Advantech offers Ubuntu pre-loaded for edge computing — and industrial-grade updates
Embedded device manufacturer Advantech has collaborated with Canonical, publisher of Ubuntu, to supply the Ubuntu Linux distribution pre-loaded and certified on embedded boards and systems for diverse edge computing projects.
Advantech is known for its AIoT devices for AI robotics, industrial automation and manufacturer applications. Companies deploying these systems want them in the field for years to come, and having updates available for operating systems is critical for reliability and security purposes. Canonical promising up to 10 years of Linux security and update capabilities for the users who choose to buy Advantech’s Ubuntu certified AIoT devices.
Canonical will perform a validation test to confirm industrial-grade standards for the Ubuntu system that will be provided on the embedded devices. Some of these validation tests will ensure that individual hardware input-output functions work as per the design and there are no errors from interfaces for external sensors.
“Canonical provides continuous regression testing for certified hardware throughout the Ubuntu release lifecycle,” according to Canonical’s website. “Doing so supports security updates for up to ten years with guaranteed backward compatibility. Likewise, Advantech also provides a one-stop after-sales service for IoT devices and the Ubuntu OS backed by Canonical.”
For mission-critical edge applications, developers are concerned about the security of the data processing on the embedded software system. Advantech’s devices are configured with certified Ubuntu Core, a transactional version of the Ubuntu operating system that is designed for IoT devices and embedded systems to provide secure boot, full disk encryption, secure device recovery, and transactional software updates through a cloud-based CI/CD (Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment) service.
To expand use for edge computing solutions, Advantech will provide devices pre-loaded with a certified Ubuntu image, SUSI API, and WISE-DeviceOn to help simultaneous management of several devices. These features will facilitate the out-of-the-box experience for AIoT management software with over 200 IoT management applications from Ubuntu’s Snapcraft store. Canonical and Advantech said the certification saves several days worth of test time; pre-loading the operating system alone saves 30 minutes of time.
Analysis
It is interesting to see Advantech taking the initiative to manufacture Ubuntu pre-loaded embedded devices. Many hardware manufacturers have Ubuntu, Debian, and Android images ready to download, but certified pre-loaded is a new story for the embedded industry. The objective of the collaboration comes down to helping developers reduce the OS configuration time and focus on building more complex real-life projects. so Another bonus: the flexibility to burn other desired operating systems still remains in the picture. The move will help those who are looking for building applications that are OS-independent while saving time on configuring and installing the operating system on the hardware. By enabling faster prototyping, the Ubuntu certified embedded devices will come in handy and reduce time-to-market.
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Article Topics
Advantech | Canonical | IIoT | Linux | manufacturing | open source | robotics | Ubuntu Core
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