TenAsys' INtime Now Allows for Windows on an EtherCAT Slave

Koenig-PA's EtherCAT technology and TenAsys' INtime work together to provide slave EtherCAT functionality on a Windows PC.

Beaverton, OR – October 28, 2008 –  TenAsys Corporation (www.tenasys.com), a leading provider of real-time OS and virtualization software technology, today announces that through a recent development by Koenig-PA of Feucht, Germany, TenAsys' INtime RTOS has enabled a new dimension of flexibility and computing power for users of the EtherCAT fieldbus.

Koenig, a provider of PC-based automation systems and a leader in providing EtherCAT products and services, is enabling Windows computers, via its new KPA module, to operate as an EtherCAT slave. Koenig’s PCI module and EtherCAT software utilize TenAsys' INtime software to work alongside Windows as a slave module to maintain a high-performance, deterministic real-time interface to the EtherCAT fieldbus.

Until now, EtherCAT PCs have been restricted to master-only roles. The introduction of the KPA module from Koenig-PA, with direct support for the INtime RTOS for Windows, makes it possible for EtherCAT slaves to support new high level functions, such as those required by simulation, high speed data-acquisition, and frame grabber applications.

In addition, one Windows PC can simultaneously operate as an EtherCAT master and slave using the Koenig-PA solution on INtime. For example, operating as a slave on a high-level EtherCAT network with a one millisecond cycle time while collecting data as a master from a subordinate high-speed EtherCAT network sampling at a rate of 10 kHz.

"INtime provides an excellent real-time environment for Windows PCs and is a natural complement to our EtherCAT hardware," said Gerhard Spiegel, Managing Engineer of Koenig. "Now for the first time standard Windows PCs are able to operate as EtherCAT slaves."

TenAsys' INtime RTOS employs features built into the Intel processor architecture to isolate the windows and real-time computing environments, thereby protecting the determinism of real-time processes from being affected by non-deterministic Windows tasks. In multi-core systems, the INtime RTOS runs exclusively on a single core, while the remaining cores run Windows, thereby ensuring that 100% of the processing bandwidth of the real-time core is available for real-time processes.

About TenAsys

Real-time virtualization expert, TenAsys Corporation, specializes in software platforms for the embedded computer industry. Their products are designed and optimized for use on Intel® x86 platforms using Microsoft® Windows® and the Visual Studio® development environment.

Since 1980, customers worldwide have entrusted TenAsys RTOS products to provide reliable deterministic control for their embedded x86 computers in a wide array of mission critical applications including: medical, telecom, industrial control, robotics, test and measurement, and military applications.

INtime and eVM products use virtual machine technology to combine real-time functionality with Windows versatility.

To learn more about TenAsys, our customers, and our products please visit www.tenasys.com.

TENASYS, EVM, INTIME and IRMX are registered trademarks of TenAsys Corporation. The names of other companies, products, and brands mentioned herein may be trademarks of other owners.

About König-PA

Founded in 1986, Koenig Prozessautomatisierungs GmbH (König-PA, KPA) has been developing and supplying automation and engineering solutions for more than 20 years. König provides cost-effective, high quality automation technologies and integrated solutions throughout the world. The company offers a wide range of services and products related to:

• KPA EtherCAT master and configuration and diagnostic tools
• EtherCAT slaves development and fabrication
• Hardware and software fieldbus solutions for CAN and Profibus
• Process control and automation solutions
• Integrated automation solutions for mechanical and electro technical CAD systems

For more information, visit www.koenig-pa.de.

About EtherCAT

EtherCAT is an industrial fieldbus that utilizes the speed and cost effectiveness of Ethernet hardware to provide higher performance than traditional fieldbus solutions. It is particularly well suited for PC-based control technology; a PC-based EtherCAT master requires no special plug-in card and can be implemented on any standard Ethernet controller. Visit the EtherCAT Technology Group website at www.ethercat.org for detailed information regarding the EtherCAT fieldbus standard.

press contact:  Bob Patterson, MKTX, Inc., +1 503 646-6589,