emPower OS
Build embedded applications faster with a complete, ready-to-use software platform.
- Reduce development time and integration effort
- Rely on proven, production-ready software components
- Stay flexible across hardware platforms
Key features
Effortless integration
Reduce development effort with proven software components designed to work together. Consistent APIs, standardized interfaces, and ready-to-use examples simplify integration and accelerate development.
Vendor independence
Stay flexible with portable ANSI C code, standardized interfaces, and more than 50 embOS ports supporting common CPU architectures. Switch hardware platforms with minimal software changes.
Versatile connectivity
Enable secure communication across Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and USB. Additional protocols and layers, including MQTT and SSL/TLS, enable connections to any cloud provider or service, ensuring connectivity across communication channels.
High scalability
Build applications ranging from compact embedded devices to complex connected systems. The modular architecture ensures an optimized footprint and predictable real-time behavior as requirements grow.
Use cases
Maintaining production continuity during supply disruptions
Unexpected component shortages, supply chain disruptions, or infrastructure outages can put ongoing production at risk.
- Adapt quickly to changing component availability
- Keep software changes to a minimum when switching hardware
- Maintain production despite unexpected supply constraints
emPower OS helps manufacturers respond to supply disruptions while minimizing changes to existing applications and development efforts.
Feature-rich applications for automated processes
Terminals are widely used across industries, from check-in systems to point-of-sale applications, and require reliable, easy-to-use software.
- Support for automated and always-available systems
- Intuitive user interfaces and guided workflows
- Scalable across a wide range of terminal applications
emPower OS provides all required components, including emWin for creating structured and user-friendly graphical interfaces.
Strategic obsolescence management for sustainable product development
Managing component availability over the entire product life cycle is essential to avoid costly redesigns and supply risks.
- Evaluate and mitigate risks early in development
- Replace components with minimal engineering effort
- Support multiple suppliers and product generations
emPower OS enables long-term flexibility through its portability across microcontrollers and compatibility with common cloud providers.
How emPower OS works
emPower OS follows a modular approach to embedded software development. Built around the embOS-Ultra RTOS, it combines the software components required for embedded and IoT applications, including connectivity, security, storage, and graphical user interfaces.
The platform provides a consistent software architecture across projects and hardware platforms. All components are developed, tested, and supported by SEGGER, giving developers a single source for embedded software and technical support.
All-in-one solution
All components. One package. Seamless integration.
emPower OS includes all the software components shown below in one integrated package. Everything is designed to work together, eliminating the need to purchase and integrate software from multiple vendors.
RTOS/OS
Reliable real-time performance and functional safety for demanding embedded applications.
As the foundation of emPower OS, embOS-Ultra delivers deterministic real-time performance with CPU-cycle precision. Its Cycle-Resolution Timing technology reduces CPU activity and power consumption by eliminating periodic system ticks.
With a small memory footprint and broad microcontroller support, embOS-Ultra provides a flexible and efficient foundation for embedded applications.
COMMUNICATION
emModbus
Modbus communication stack for industrial automation applications
COMMUNICATION
emNet
High-performance dual IPv4/IPv6 IP stack for embedded systems
COMMUNICATION
IoT Toolkit
IoT library collection for embedded systems
USER INTERFACE
emWin
Graphics library for creating embedded graphical user interfaces.
USB
emUSB-Device
USB device stack for connecting embedded systems to PCs and other USB hosts.
USB
emUSB-Host
USB host stack for connecting external USB devices to embedded systems.
FILE HANDLING
emCompress
Highly efficient embedded compression libraries
FILE HANDLING
emFile
Fail-safe file-system software for embedded systems
SECURITY
emSSL
TLS library for secure encrypted communication.
SECURITY
emSSH
SSH library for secure remote access and communication.
SECURITY
emSecure
Digital signature solution for authentication and firmware protection.
SECURITY
emCrypt
Cryptographic library for encryption, hashing, and authentication.
Evaluation and starter boards
emPower OS can be evaluated on virtually any board. Pre-configured packages provide an out-of-the-box experience with ready-to-run example applications. Thanks to its flexibility, emPower OS can easily be used on hundreds of evaluation boards and more than a thousand supported target devices.
emPower evaluation board
The emPower evaluation board provides an easy entry point and enables the use of all emPower OS components on a proven hardware platform.
Key features:
- Full support for all emPower OS components
- USB Host and USB Device interfaces
- Ethernet connectivity
- File storage support
- Integrated display
- Three expansion interfaces for RS232, WiFi, and additional modules
This board is ideally suited for first projects and rapid prototyping.
emPower Zynq evaluation board
The emPower Zynq evaluation board serves as a demonstrator for high-end application processors.
Hardware highlights:
- Cortex-A9 processor running at up to 666 MHz
- Xilinx Zynq-7000S SoC with integrated FPGA
- On-board J-Link OB
- External debug and trace interface
Interfaces:
- SD Card
- USB
- Ethernet
The board enables direct evaluation of emPower OS components in demanding application scenarios.
Licensing
The software is available under various embedded software license models and can be delivered as source code. All commercial licenses are based on a one-time payment, are royalty-free, and include six months of updates and support from SEGGER’s Embedded Experts.
There are no subscription fees, ensuring predictable and fixed costs over the entire product lifetime.
For non-commercial use, evaluation, and educational purposes, the software is provided under SEGGER’s Friendly License.
FAQ
I am redesigning my hardware. How do I update emPower OS in my project?
The structure and core components of emPower OS are hardware independent. Only the drivers and configurations need to be updated to match the new hardware. If you are switching to another target MCU within the same CPU architecture, for example Cortex-M7, you can simply obtain a new Driver Package, add the required drivers and configuration to your existing project, and rebuild the firmware for the new hardware.
I am designing a hardware update with a new target device. How do I update emPower OS?
embOS, which forms the foundation of emPower OS, is typically licensed for a single CPU architecture, for example with a Single User License or a Single Product License. If the new hardware uses a target device based on the same CPU architecture, only the embOS BSP needs to be updated accordingly. If the new hardware uses a different CPU architecture, or if the emPower OS license is restricted to a specific device, please contact us to discuss a license upgrade for the new target device.
I have changed my hardware peripherals. How do I get an emPower OS Driver Package?
When hardware peripherals such as an Ethernet PHY or USB controller are changed, new drivers and hardware configurations may be required. Select the required components from the list of available drivers and contact us. The first emPower OS Driver Package is selected as part of the initial emPower OS purchase. A second Driver Package can be requested free of charge at any time during the active maintenance and update period of the emPower OS license. Additional Driver Packages for new hardware can be purchased separately if required.
My target architecture or compiler is not listed among the available embOS ports. Can I still use emPower OS?
Yes. emPower OS is designed to be available on a wide range of platforms. Please contact us to discuss the details of your specific target.
I cannot find a matching driver or configuration for my hardware. Can I still use emPower OS?
Yes. A wide range of drivers and hardware configurations for popular targets is already available, but the list is continuously expanding. Due to its clearly defined driver and configuration layers, emPower OS can be used on virtually any hardware. Please contact us if custom drivers or configurations tailored to your product are required.
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Get in touch with us
Have questions or need assistance? Our Embedded Experts are here to help!
Reach out to us for:
- Licensing quotes
- Technical inquiries
- Project support