Microsoft releases its own custom Linux kernel and distribution for the Internet of Things

Microsoft first released its own custom Linux kernel and distribution. At a press conference in San Francisco, Microsoft announced Azure Sphere, a solution for IoT devices.

Azure Sphere contains three components. One of them is a Sphere MCU designed by Microsoft, which will be provided to manufacturers for free. MediaTek will launch the first product, the MT3620, later this year. Microsoft claims that its chips have the versatility and processing capabilities of the ARM Cortex-A series of chip designs and more. Smaller overhead. Sphere MCUs integrate application processors, real-time processors, Flash memory, memory, and Microsoft’s security module Pluton.

Another component is Azure Sphere. The IoT OS is based on the Linux kernel. Microsoft claims it uses a custom kernel and Windows-inspired security features. Application code can run in isolated containers.

The third component is the Azure Sphere Security Service, a secure cloud service.

The announced Azure Sphere covers both software and hardware. Microsoft has also developed “new levels” of Microcontrollers Units (MCUs) for this purpose, which is five times the performance of older MCUs. Moreover, these designs can be licensed to partner companies without license fees. The first motherboard comes from MediaTek.

Azure Sphere OS is run through an Azure Sphere-authorized MCU, which is a Linux-based, custom release that includes “multiple security layers.” The system is optimized for the IoT system and incorporates the many security features of the Windows system to create a highly secure software environment.