Embedded Linux development
At Witekio our engineers can develop and customize an embedded Linux system to your specific needs. With more than two decades of experience in developing custom BSPs and adapting the Linux operating system to diverse products and industries, Witekio has the expertise to support you to develop your own custom embedded Linux system.
What is embedded Linux development?
Embedded Linux development refers to the tailored creation and modification of the Linux kernel and associated tools and apps to suit the functionalities of specific embedded systems. Typically, this could range from widely-used IoT devices to industry-specific embedded applications. Embedded Linux devices are everywhere – for example in your home appliances, medical devices, automobiles, and even your wearable devices. Its adaptability and the high level of customization it offers make Linux the go-to operating system for an array of application fields.
The main challenges of embedded linux development
Customization
The design of a custom embedded Linux system is essential to delivering a final product that meets the needs of the end user. A stable, scalable, maintainable, and easily updateable embedded system architecture built on the back of market leading IoT expertise (Internet of Things) are the hallmarks of Witekio embedded Linux system design.
System optimization
While creating a custom embedded Linux system which functions properly is difficult, optimizing it to perform at a high level is even more difficult. These optimizations cause an improved end-user experience, create the opportunity for additional key features to be developed without bogging down the product’s performance, and increase the product’s market longevity before needing to have a hardware refresh.
IoT & embedded security
If little attention is paid to Linux device security, your software solutions risk falling victim to bad actors and data leaks which can impact your professional reputation. By making the right choices during the development phase of your embedded Linux project for your custom hardware, you can mitigate risks and avoid problems before they emerge in the embedded environment.
Key elements to consider for your embedded Linux systems
Development
- Yocto
- Custom Linux Kernel
- Custom Device Drivers
- Bootloader Customization
- Boot time and power optimization
Security & reliability
- Secure boot
- Encrypted filesystem
- Read-only root filesystem
- End-to-end encryption
- Attack surface reduction
Maintenance
- JTAG, Linux kernel & app debugging
- Signed A/B updates
- OTA updates
- CVE monitoring & patching
- LATS
SUCCESS STORY
Veriskin, building a robust embedded linux device
Long-term reliability was a key concern for Veriskin, so we set out to optimize device performance and boot time. Our attention to detail led us to focus on board bring-up and driver adaptation to ensure that the device operated at peak performance for as long as possible. Witekio’s end-to-end embedded linux development support contributed to Veriskin’s mission of providing accessible and accurate skin cancer screening to a wider population.
How to develop your own embedded linux system?
Embedded Linux development
Witekio developers are experts in Linux embedded systems development, Yocto, and Buildroot. As a one-stop shop for the development, design, and delivery of Linux distributions for IoT and embedded systems, we serve clients in every industrial vertical no matter their size. The adaptable Linux kernel sits at the heart of many of our hundreds of projects every year, and our end-to-end offer means we can always meet your needs for security, performance, and end-user experience.
There are six primary components in our Embedded Linux Development offer:
System Design
The design of an embedded Linux system is essential to delivering a final product that meets the needs of the end users and the expectations of the product owners. A stable, scalable, maintainable, and easily updateable embedded system architecture built on the back of market leading IoT expertise are the hallmarks of Witekio’s embedded design.
Embedded Software Development
With the broad experience that comes from serving clients in a variety of verticals across more than two decades, Witekio’s Linux developers have the skills to deliver and optimize Linux codebases and deploy custom a real time operating system tailored to every project. Whether low-level work or a platform for applications on mobile devices, Witekio can deliver for you.
Connectivity
Today’s IoT devices demand connectivity to the cloud and to each other. The future success of your connected Linux-based product and its capacity to expand and grow as you continue to innovate relies on making the right connectivity choices during the development phase aided by Witekio experts.
OS Migration
While Linux is a popular choice for embedded software and IoT device software projects, it is possible that a previous iteration of a product used different operating systems or kernel. In such cases a migration is required and, whether this is to add functionality available on Linux or a device moving closer to a planned end of support point, Witekio has the know-how and expertise to make execute the OS migration effectively.
Build System Migration
There are several popular solutions used to build embedded Linux BSPs. Among them, the two most popular are Yocto and Buildroot. Due to differences in approach and complexity between the two, it is often necessary to migrate from Buildroot to Yocto in order to more easily manage complex tasks, for example Software Licensing Compliance and CVE Maintenance. Due to having extensive experience working with both systems Witekio has the know-how and expertise to migrate an existing BSP from Buildroot to Yocto.
Optimization
Finally, thanks to Witekio’s deep understanding of Linux, our engineers and developers can improve the boot time and overall performance of a device, decrease the load on a battery, improve the end user experience, and optimize the source code of the kernel to deliver a fully functional and optimized user experience.
There are six primary components in our Embedded Linux Development offer:
System Design
The design of an embedded Linux system is essential to delivering a final product that meets the needs of the end users and the expectations of the product owners. A stable, scalable, maintainable, and easily updateable embedded system architecture built on the back of market leading IoT expertise are the hallmarks of Witekio’s embedded design.
Embedded Software Development
With the broad experience that comes from serving clients in a variety of verticals across more than two decades, Witekio’s Linux developers have the skills to deliver and optimize Linux codebases and deploy custom a real time operating system tailored to every project. Whether low-level work or a platform for applications on mobile devices, Witekio can deliver for you.
Connectivity
Today’s IoT devices demand connectivity to the cloud and to each other. The future success of your connected Linux-based product and its capacity to expand and grow as you continue to innovate relies on making the right connectivity choices during the development phase aided by Witekio experts.
OS Migration
While Linux is a popular choice for embedded software and IoT device software projects, it is possible that a previous iteration of a product used different operating systems or kernel. In such cases a migration is required and, whether this is to add functionality available on Linux or a device moving closer to a planned end of support point, Witekio has the know-how and expertise to make execute the OS migration effectively.
Build System Migration
There are several popular solutions used to build embedded Linux BSPs. Among them, the two most popular are Yocto and Buildroot. Due to differences in approach and complexity between the two, it is often necessary to migrate from Buildroot to Yocto in order to more easily manage complex tasks, for example Software Licensing Compliance and CVE Maintenance. Due to having extensive experience working with both systems Witekio has the know-how and expertise to migrate an existing BSP from Buildroot to Yocto.
Optimization
Finally, thanks to Witekio’s deep understanding of Linux, our engineers and developers can improve the boot time and overall performance of a device, decrease the load on a battery, improve the end user experience, and optimize the source code of the kernel to deliver a fully functional and optimized user experience.
Security consideration
Every IoT device demands investment in security. Embedded device security, like cybersecurity in general, requires adopting end-to-end security protocols and attack surface reduction. Focusing on those two Linux security avenues delivers a better, more secure, and more robust embedded system, and Witekio has the experience and tools to secure your devices efficiently and effectively.
End-to-end security means optimizing security across five channels. First is the device authentication to the server. The board inside your IoT device needs to be reviewed for known attack vectors – in particular, passwords hardcoded in the device – and the data connection between the device and the server needs to be secured to maintain the integrity of the data and avoid leaks and hacks.
Second is the server authentication to the device, a common attack vector in poorly secured systems. For network security, the connection between the device and the server needs to be secured in both directions. Third, the embedded Linux on your device needs to have secure session keys established. The public keys and the exchange of these keys between servers and devices keeps the data safe and secure and helps to avoid the reputational and financial costs of hacks.
Third and finally, end-to-end security of the embedded Linux system on a device means maintaining both the integrity and confidentiality of your data. End users value this secure environment and by maintaining their trust you can remain a preferred partner moving forward. This is achieved through technologies such as Secure Boot and filesystem encryption, making sure that the software on the device can’t be tampered with or extracted.
Attack surface reduction is also a multi-faceted security element of an embedded Linux system. Witekio engineers work to complete an attack surface analysis by probing your device for vulnerabilities and assessing the extent of your exposure to risk. Based on this analysis, a full risk assessment is developed, and while selecting Linux for your embedded system can help reduce the risk of an attack by a bad actor, there are still opportunities to beef-up device security with our engineering support.
Having completed both an attack surface analysis and risk assessment, Witekio experts can design a custom security solution for your embedded Linux system, often including one or more of at least three strategies: reducing the amount of code, diminishing the number of device and server entry points, and eliminating any service not used or under-used by end-users.
End-to-end security means optimizing security across five channels. First is the device authentication to the server. The board inside your IoT device needs to be reviewed for known attack vectors – in particular, passwords hardcoded in the device – and the data connection between the device and the server needs to be secured to maintain the integrity of the data and avoid leaks and hacks.
Second is the server authentication to the device, a common attack vector in poorly secured systems. For network security, the connection between the device and the server needs to be secured in both directions. Third, the embedded Linux on your device needs to have secure session keys established. The public keys and the exchange of these keys between servers and devices keeps the data safe and secure and helps to avoid the reputational and financial costs of hacks.
Third and finally, end-to-end security of the embedded Linux system on a device means maintaining both the integrity and confidentiality of your data. End users value this secure environment and by maintaining their trust you can remain a preferred partner moving forward. This is achieved through technologies such as Secure Boot and filesystem encryption, making sure that the software on the device can’t be tampered with or extracted.
Attack surface reduction is also a multi-faceted security element of an embedded Linux system. Witekio engineers work to complete an attack surface analysis by probing your device for vulnerabilities and assessing the extent of your exposure to risk. Based on this analysis, a full risk assessment is developed, and while selecting Linux for your embedded system can help reduce the risk of an attack by a bad actor, there are still opportunities to beef-up device security with our engineering support.
Having completed both an attack surface analysis and risk assessment, Witekio experts can design a custom security solution for your embedded Linux system, often including one or more of at least three strategies: reducing the amount of code, diminishing the number of device and server entry points, and eliminating any service not used or under-used by end-users.
Linux kernel debugging
Device owners and developers using Linux for embedded systems have several kernel debugging options available. Basic debugging can be done with printk by adding print statements to the kernel code, offering a simple and cost-effective solution. Advanced methods include using KGDB, a modified version of GDB for kernel debugging via a serial connection, and JTAG debuggers for comprehensive hardware control.
Witekio has expertise in debugging the Linux kernel on all the most popular standardized embedded device build systems. Whether it is Yocto, OpenEmbedded, Buildroot, OpenWrt, or LTIB, Witekio engineers have the experience and knowledge to ensure that your device is bug-free on launch and that upgrades are pushed smoothly and without introducing additional code issues to the device.
Witekio has expertise in debugging the Linux kernel on all the most popular standardized embedded device build systems. Whether it is Yocto, OpenEmbedded, Buildroot, OpenWrt, or LTIB, Witekio engineers have the experience and knowledge to ensure that your device is bug-free on launch and that upgrades are pushed smoothly and without introducing additional code issues to the device.
Maintenance
Developing and deploying an embedded Linux system is only part of ensuring a secure, reliable, and robust product or device. Once the device is on the market, it needs to be maintained and security issues addressed before they become overwhelming. Witekio, as experts in embedded Linux systems, have all the experience necessary to help device owners maintain their Linux devices after deployment and across their lifespan.
Witekio helps device owners to keep all their Linux BSPs, Linux Kernel, and other Linux modules up to date. We monitor security issues and provide patches for Linux software components, and work to increase the robustness of the BSP thanks to continuous improvements in the test suite. Through its maintenance service, the Witekio team provides and releases fully tested revisions of your Linux operating system at least four times per year.
Thanks to Witekio embedded Linux maintenance offer, device owners win on several fronts. They become less reactive and more proactive thanks to the monitoring that Witekio does consistently on their behalf across the year. There are productivity gains, too, thanks to Witekio engineers developing the update patches and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database integrations, saving precious developer hours. The vulnerability monitoring means improvements in overall system security and – on the financial side – there are cost control benefits from having a fixed-rate contract instead of outsourcing under stress and at high marginal costs only when issues arise.
Witekio helps device owners to keep all their Linux BSPs, Linux Kernel, and other Linux modules up to date. We monitor security issues and provide patches for Linux software components, and work to increase the robustness of the BSP thanks to continuous improvements in the test suite. Through its maintenance service, the Witekio team provides and releases fully tested revisions of your Linux operating system at least four times per year.
Thanks to Witekio embedded Linux maintenance offer, device owners win on several fronts. They become less reactive and more proactive thanks to the monitoring that Witekio does consistently on their behalf across the year. There are productivity gains, too, thanks to Witekio engineers developing the update patches and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database integrations, saving precious developer hours. The vulnerability monitoring means improvements in overall system security and – on the financial side – there are cost control benefits from having a fixed-rate contract instead of outsourcing under stress and at high marginal costs only when issues arise.
The main benefits of embedded Linux development
Flexibility
Choosing Linux for embedded systems brings multitude benefits. As an open-source operating system, Linux enables embedded engineers to tailor the code to meet the specific needs of any device. This flexibility in embedded Linux development, coupled with its excellent security capabilities, sets Linux apart from other operating systems. Furthermore, the ease of configuration provided by Linux proves advantageous for both developers and users. Linux empowers embedded development teams to create a system that provides not just optimal functionality, but also unfailing security. With embedded Linux, you choose an adaptable, reliable, and user-centric operating system that powers your embedded devices to their full potential while ensuring enduring performance.
Robustness
Linux’s robust features have a substantial impact on embedded systems, making it a go-to for many developers. It’s not just the system flexibility that makes Linux a popular choice, but also the wide array of packages it supports, from Raspberry Pi to the Yocto Project. The potential for intricate configuration is a boon in embedded Linux development, allowing developers to fine-tune the system to align seamlessly with device specifics. The server capability of Linux is another asset, providing a stable foundation for embedded development. With its adaptable nature and extensive capabilities, it’s clear why embedded Linux marks itself a strong counterpart in the world of embedded systems, demonstrating its power through dependability and efficiency.
Scalability
The wide scalability of embedded Linux—from tiny Raspberry Pi boards to expansive cloud servers—demonstrates why it’s preferred for diverse development contexts. Whether it’s an IoT device or a software package, embedded Linux devices can be tailored to meet specific system needs. By enabling developers to modify the code and incorporate essential packages, Linux provides an adaptable foundation for the entire system of your device. Regardless of the size or complexity of the project, from a small scale Yocto Project to extensive cloud-based projects, embedded Linux ensures robust security and seamless operation. It is this inherent flexibility and scalability that makes Linux the powerful force behind an array of embedded devices, catering to various specifications and user demands.
Witekio can support your embedded linux development
Our adept team possesses the ability to optimize Linux for specific hardware, ensuring flawless operation and robust security. We tailor-make software packages with tools and techniques to meet the unique requirements of each device, guaranteeing a perfect fit for every client. It is our understanding and mastery of embedded Linux and its potential that allows us to craft systems where efficiency meets innovation. We are not just keeping pace with the evolution of embedded Linux; we are driving it forward, with our commitment to exceptional quality and unrivaled expertise, setting the pace in the world of embedded Linux.
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