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RedHawk Linux
Real-Time Linux Development Environment

Standards

Single, Standard
Linux API• Field-proved value-add performance• Guaranteed event response on
certified platforms

Scalable SMP
ProcessorShielding• Advanced processor shielding features• NightStarTM non-intrusive debugging andanalysis tools

Frequency-Based
Scheduling• Customized targed images

RedHawk Linux Overview
Concurrent Real-Time’s RedHawkTM Linux® is an industry
standard, real-time version of the open source Linux
operating system for Intel x86 and ARM64 platforms.
RedHawk Linux provides the guaranteed performanceneeded in time-critical and hard real-time environments.
RedHawk is the ideal Linux solution for a broad range ofserver and embedded applications such as modeling,simulation, data acquisition, industrial control and medical
imaging systems. RedHawk guarantees that a user-levelapplication can respond to an external event in less than 5
microseconds on certified platforms.
Designed for developers who need to reduce cost, improvetime to market, increase system reliability and overall qualityof service of their applications, RedHawk offers field-proven,contemporary open source Linux technology, advanced
GUI debugging and analysis tools, comprehensive multicore support and award-winning customer service.
RedHawk is widely used in aerospace, defense, automotive,manufacturing, medical and financial applications.

Complete Development Environment
RedHawk Linux offers a complete set of tools for effcientdevelopment of time-critical applications. Concurrent’s
powerful NightStar application development tool kit
provides a robust graphic interface for non-intrusive control,
monitoring, analysis and debugging of multi-threaded,multi-core applications. NightStar offers advanced
debugging features such as lockless kernel trace. In addition
to GNU C, C++ and Fortran, RedHawk also supports thepopular Intel C/C++ and Fortran compilers.

Compatability with Red Hat®
RedHawk Linux user-level commands, utilities and systemadministration are fully compatible with Red Hat EnterpriseLinux and CentOS. RedHawk achieves its superior real-time
performance by providing the latest official long-term
release from kernel.org with key open source patches andkernel enhancements developed by Concurrent. RedHawk
user libraries provide access to value-add features thatare not part of other Linux offerings. RedHawk is fullycompatible with standard Linux user level APIs, thus Linux

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Real-Time
Development
Tools

Real-Time
Optimized
Linux Kernel

Multithreading& Preemption

applications written for other Linux distributions will run on
RedHawk without modification. RedHawk is also available
with the Ubuntu user environment.

Scalable SMP and Processor Shielding
In tightly-coupled symmetric multiprocessing systems andmulticore SBCs, RedHawk Linux allows individual CPUsand cores to be shielded from local timers, interrupts,
daemons, bottom halves and other Linux tasks. RedHawk’s
comprehensive processor shielding features provide ahighly deterministic execution environment where interrupt
response is guaranteed. Unlike other distributions, RedHawk
offers a field-proven, easy-to-use shielding API with bothcommand-line and graphical-tool user interfaces. RedHawk
also supports optional PREEMPT_RT scheduling for minimizing
the latency of large numbers of threads without requiring
processor shielding.

Multithreading and Preemption
RedHawk Linux allows multiple processes to execute in
the kernel simultaneously. The kernel protects key data
structures and critical sections of code with semaphores
and spinlocks to preserve system integrity.
Processes executing in the RedHawk kernel can bepreempted, i.e. forced to relinquish a CPU involuntarily. The
RedHawk kernel can transfer control from a lower-priority
process to a higher-priority process except when the lower
priority process is executing in a critical kernel section. To
provide deterministic response, many critical sections of
the kernel have been tuned and optimized to dramaticallyshorten non-preemptable conditions. These changes are key
to allowing a high-priority process to respond immediately
to an external event, even when the CPU is currently in use.
Semaphores internal to RedHawk Linux also support priority
inheritance to prevent priority inversion when multiple
threads of an application are competing for operating
system resources.

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Single Kernel Environment

I/O Enhancements

RedHawk is a complete Linux distribution designed to fully
support time-critical applications. RedHawk provides a true
single-kernel programming environment that directly controls
all system operation. Complex time-critical applications
often require that high-speed file I/O, networking andgraphics be performed deterministically together with realtime task scheduling. Only RedHawk’s single-kernel design
ensures determinism and high-speed performance of allthese features.

RedHawk supports Linux user-level (UIO) device drivers.
RedHawk’s UIO facility provides a kernel driver stub that canbe used with user code to develop a user-space driver foralmost any type of hardware. RedHawk also includes thelatest available NVIDIA® graphics and GPU drivers specially
optimized for real-time performance by Concurrent. The
enhanced drivers allow applications to achieve maximum
determinism during image rendering and CUDA GPUcomputation.

Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA)
Optimization

The U.S. Navy has selected RedHawk Linux as its Open Architecture
Operating System for numerous programs including the Aegis
Weapon System, Naval Undersea Warfare Center’s next generation
torpedo hardware-in-the-loop test bed, the Surface Electronic
Warfare Improvement Program, and the U.S. Coast Guard Deep
Water Program.

Frequency-Based Scheduler
RedHawk’s Frequency-Based Scheduler (FBS) is a highresolution task scheduler that enables the user to run
processes in cyclical execution patterns. FBS controls theperiodic execution of multiple, coordinated processes
utilizing major and minor cycles with overrun detection. A
performance monitor is also provided to view CPU utilization
during each scheduled execution frame.

Real-Time Clock and Interrupt Module Support
On Concurrent iHawk™ real-time multiprocessors, RedHawk
supports the Real-Time Clock & Interrupt Module (RCIM), a
multifunction card designed for time-critical applications
that require rapid response to external events. Eightprogrammable timers and twelve input and output
external interrupt lines are available. Any interrupt source
can be distributed to other iHawks for synchronizing multisystem applications. The RCIM includes a high-resolution
synchronized clock to provide a common time base acrossmultiple systems. On-the-wire time stamps allow RedHawk
to provide for high-resolution NTP synchronization. RCIM
options include a GPS module for synchronizing with GPS
standard time and high-stability crystal oscillators to provide
for accurate timekeeping without an external time source.

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The standard Linux NUMA implementation does not offer
a mechanism to ensure that pages of a real-time process
are local to a given NUMA node and ensure that no otherprocess’ pages are using that same node. RedHawk’s NUMA
optimization features dramatically improve the determinismof real-time process memory access on NUMA architectures.
RedHawk can automatically duplicate libraries and othermodules as needed and hold them simultaneously inmultiple nodes to maximize performance. RedHawk also
improves real-time performance by replicating kernel codeand read-only data in each NUMA node.

RedHawk Architect
RedHawk Architect is a powerful tool with an easy-to-use
GUI that lets a developer choose the Linux and application
modules to be included in RedHawk target images.
Designed especially for embedded applications, users canselect as few or as many packages as desired from manydifferent package groups. Architect allows the file system
to be customized and minimized for diskless operation using
flash size under 1 GB.
Architect’s cluster manager software allows users toinstall and configure systems as highly-integrated, highperformance computing clusters. Architect includes
mechanisms for network PXE installing and also for network
PXE diskless booting of multiple nodes with the same version
of RedHawk.
Architect creates and processes a configuration file definedby the user to perform actual RPM package installation.
The tool prompts the user to insert the required RedHawk,NightStar, and Linux user land media depending upon
the features selected. RedHawk Architect will allow
customization of the RedHawk kernel itself and provides a
flashing tool for burning RedHawk and the user’s application
image onto a CPU board’s non-volatile memory, DVD or USB
flash. Architect can also build virtual target images for use
with QEMU/KVM. This allows embedded images to be tested
without a physical target system.

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RedHawk Features• Real-time Linux operating system for x86 and ARM64systems• Field-proven value-add performance- Guaranteed <5 usec event response on certifiedplatforms- Advanced shielding features· Processor, interrupt and local timer· Easy-to-use shielding API and GUI- NUMA performance optimization- User-level I/O- Frequency-based scheduling- Lockless kernel trace- Optimized graphics and CUDA® I/O

Build customized target images with RedHawk Architect- Support for Intel® Phi™ coprocessor MIC programming- Cluster management- Preemptive, multithreaded, reentrant kernel- Priority inheritance- User-level preemption control- Post/Wait services- Minimal dispatch latencies- Dynamic and static load balancing- SELinux Security- Virtual targets with QEMU/KVM- Optional PREEMPT_RT real-time Scheduling• Industry Standards- Linux Standard Base (LSB)- POSIX 1003.13 Profile 54- POSIX 1003.1 real-time and threads- RHEL/CentOS® and Ubuntu compatibility- Eclipse IDE interoperable• RedHawk Architect™ GUI configuration tool
- Choose desired user packages and modules- Select a target-specific kernel- Build the complete root file system- Flash the file system image- Reconfigure images as needed• Single-vendor Support for all Linux Needs- Software maintenance services- Telephone support, on-line updates, releases- Custom I/O driver development- Application rehosting- Consulting services

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NightStar Application Development Tools
Concurrent’s NightStar is a powerful, integrated tool set
for developing time-critical CPU and GPU applications.
NightStar tools run with minimal intrusion, thus preserving
application execution behavior and determinism. Users
can quickly and easily debug, monitor, schedule, analyze
and tune applications in real-time. NightStar GUI-based
tools reduce test time, increase productivity and lower
development costs. Time-critical applications requiredebugging tools that can handle the complexities ofmultiple processors and cores, multitask interaction andmulti-threading. NightStar’s advanced features enablesystem builders to solve difficult problems quickly.

NightViewTM is a source-level debugger that allows users

to simultaneously debug multiple, time-critical processes.
With NightView, a programmer can change program
execution and modify or display data without stopping orinterrupting the program. Eventpoint conditions, such as hit
and ignore counts, are patched directly into an applicationand executed at full application speed. NightView includes
an interactive memory debugger that helps find andeliminate heap memory leaks.

NightTraceTM is an event analyzer that displays andanalyzes the dynamic behavior of applications, theRedHawk kernel and the interaction between them.
NightTrace can log events from multiple processes executing
simultaneously on multiple CPUs and GPUs. NightTrace canalso combine user-defined application events with kernel
events to present a synchronized view of the entire system.
RedHawk’s lockless kernel trace eliminates any contention
when multiple cores log trace points simultaneously.

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NightTrace allows users to zoom, search, filter and analyze
events. Tracing analysis can be live or post execution.
NightTrace’s powerful application illumination GUI allows
programmers to automatically trace CPU and GPU
application function calls and examine the values ofparameters passed and returned. Function call tracing isfully customizable and can provide a complete view of glibc
activities.

NightSimTM is a tool for scheduling time-criticalapplications that require predictable, cyclic process
execution. Ideal for simulation applications, NightSim allows
developers to dynamically adjust the execution of multiple,
coordinated processes, their priorities, scheduling policies
and CPU assignments. Users can monitor the performanceof applications by displaying period execution times,maximums and minimums, and optionally pause execution
when a process overruns its allocated frame.

NightTuneTM is a GUI for monitoring and tuning

application and system performance. Users can monitor
the priority, scheduling policy, CPU assignment and CPU
and GPU usage of user applications. NightTune also monitors
system CPU usage, context switches, interrupts, memory
utilization, and disk and network activity. NightTune can beused to shield cores and adjust interrupt and process anity.

Customer Support
Technical support for your real-time Linux needs is provided
directly by Concurrent Real-Time. Standard RedHawk
services include telephone support, problem reporting andresolution, on-line software updates and new releases asavailable. Consulting services are also available for special
hardware integration and software support needs.
Since the beginning of the millennium, Concurrent has
deployed and supported thousands of proven Linux solutions
in a range of technical industries. Concurrent Linux expertiseand support has been a key factor in the success of many
critical government and commercial applications.

About Concurrent Real-Time
Concurrent Real-Time is the industry’s foremost provider ofhigh-performance real-time computer systems, solutions
and software for commercial and government markets. Its
real-time Linux solutions deliver hard real-time performancein support of the world’s most sophisticated hardware inthe-loop and man-in-the-loop simulation, high-speed dataacquisition, process control and low-latency transaction
processing applications. With over 50 years of experience inthe real-time market, Concurrent provides sales and support
from offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

NightStar tools reduce test time and lower development costs

For more information, please visit Concurrent Real-Time atwww.concurrent-rt.com

NightProbeTM is a tool for monitoring, modifying

and recording data values from multiple, independent
application resources including programs, shared memory
segments, memory mapped files and PCI devices.
NightProbe can be used in development for debugging,analysis, prototyping and fault injection, or in a production
environment to create a GUI control panel for program input
and output.

©2017 Concurrent Real-Time, Inc. Information subject to change without notice. Concurrent Real-Time and its logo are registered trademarks ofConcurrent. All Concurrent product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Concurrent, while all other product names are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The registered trademark of Linux is used pursuant to a sublicense from the Linux Mark
Institute, the exclusive licensee of Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark on a worldwide basis. All rights reserved.

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