FS2 and Viosoft Introduce the Only Complete Out-of-the-Box Solution for Embedded Linux Development Using ARM Processors

Business Wire, Oct 19, 2004

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- FS2 System Analyzer with Viosoft Arriba provides the first and only complete support for embedded Linux kernel applications as well as a FREE 30-day evaluation kit

First Silicon Solutions (FS2(R)) and Viosoft(R) at the ARM(R) Developer Conference today announce the availability of a complete suite of development and debug tools for Embedded Linux in ARM7 and ARM9 processor designs. This suite of tools bundles everything the developer needs, including the Linux kernel, the FS2 System Analyzer for ARM cores, Viosoft's Arriba(R) Embedded Linux development environment, utilities and compilers -- all the key embedded Linux software components needed by embedded Linux developers.

FS2's System Analyzer works with EmbeddedICE(R) logic in the ARM core to set hardware triggers and software breakpoints, start, stop, step the processor, and to view and modify registers and memory. In addition, the user can capture and display available trace information such as executed instructions and data cycles for processors that include the ARM ETM(TM) option. The FS2 System Analyzer also provides support for multi-core debugging and interfaces to the FS2 MED(R) (Multi-core Embedded Debug) System for more complex SoC designs.

The Arriba Embedded Linux Edition is a development environment customized for the development and deployment of Embedded Linux device drivers, loadable modules, and user-mode applications. The Embedded Linux Edition comes complete with full royalty-free source code of the Embedded Linux Kernel for the ARM7/9 processors. Versions are available on both Windows and Unix/Linux hosts.

The Arriba suite of tools enables embedded Linux developers to import and configure the various components of the Linux kernel with their application code faster and easier than ever before. It includes an integrated IDE, GNU C/C compiler and Assembler, source level debugger, and windows to easily display and modify system registers, view configuration settings, manage file source modules, and generate and debug the user code seamlessly with the Linux kernel and drivers. The debugger is completely integrated with the FS2 tool to allow the user to have complete control over the hardware. One can easily set hardware breakpoints and step through and debug all the code from startup and boot routines, to kernel and user code.

"FS2 has integrated the System Analyzer with Viosoft's Arriba debugger to make software debugging faster and easier than ever. This is a complete out-of-the-box solution, and because of this, it will greatly accelerate time to market for developers with complex ARM7 and ARM9 designs using embedded Linux," according to Rick Leatherman, president of FS2. "We are so sure of this solution that we are offering a FREE 30-day evaluation kit to interested developers."

"Viosoft provides a complete and familiar Windows-based environment that makes it fast and easy to configure and integrate applications with the embedded Linux kernel and drivers. This gives developers a key time to market advantage that no other package can provide," said Hieu Tran, principal and chairman at Viosoft.

Availability

The FS2 System Analyzer for ARM7 and ARM9 cores and the Viosoft Arriba(R) Embedded Linux Edition are immediately available. The companies are providing 30-day free evaluation kits to interested developers. Contact FS2 at http://www.fs2.com or Viosoft on the web at http://www.viosoft.com for additional information.

About First Silicon Solutions (FS2)

FS2 specializes in custom silicon IP, design services and OCI(R) (On-Chip Instrumentation) development tools for programming, testing and debug of embedded systems in FPGA, SoC, SOPC, ASSP and ASIC devices. FS2 OCI based products include CLAM(R) (Configurable Logic Analyzer Modules) based Logic Navigator(TM) and Bus Navigator(TM) tools for IP debug, core specific ISA (In System Analyzer) tools for processor debug and trace, and MED(R) (Multi-core Embedded Debug) tools for SoC debug. FS2 products enable silicon vendors and their customers to develop and more effectively market their products, reduce development cycles, allowing them to focus on delivering all the potential of the system on silicon. Additional information about FS2 is available at http://www.fs2.com

About Viosoft

Founded in 1996, Viosoft is a privately-held corporation focused on delivering cutting-edge solutions for complex embedded systems software and system designs and development.

Viosoft embedded development solutions enable customers to create, debug, and deploy large scale embedded software on leading RISC microprocessors using a variety of popular and widely available connectivity options. By providing a single integrated environment with the same consistent look-and-feel and usability across different host and target platforms, the Arriba Development Suite helps customers reduce time-to-market and achieve maximum competitive advantage. For more information visit Viosoft on the web at http://www.viosoft.com