Feature

Two operating systems on one device

B&R is introducing a hypervisor for its automation system. This software allows Windows or Linux to run alongside B&R's own real-time operating system.

21/08/2017 10:10:09

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That enables you to combine the control and HMI applications on a single PC, for example, or have an industrial PC double as both a real-time controller and an edge controller that sends pre-processed data to higher level systems and the cloud via OPC UA.

Virtual network

The hypervisor provides a virtual network connection that allows applications to exchange data between operating systems. Like with the usual Ethernet interface, this is done using standard network protocols. In place of a cable, there is a reserved memory area that is not assigned to either operating system.

Maximum flexibility

The user configures the hypervisor and allocates hardware resources in the B&R Automation Studio software development environment. The configurations are defined separately for each system, providing maximum flexibility in how resources are utilised. Whereas previous parallelisation solutions were tailored to a specific Windows version, B&R's hypervisor is completely independent of which operating systems are used.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.