OS (1DT044)

Cases

Each group will study one of the operating systems in the below table where H = link to homepage and W = link to Wikipedia.

CaseOperating systemDescriptionHW
1 VxWorks VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) designed for use in embedded systems requiring real-time, deterministic performance and, in many cases, safety and security certification, for industries, such as aerospace and defense, medical devices, industrial equipment, robotics, energy, transportation, network infrastructure, automotive, and consumer electronics. H W
2 Linux Linux is a Unix-like and mostly POSIX-compliant computer operating system (OS) assembled under the model of free and open-source software development and distribution. - W
3 Contiki Contiki is an operating system for networked, memory-constrained systems with a focus on low-power wireless Internet of Things devices. Extant uses for Contiki include systems for street lighting, sound monitoring for smart cities, radiation monitoring, and alarms. It is open-source software released under a BSD license. H W
4 Android Android is a mobile operating system (OS) currently developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. - W
5 TinyOS TinyOS is an embedded, component-based operating system and platform for low-power wireless devices, such as those used in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), smartdust, ubiquitous computing, personal area networks, building automation, and smart meters. - W

Schedule

In the below schedule you can see which case your group have been assigned. Note that you should be present no only during your groups presentation but for all presentations in the same block as your presentation. In the table you can also see for which group you will act ass opponents.

Suggested outline of the presentation

This is just a suggestion for topics to include in your presentation and you may choose to exclude or rearrange parts of the list and/or include other topics you find relevant in the context of your case study.

  • Title slide (mandatory)
    • Title
    • Course name, course code and year (2018)
    • Names of the group members participating in the presentation in alphabetical order.
  • History, background and overall purpose of the OS.
    • Embedded?
    • Real-time?
    • Other?
  • Concurrent programming/execution.
    • Processes, threads or similar?
    • Inter-process communication or similar?
    • Synchronization?
  • Scheduling algorithm(s)?
  • Power management?
  • Memory management?
  • Example(s) of real-world usage?
  • List of references (mandatory).

Where to start

The links in this section should only be seen as a starting point and part of the case study group assignment is to search for more information.

VxWorks

VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) developed as proprietary software by Wind River of Alameda, California, US. First released in 1987, VxWorks is designed for use in embedded systems requiring real-time, deterministic performance and, in many cases, safety and security certification, for industries, such as aerospace and defense, medical devices, industrial equipment, robotics, energy, transportation, network infrastructure, automotive, and consumer electronics.

General information

Technical information

Real-time multitasking

Curiosity - the Mars Science Laboratory Rover

Linux

Linux is a Unix-like and mostly POSIX-compliant computer operating system (OS) assembled under the model of free and open-source software development and distribution.

General information

History of Linux

Process, threads and kernel threads

Scheduler

Evolution of the Linux scheduler:

Contiki

Contiki is an operating system for networked, memory-constrained systems with a focus on low-power wireless Internet of Things devices. Extant uses for Contiki include systems for street lighting, sound monitoring for smart cities, radiation monitoring, and alarms. It is open-source software released under a BSD license.

General information

Technical information

Multithreading and protothreads

Use cases

Android

Android is a mobile operating system (OS) currently developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

General information

Android vs Linux

How is Android related to Linux? How is Android different from Linux?

Power management

Use cases

  • Smart phones
  • Tablets
  • Wearables
  • Smart TV
  • Automobiles
  • More?

TinyOS

TinyOS is an embedded, component-based operating system and platform for low-power wireless devices, such as those used in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), smartdust, ubiquitous computing, personal area networks, building automation, and smart meters.

General information

Technical information

Schedulers and tasks

Power management

Use cases