Linux lies at the heart of yet another big takeover deal in silicon valley.
Chip makers love Linux.
That was why, in part, Intel bought Wind River.
And it is very definitely the main reason behind Cavium Networks acquisition of MontaVista Software.
A truism of today's processor industry is that embedded Linux is the operating system of choice for developers.
And the beauty of Linux, which is open source in one of its manifestations, is that it is very rapidly permeating the whole of the development community.
The other attraction of Linux to chip firms like Intel and Cavium, is that they no longer have to rely on software firms to provide the OS which after all is the basic building block of most embedded processor systems.
So Cavium Networks, which designs and supplies network and media processors, has agreed to acquire MontaVista Software for $50m.
"Software is becoming an increasingly important part of the total solution with the rapidly increasing adoption of multi-core processors," said Syed Ali, President and CEO of Cavium Networks.
"Embedded Linux is poised for rapid growth," said Rusty Harris, President and CEO, MontaVista Software. "By becoming part of Cavium Networks, MontaVista can confidently continue to offer industry leading commercial grade embedded Linux, support and services to our customers and partners."
That is very similar to what Wind River said after the Intel purchase. Being part of a chip firm changes nothing we are still about supplying software for multi-vendor platforms.
Linux can be used "for free" it is open source after all. However, when designs get embedded in to multi-million dollar product development projects the accountants require more security.
This means the use of what is known as commercial grade embedded Linux, which is bought from firms like Wind River and MonteVista and is guaranteed and supported like any OS.
The advent of multi-core processor systems make that support all the more important. Virtualistaion, the running of multiple OS on a multicore system is unlikely to be reliably supported by free open source software.
MontaVista is particularly strong in multi-core embedded Linux operating systems, and virtualization, which it supplies to Tier-1 customers that include Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Fujitsu, NEC, Nokia-Siemens, NTT, Motorola and Samsung.
This is an acquisition born out of skill-sets and not brands and so like Wind River after the acquisition, MontaVista Software will run as a separate operating unit and will retain the MontaVista brand name.
The key skill-set here is embedded Linux and it is a skill that everyone seems to want right now.
The key skill-set here is embedded Linux and it is a skill that everyone seems to want right now.
You said "the running of multiple OS on a multicore system is unlikely to be reliably supported by free open source software"
Not only is this statement already arguably untrue, I don't understand the basis for the statement at all....what am I missing?