonBoard 410C and 820C
• TI BeagleBone Black Wireless
• Intel NUC 7
• SiFive Unleashed

Zephyr RTOS microPlatform builds are also available now, supporting hardware listed by the Zephyr Project, including products from Nordic Semiconductor, NXP and STMicroelectronics.

Launch Partners
Toradex and Linaro are launch partners. Toradex is using the Linux microPlatform as a secure and updateable base for its upcoming software offering. Linaro is using the microPlatforms to provide software solutions for the 96Boards open hardware ecosystem.

Downloads of microPlatform source code, binaries and documentation are available at Foundries.io