Thin Client

General Software Announces High Availability Monitor(TM) Firmware Application to Increase Uptime of Embedded x86 Devices
Tuesday February 22, 1:02 pm ET

NUREMBERG, GERMANY--(MARKET WIRE)--Feb 22, 2005 -- General Software, Inc., the leading supplier of embedded x86 firmware solutions, today introduced at Embedded World 2005 a new firmware application for increasing the reliability, uptime, and availability of embedded x86 devices. As the first member of a new Firmware Application Suite(TM) specifically developed to enhance embedded x86 devices, the High Availability Monitor(TM) provides an ideal way of ensuring maximum up-time for products ranging from set-top boxes, thin client form factors and information appliances, industrial controllers and telecommunications equipment.

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"High Availability is becoming increasingly important in the design and deployment of today's interconnected systems. The High Availability Monitor from General Software is a superior solution which provides services at all times, even when the operating system fails to boot, crashes, or locks up; unlike traditional middleware solutions, " said Steve Dearden, General Software's vice president of sales and marketing. "Customers will now be able to offer much higher levels of assurance to their end users for the continuous availability of their products."

High Availability Monitor (HA Monitor) is a firmware application written utilizing Firmbase® Technology that continuously monitors the foreground operating system and application, verifying that it has not crashed. When crashes such as blue screens, black screens, or panics occur, the HA Monitor detects an OS System Death and generates an HA event. The event can be configured by the ODM/OEM to perform specific functions including; logging the failure to a system event log, sending an alert or email over the network, triggering a reload of known-working software and firmware, and rebooting the target. The HA Monitor can be remotely managed over the local network or Internet with any web browser or Telnet connection. Standard Firmbase® Technology TCB user-level security is provided on remote administration. Common applications include limiting down time to quantifiable levels and ensuring users never witness an internal OS failure on visible monitors.

About Embedded BIOS® 2000

Embedded BIOS® 2000 is the leading BIOS SDK for embedded x86 designs, with over 800 OEM-customizable configuration parameters, support for multiple embedded operating systems, and support for major OS and hardware initiatives. Embedded BIOS 2000 addresses the entire lifecycle of embedded products, from board bring-up, configuration prototyping, testing with system diagnostics, and product manufacturing to in-field diagnostics and software reload. Features include an integrated debugger; console redirection; highly configurable POST; manufacturing mode; ROM, RAM, and Flash file systems; support for a host of industry initiatives; and much more. Embedded BIOS 2000 supports industry-standard operating systems that run on PC-compatible hardware, including the full spectrum of Windows, Linux, and real-time operating systems.

About Firmbase® Technology

Firmbase Technology is General Software's patented 32-bit firmware infrastructure that contributes the surety and trust expected from firmware applications. A non-stop SMM envelope is provided which keeps firmware applications running, even when the OS and user application have failed, or are missing. Firmbase Technology is ROM-resident and provides a chain of trust from power-on to OS boot. It supplies the user-level security for the BIOS and for firmware applications which do not run under OS control.

About General Software

General Software provides superior embedded x86 firmware solutions and world-class support for OEM manufacturers of telecommunications, data communications, consumer electronics, dedicated servers, and other specialized computing devices. General Software's well-architected and reliable firmware products reduce risk, speed development, and address embedded OEM product lifecycle needs. For more information about General Software and its embedded firmware, visit http://www.gensw.com, e-mail [email protected], or contact David Tobar at 800-850-5755 or 425-576-8300.

Contact:

CONTACT:
Kate Johnsen
General Software, Inc.
425.576.8300 x229
[email protected]

Source: General Software, Inc.