Virtual processors ease multicore design

Secure virtualisation is a key enabler for the adoption of multicore architectures into embedded devices.

Multicore systems developed with Trango Hypervisor technology benefit from improved load balancing and power reduction, as well as more efficient resource utilisation.

These factors provide for the rapid development of products having a lower bill of materials cost.

Furthermore, the secure isolation of each virtual processor unit enables business-critical proprietary code to be cleanly separated from GPL code and its attendant license requirements, thereby making the production of fully GPL-compliant products very straightforward.

Working in conjunction with the ARM11 MPCore, the Trango Hypervisor addresses the demand for scalability from single to multicore platforms.

Targeting wireless, networking, and entertainment markets, it offers robust security, design flexibility, performance and power management capabilities to both semiconductor and device manufacturers.

In the ARM multicore environment, Trango's hallmark security and reliability are reflected in features such as OS fallback redundancy, high availability, execution environment isolation, and robust protection of critical data and services.

Trango also enables easy integration and short time to market thanks to a complete Eclipse-based SDK and tools suite, and customised engineering and consulting services.

"Our secure virtualisation is a key enabler for the adoption of multicore architectures into embedded devices", says Fabrice Devaux, Chief Technology Officer at Trango Virtual Processors.

"With the Trango Hypervisor, it is possible to use a single-core device as a programming platform that functions as a multicore, but does so by using virtual processors".

"Consequently, the migration to a true multicore device and associated programming model is very straightforward, which drastically shortens time to market for our customers", adds Devaux.

The Trango Hypervisor enables the efficient and optimal use of ARM11 MPCore processor, as each core is virtualised and has its own hypervisor.

With Trango secure virtualisation, the ARM11 MPCore platform has the capability to run simultaneously and securely up to 256 virtual processors per core.

"ARM welcomes Trango's Hypervisor release for the ARM11 MPCore processor", says John Goodacre, Program Manager, Multiprocessing ARM.

"The Trango virtualisation technology provides software designers additional flexibility to benefit from the scalable high performance and low power offered by the ARM11 MPCore multicore processor".

In addition to demonstrating an early version of its hypervisor on ARM11 MPCore processor at the ARM Developers' Conference, Trango announces plans for its hypervisor to support the ARM Cortex-A9 processors in Q2 2008.

"The Cortex-A9 MPCore multicore processor is our first processor to implement support for enhanced paravirtualisation that is coupled with ARM TrustZone security technology and embodied in the recently announced ARMv7 architecture extensions".

"We are pleased to work closely with embedded virtualisation leaders such as Trango", adds Goodacre.

Currently available for a variety of ARMv5- and ARMv6-based single-core implementations, the Trango Hypervisor product for ARM11 MPCore processor will be available for shipment to customers starting in Q1 2008.

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