ARM Enables Rapid Deployment Of Microsoft Windows Embedded CE On ARM Processors With RealView ICE

Cambridge, UK - ARM recently announced that working in collaboration with Microsoft, the ARM RealView ICE tool, a member of the RealView family of development tools, will enable enhanced hardware-assisted debug for the Microsoft Visual Studio software development tool. The Extended Debugging Interface (eXDI) drivers developed by ARM for the RealView ICE unit enables Windows Embedded CE operating system developers to immediately take advantage of the extended debug capabilities enabled by the ICE unit to gain full visibility and control of the ARM processor-based hardware.

"By leveraging the RealView ICE unit for hardware assisted debug from the Microsoft Visual Studio debug environment, our customers now have an increased level of debug visibility," said Kim Chau, Silicon Vendor Partner Marketing manager, Windows Embedded Business, Microsoft Corp. "Coupling ARM's expertise on silicon, tools and technologies with Microsoft's Windows Embedded CE is a natural fit that enables our mutual customers to reduce both time-to-market and overall project risk."

The RealView ICE unit connects to the Microsoft Visual Studio IDE through the eXDI adaptation layer and a GUI extension is provided enabling access to additional debug functions and the ARM processor features. The unique combination of the RealView ICE unit with the Microsoft software development tools enables the Windows Embedded CE operating system to be downloaded and brought up over an industry -standard JTAG connection, prior to any functional Ethernet or serial communication port implementation. The additional ability to directly control the processor core during the hardware bring-up enables debug to commence even before the kernel starts.

"Customers wanted the in-depth visibility of the ARM processor combinedwith the familiarity of the Microsoft development tools for the Windows Embedded CE operating system to enable fast time-to-market for highly-differentiated products," said Mark Onions, director of Marketing, System Design Division, ARM. "The comprehensive support for all ARM processors and the RealView ICE unit's unique ability to be plugged into a tool chain of choice enables silicon providers and OEMs to immediately benefit from the reduced project risk and maximized tools investment.

SOURCE: ARM