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QNX 6.3 Released

Posted by Hemos on from the dive-down-into-it dept.

Lufi2 writes "QNX 6.3 was released on 3 Jun. New features include accelerated 3D, the Voyager 2 browser which supports HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.1 now, SCTP (stream control transmission protocol) and packet filtering with NAT! GCC 3.3.1 is also included. If it's not a typo, the Professional version costs $8695/user o_O Usual QNX NC (non-commercial = free beer) LiveCD is not available on the download area yet (As of 9 Jun)... But it sounds very promising"

9 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. You don't have the slightest idea... by ReKleSS · · Score: 5, Informative

    QNX is older than linux. It's a microkernel. It's realtime. Linux is neither. There was a very appropriate quote from somewhere - "Linux is what you trust your server to. QNX is what you trust your nuclear reactor to." They each have their place. -ReK

    --
    md5sum -c reality.md5
    reality: FAILED
    md5sum: WARNING: 1 of 1 computed checksum did NOT match
    1. Re:You don't have the slightest idea... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      "QNX is what you trust your nuclear reactor to." Which would be rather stupid. From the license:

      B3.2 High Risk. Unless QSS has provided its express written consent for each Runtime Component in the Runtime Configuration, the Software may not be, and OEM will ensure that it is not, used in any application in which the failure of the Software could lead to death, personal injury or severe physical or property damage (collectively, "High-Risk Applications"), including but not limited to the operation of nuclear facilities, mass transit systems, aircraft navigation or aircraft communication systems, air traffic control, weapon systems and direct life support machines. QSS expressly disclaims any express or implied warranty or condition of fitness for High-Risk Applications.

    2. Re:You don't have the slightest idea... by turgid · · Score: 5, Informative
      Nuclear sites, in the UK, do not rely on manufacturers warranties or pledges to maintain nuclear safety. Rather, they have in place their own systems of design, resting, certification and legal regulation. You can bet they use products whose manufacturers disclaim liability. What manufacturer wouldn't? However, in the UK, the government underwrites nuclear liabilities. In other words, it takes on the responsibility itself. It does not leave it to others i.e. to chance.

      For example, a friend of mine once worked at a UK nuclear power station wher all the machines in the control room ran Solaris on SPARC hardware. It has a similar license clause to QNX. At my old powerstation we used all kids of stuff, from QNX to DOS, Windows 3.11, NT4, Solaris on SPARC, VMS on Microvax... you name it. Once again, it was horses for courses, and the liability was all underwritten by HM Government.

      --
      Stick Men
  2. Re:Erm... by turgid · · Score: 4, Interesting
    That said... what the heck do they run nuclear reactors on, anyway?

    Well, in the UK they all have analogue multiply-redundant and diverse saftey ciruits that resond in miliseconds or less.

    For routine temperature monitoring and data display they use everything from archaic 1970s minicomputers to RISC workstations and even the dreaded Windows NT.

    Many of our reactors are designed such that they can be run safely (albeit in steady sate i.e. constant temperature and power output) on a few passive analogue guages.

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    Stick Men
  3. Licensing Cost by nuxx · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Just FYI, that licensing cost is most likely a developer per-seat cost with some redistribution allowed.

    As far as per-user stuff, it's likely that most people use QNX in one form or another every day without knowing it. From cable boxes to ATMs, traffic lights, etc.

    QNX is put in places where failure cannot happen. At all.

  4. Re:QNX is the bad touch by AKAImBatman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Most normal stuff you expect to find on a linux install is either broken in some way or missing entirely. It doesn't even have bash!!

    Why are you trying to use QNX as a desktop UNIX workstation?

    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
  5. NC Download Changes by variable · · Score: 5, Informative


    With 6.3.0 the download version of QNX will actually be our full commerical product, with downloads avaliable for both Windows, Solaris, Linux and Neutrino. After 30 days, these PE (pro edition) versions will turn into what was once the NC edition with the pro features disabled.

    I suspect the downloads will be up and ready very soon. You can find more details here:

    http://www.qnxzone.com/

    --
    ........ "The faster I go, the behinder I get" - Lewis Carroll
  6. Real Time by niker · · Score: 3, Informative
    QNX is put in places where failure cannot happen. At all.

    Not quite! QNX is a Soft Real Time Operating System - situations that need to fulfill "hard deadlines", for instance a medical monitoring device, will use a Hard Real Time Operating System.

    Clicky - QNX is Soft Real Time

    Clicky - Different Real Time concepts

    --
    Moderators: Don't agree? pray tell why.
  7. Re:I don't get the attraction by variable · · Score: 4, Informative

    QNX isn't a Linux clone. QNX is a POSIX based OS that has a history that goes back a decade before Linux was even a glimmer in Linus's eye.

    There is nothing given away for "free" either, there is an evaluation that is free - much the same as vmware has a 30 day eval of their product. After that 30 days, Neutrino will fall back into a more limited mode but will remain operational (like it was with NC before 6.3.0).

    www.qnx.com

    www.qnxzone.com

    www.openqnx.com

    Some reading to bring you up to speed on things.

    --
    ........ "The faster I go, the behinder I get" - Lewis Carroll