Mentor, a Siemens business, introduced the Mentor Embedded IoT Framework (MEIF) – a comprehensive, cloud vendor-agnostic embedded software framework designed to help developers create, secure and manage "cloud-ready" smart devices for Industrie 4.0 applications.

Featuring well-defined interfaces engineered to complement and extend cloud vendor embedded software development kit (SDK) APIs, MEIF streamlines the integration of Industrie 4.0 networks with virtually all leading cloud service backends, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Eclipse IoT, Microsoft Azure, and Siemens® MindSphere™. MEIF is OS-agnostic, supports any processor architecture, including Arm and x86, and scales from resource-constrained end-nodes up to IoT gateways and edge/fog devices powered by the highest-performing multicore processors. Through this framework approach, MEIF provides a complete solution that reduces the cost and risk faced by IoT device manufacturers related to device porting, scaling, code re-use, and backend integration.

Advanced insights improve reliability and uptime

MEIF supports a breadth of services that enable backend communications and applications, including: device authentication and provisioning; configuration and control; monitoring and diagnostics; and software updates and maintenance. The framework also features advanced capabilities that help manufacturers manage the reliability, uptime, and overall quality of Industrie 4.0 smart devices, including OS health monitoring and diagnostics, available memory and CPU utilization reporting, system profiling and support for alarms and events. MEIF is designed to be extensible, allowing manufacturers to integrate and enable their own diagnostics, as well. Remote profiling of connected devices is achieved using familiar Mentor Embedded tools.

Security from the bottom up

MEIF incorporates the Mentor Embedded runtime platforms, which support security from device power-on with a hardware-based root of trust and a complete software chain of trust. MEIF extends this security to the cloud, enabling secure device onboarding and bulk data upload, secure device software updates and device management. Additionally, the framework includes a GUI-based utility to sign, encrypt, and package artifacts which are then delivered to the devices where they can be securely validated and authenticated before being applied to the embedded device.

The MEIF base version for the Mentor Embedded Nucleus RTOS or Mentor Embedded Linux for a project-based perpetual license with annual maintenance is offered at $90K (USD). Other configurations are available, including a custom secure boot loaders and integration services. MEIF will be featured at Embedded World 2018 in Nuremberg, Germany (Feb. 27 – March 1) in Hall 4, Booth #4-643.