Real-time software keeps Ethernet running

SBS Technologies has released its VD-FOE Ethernet port failover software for the VxWorks real-time operating system.

SBS Technologies has released its VD-FOE Ethernet port failover software for the VxWorks real-time operating system.

VD-FOE software provides port failover for SBS Gigabit Ethernet network interface cards (NICs) using the VxWorks real-time operating system.

Employing a custom protocol implementation, the software eliminates single point of failure by allowing the system to failover from one port on an Ethernet network to a port on another independent Ethernet network with little or no disruption to the user.

This functionality is not available with standard protocols.

"The VD-FOE Ethernet port failover solution is designed for embedded applications, like those in critical medical imaging, military and commercial fields, which use Ethernet networks that require dual paths and seamless failover", said Bill Molyneux, General Manager of the SBS Technologies General Purpose I/O Group in Minnesota.

"SBS knows Ethernet and VxWorks, and we've leveraged that expertise to deliver an outstanding piece of software that is a perfect complement to our Ethernet hardware products".

VD-FOE is designed for networks in which the failover port cable connections provide two independent routes to a destination host with no risk of packet loop around.

VD-FOE pairs two Gigabit Ethernet ports so that the operating system views them as a single port represented by one hardware Ethernet address and one software IP address.

If an active port fails during data transmission, the route is automatically switched to its paired port without interruption.

VD-FOE complies with the SBS Ready Driver board support package API so it works across SBS Technologies' expansive range of Intel architecture and PowerPC single board computers as well as with single board computers from other vendors.

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