Over the past decade, Linux has emerged from a variety of operating systems to gain a leading position in even the most unusual business environments. Some distributions have made astounding leaps in performance and usability, winning the admiration of millions of computer users.
One contributor to this trend was the appearance of the so-called Live-CDs. A Live-CD makes it simpler than ever to take Linux for a realistic test drive - without risking a single byte of data on an existing Windows system. A Live-CD runs without loading anything permanently onto a host system. It's a great way to get a quick look at a full functional Linux system or to test its hardware support. However, please note that it is really too ephemeral to use in a realistic, day-to-day desktop environment. Yet, should you decide to run Linux from your hard-disk, then most Live-CDs allow an automated install of the Linux operating system.
A tool named SCALE-RT, developed by a high-tech German-based company, pushes these limits even further. SCALE-RT doesn't only offer a free Live-CD based on the Debian Linux distribution, but has added numerous advanced features which can be used by specialised application developers. All these features are offered completely free and include:
• Real-time capabilities by inclusion of the Xenomai extension
• a professional cross-development environment for writing your own applications
• control and visualization of your Linux real-time application
• includes Scilab/Scicos modeling tool or can integrate easily with tools like Matlab® Simulink®
• allows simulation of control loops and mathematical problems
Now you're afraid of Linux, aren't you? And you should be. The amount of features offered for free by SCALE-RT is overwhelming. Then again, start small and simply download the Live-CD image, burn it onto a CD and try the basic features of Linux. The advantage of SCALE-RT over other Live-CD implementations is that you start with a system which is scalable for the future. Maybe some day you, your son or your daughter will need some of these desirable features. You'll be glad to have them all available in one package. To download the Live-CD image go to www.linux-rt.com.
