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THE LINUX FOUNDATION PROJECTS

Real-Time Linux
(RT Linux) Project

A collaborative project that aims to integrate real-time features directly into the Linux kernel, making them a standard part of the operating system.

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Maximize Efficiency With Real-Time Linux

While traditional Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) are designed specifically for real-time applications, often sacrificing general-purpose functionality, RT Linux aims to bridge the gap by adding real-time capabilities to a versatile, general-purpose OS. This approach allows users to run a wide range of applications alongside real-time tasks, leveraging the extensive ecosystem of Linux software and drivers.

Real-Time Linux does not mean fast Linux.

How Real-Time Linux Works

Real-Time Linux is enabled via a configuration setting in the upstream Linux kernel. This configuration enables a fully preemptible scheduler, meaning a high-priority task can interrupt a lower-priority one, and by minimizing areas where interrupts are disabled. This ensures that critical tasks execute more consistently and predictably.

The primary goal of RT Linux is to minimize latency and jitter, providing more predictable task execution times crucial for time-sensitive applications. Jitter is the variation in task execution times.

The goals of the Real-Time Linux Project are to support users of RT Linux through documentation and system optimization guides, deliver robust performance through test automation, ensure RT Linux is well supported in upstream, and facilitate development roadmaps, in coordination with the broader community.

Latest News

How PREEMPT_RT works

How does PREEMPT_RT achieve its goals, and why does it work the way it does? Was there ever a deliberate design, or did it evolve by chance? Anyone assuming that kernel developers are a chaotic bunch and that everything works through sheer coincidence will be disappointed. PREEMPT_RT is not the…

Getting Started with PREEMPT_RT Guide

How to configure Linux with PREEMPT_RT With Linux 6.12 PREEMPT_RT real-time configuration has been included into the mainline kernel enabling real-time scheduling for x86, ARM64 and RISC-V on the unmodified original Linux kernel. But even for kernel versions >= 6.12 it is recommened to apply the latest PREEMPT_RT patch, which…

A Checklist for Real-Time Applications in Linux
A Checklist for Real-Time Applications in Linux

Can the versatile Linux kernel provide guaranteed response times for applications? Linux is a general purpose kernel that can support small embedded devices as well as gargantuan servers... and everything in between! But can this amazingly versatile kernel also provide guaranteed response times for an application on all of these…