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What comes in an MSD?

MontaVista Market Specific Distributions (MSD) are new Linux distributions (Linux OS), optimized for the respective hardware platform and its target market. An MSD is comprised of an embedded Linux kernel, appropriate device drivers, and userland necessary to support the breadth of functionality provided by the hardware platform. Each MSD is compatible with the semi distribution and provides the value-add features, expert support, and high quality MontaVista is known for.

How is an MSD different from an LSP?

To support an array of architectures with MontaVista’s traditional horizontal edition products like Professional 5.0, MontaVista utilized generic drivers as to not create conflicts with other drivers and code.  This approach, although good for some customers porting across multi-architectures, sacrificed the driver optimizations that semi partners have been creating in recent years.  With MontaVista’s MSD approach, those driver optimizations are now included and customers get to take advantage of the optimizations, be it in silicon or software.

What is in the MSD that is not in the semi partner’s kernel?

Feature details on what MontaVista has added to a specific MSD and which bugs have been fixed varies for each platform and is documented in MSD specific collateral. Contact a MontaVista sales representative at sales@mvista.com or 408-572-8000 for the details of the MSD you are interested in.

Do our semi partners see MontaVista Linux 6 as complimentary to their offerings?

Yes, our semi partners work closely with MontaVista to create fully tested MSDs. These MSDs are more feature-complete than the distributions that the semi partners ship with their processors. See our announcements with Intel, Freescale, and Texas Instruments on http://www.mvista.com/hotnews.php.

Where can I find out which MSDs you have for Freescale, Intel, TI, and other semi partners’ processors?

You can find a list of supported processors and boards at http://www.mvista.com/boards.php. For information on future support please contact a MontaVista sales representative at sales@mvista.com or 408-572-8000.

Can I use MontaVista Linux 6 on carrier-grade COTS boards?

MontaVista Linux 6 may run on carrier-grade COTS boards (please check with a MontaVista sales representative at sales@mvista.com or 408-572-8000 for MSD availability), but would not enable all carrier-grade relevant features. To get those features, customers need to purchase CGE licenses.

Which kernel version is MontaVista Linux 6 using?

Kernel versions for MontaVista Linux 6 MSDs vary. The kernel version used in MontaVista Linux 6 depends on the hardware board community project for each individual MSD, the kernel version used in the semiconductor vendor’s Linux technology, as well as market momentum.

 MontaVista Linux 6 General       MontaVista Linux 6 licensing and pricing