In addition to the recent developments that make Linux usable in disk-based embedded systems, some progress has also been made in making it bootable from EPROM. By installing only those components that are necessary for the application, in many cases a diskless system can be put together using Linux. Thus, for example, at least one full system including Linux networking (but without X Windows) has been put together using only 2.7MB of EPROM for Linux. 7 So, practical stand-alone diskless embedded systems can now be developed using Linux. In addition, the ability to boot Linux from a network is well established. Thus, a system that resides on a network can boot the entire system, including X Windows, from a disk somewhere on that network.
The Future
Linux follows the GNU movement, which produces high quality software through the combined efforts of thousands of programmers. GNU, like Linux, was ridiculed early on as the hobby of software anarchists and nerds with too much free time. But by now all the skeptics have to admit that some world-class software has been produced by GNU, notably the gcc and g++ compilers. These are competitive with the finest commercial compilers around, and even high-end RTOS products like VxWorks and LynxOS use them. What happened to RTOS compilers is likely to happen to the OSs themselves. RTOS products based on Linux will begin to appear, with vendors emphasizing their added real-time features, as well as their support. The result will be a bonanza for developers of high-end embedded systems, with even the cheapest RTOS products providing more features than are currently available from the most expensive products.
对不起各位，我的积分不多，但我要翻译的内容不少，我真诚的希望大家给我帮助，我将非常感谢，真诚的恳求不要机译！谢谢！