INTEGRITY RT Operating System
TL;DR
MULTI IDE showing INTEGRITY tasks, trace debugging & memory partitions
🧩 1. Basic Information
Field | Description |
|---|---|
OS Name | INTEGRITY® RTOS |
Developer | Green Hills Software |
First Released | 1997 |
Latest Version | INTEGRITY® Multivisor (secure virtualization), latest releases in 2024 |
License Type | Proprietary commercial |
Supported Platforms | ARM, PowerPC, x86, MIPS, RISC-V, and more |
Still Active? | ✅ Yes (widely used in avionics, automotive, medical, industrial, defense systems) |
⚙️ 2. Kernel & Architecture
Kernel Type | Real-time microkernel, designed for hard real-time determinism |
Architecture | Fully preemptive, memory-protected, partitioned kernel |
Based On | Built from scratch by Green Hills (not derived from Linux, UNIX, or POSIX) |
Mixed Criticality Support | Can isolate high-safety tasks from general software |
SMP Support | Supports Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) on multi-core processors |
🌟 3. Key Features
Hard real-time performance: guaranteed scheduling deadlines even under high load
Memory partitioning: each process in its own isolated address space, preventing faults from spreading
Secure multivisor: runs guest OSes (like Linux or Android) alongside critical RTOS tasks safely
Supports DO-178C Level A certification for avionics, ISO 26262 for automotive, IEC 62304 for medical
Minimal trusted code base (TCB) for high assurance
Multi-core scheduling with asymmetric or symmetric strategies
Broad toolchain support with MULTI IDE, MISRA compliance checking, static analysis
📈 4. Version History & Important Milestones ✅
Milestone / Version | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|
INTEGRITY RTOS launched | 1997 | Green Hills’ secure hard RTOS for embedded & safety-critical |
INTEGRITY-178B for avionics | 2001± | Certified DO-178B Level A, later DO-178C, widely used in military/aerospace |
INTEGRITY Multivisor | ~2010s | Hypervisor + RTOS combination to run Linux/Android alongside secure RT tasks |
Ongoing releases | 2020s± | Continues to evolve with new ARM64, RISC-V, AUTOSAR support |
🎯 5. Target Audience & Use Cases
Aerospace & Defense: Avionics flight computers, drones, satellite systems
Automotive: ADAS, autonomous driving controllers, instrument clusters (ASIL-D)
Medical devices: Robotic surgery systems, infusion pumps, imaging devices
Industrial & Robotics: PLCs, motion controllers, factory automation
Secure multi-OS gateways: Where Linux runs non-critical UI while INTEGRITY handles critical control
✅ 6. Pros & Cons
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Ultra-reliable, certified for highest safety levels | Proprietary, expensive licensing |
Memory partitioning prevents fault propagation | Complex to configure for general developers |
Extremely fast, deterministic performance | Fewer general-purpose community libraries than Linux |
Can run guest OSes like Linux safely isolated | Primarily for embedded & safety-critical, not general desktop |
🎨 7. UI Demo & Visuals
MULTI IDE showing INTEGRITY tasks, trace debugging & memory partitions
Real-time scheduling trace with timeline visualization
Example automotive dashboard powered by INTEGRITY
Diagram: ARM SoC running INTEGRITY RTOS alongside a Linux guest in Multivisor
Configuration screens showing task priorities & partition memory limits
📦 8. Ecosystem & App Support
Full Green Hills MULTI IDE + TimeMachine debugger for deep system analysis
Supports C, C++, Ada, even some Java (via safety runtimes)
Common communication stacks: TCP/IP, CAN, ARINC-653, I2C, SPI
Secure partition running guest Linux/Android on side for infotainment or non-critical apps
🔐 9. Security & Updates
Designed for security-critical environments: small attack surface, strict separation
Certifications: Common Criteria EAL 6+, DO-178C Level A, ISO 26262 ASIL D
Regular updates via Green Hills, often aligned with customer long-term maintenance contracts
Features like stack overflow detection, secure boot, kernel lockdowns by default
🌍 10. Community, License & Development
License: Proprietary, licensed per project or SoC family, often under long-term support contracts
Global user base includes Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GM, Toyota, Siemens, GE Healthcare
Supported by Green Hills direct engineers & certified safety consultants
Active in safety-critical conferences (embedded world, avionics expos, ISO/AUTOSAR working groups)
