It's something that's taken for granted on enterprise LAN hardware, but Quadros Systems just this week introduced the ability to do priority-based processing of Ethernet packets in its embedded, real-time operating system.

Quadros announced its Prioritized Ethernet Framework, an add-on component for its embedded networking software suite. The new feature allows Quadros' RTXC Quadnet TCP/IP software to give prioritized treatment to more important network traffic. The company says the feature should lead to systems that are more responsive and meet essential deadlines.

Quadros says that complexity and cost previously kept such prioritization features out of embedded systems, which more than other systems strive for low cost and simplicity in design.

The framework has a packet-sorting system that uses the VLAN tags in the packet headers to determine priority levels of the packets. Individual sockets are also bound to specific priority levels, so specific services can get a certain prioritization.

Users can configure the number of priority levels they want to have, and the system uses the priority levels to determine which path the packets should take through the stack. There is a buffer management system to ensure that enough memory is available to handle important packets.

Quadros says it will also offer engineering services to help adapt the framework to system builders' specific applications.

The company says its Quadnet TCP/IP software is used in applications such as data acquisition and data logging, factory automation, CAN-to-Ethernet gateways, building control and security, remote diagnostics and monitoring, point-of-sale kiosks and printers, environmental controls, and medical devices. The stack is available for IPv4, IPv6, or a dual stack of both.

Jeff Caruso is site editor at Network World.