The seL4 microkernel delivers uncompromising system security and operational dependability for new electronic products and devices.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – July 31, 2014 – General Dynamics C4 Systems and NICTA, Australia’s Information and Communications Technology Research Center of Excellence, are offering jointly the secure-embedded L4 (seL4) microkernel, and formal mathematical proofs, as open-source software. A general-purpose microkernel and operating system, seL4 is mathematically proven to be bug free’ and impervious to buffer overflows, a type of cyber-attack that inserts malicious code into a software system. The seL4 microkernel provides a secure software foundation for electronic devices and is part of the General Dynamics family of cyber-defense technologies and products used in defense, industrial and commercial devices. Dr. Daniel Potts, technical director with General Dynamics C4 Systems, said, “The seL4 microkernel is like a sheet of titanium. It is exceptionally strong and highly versatile, delivering an unparalleled level of confidence once the end-product is manufactured. From Smartphones to medical devices and even satellite communication systems, with the seL4 microkernel at their software core will have uncompromising system security and operational dependability.”
“The seL4 microkernel takes software dependability to a new level, and will support the development of truly trustworthy systems,” said Gernot Heiser, Software Systems Research Group Leader at NICTA, and Scientia Professor and John Lions Chair, UNSW. “By open-sourcing seL4 we hope to create a world-wide community of developers of dependable systems, in application areas ranging from national security to automotive, avionics, medical implants, industrial automation and BYOD in corporate environments.”
The open-source availability of the seL4 microkernel will help engineering professionals and others to create new products and systems with a highly reliable, secure software baseline. As new seL4-based products evolve, the technology enhancements to the microkernel and operating software will be incorporated into the seL4 source code repository along with proofs, to create a ever-expanding library of applications. Organizations interested in accessing the open-source seL4 microkernel can go to http://bit.ly/seL4-download.
NICTA is Australia’s Information Communications Technology (ICT) Research Centre of Excellence and Australia’s largest organization dedicated to ICT research. The seL4 microkernel and operating system were developed by NICTA, which transferred the sel4 intellectual property to OK Labs, a NICTA spin-off company acquired by General Dynamics in 2012.
For more than 50 years, General Dynamics C4 Systems has been trusted provider of secure, cyber defense technologies and products that secure the United States’ most sensitive information. Information about the General Dynamics C4 Systems cyber-defense technologies and products visit www.gdc4s.com/cyber.
General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).