What Linutronix does

Linutronix GmbH is a German-based specialist in industrial-grade Linux solutions, headquartered in Uhldingen-Mühlhofen and founded in 1996 by Thomas Gleixner. The company was acquired by Intel in February 2022 and continues to operate as an independent business unit within Intel's Software and Advanced Technology Group. Its portfolio centers on IGLOS (Industrial Grade Linux Operating System), a Debian-based embedded distribution certified to IEC 62443-4-2 by TÜV SÜD, complemented by the ELBE build system and Linutronix's origination of the PREEMPT_RT real-time Linux patch set. Supporting modules cover OTA updates (swupdate), the Jailhouse type-1 hypervisor, container runtimes, secure boot, TPM/HSM integration, TSN networking, and OPC UA via open62541.

Revenue is generated through three principal mechanisms. First, project-based professional services spanning board support package development, driver integration, bootloader customization, security hardening, and lifecycle maintenance, typically delivered against custom enterprise engagements. Second, recurring IGLOS subscriptions that bundle continuous CVE monitoring, security patching, BSP updates, and lifecycle support for embedded products with multi-year field deployments. Third, publicly priced instructor-led training (€3,250 per participant) covering Linux fundamentals, real-time programming, Yocto, TSN networking, OTA updates, and embedded security, delivered at the Uhldingen-Mühlhofen facility or remotely.

The customer base spans industrial equipment manufacturers, medical device makers, energy and critical infrastructure operators, and railway technology providers. Distribution relies on direct enterprise sales, presence at embedded world (Nuremberg), Embedded Recipes (Nice), Linux Plumbers Conference, EOSS, and the TSN/A Conference, plus leverage of Intel's customer channel. Linutronix holds memberships in the Linux Foundation, OPC Foundation, Avnu Alliance, and the Industrial Internet Consortium, and is the originator of several open-source projects (PREEMPT_RT, ELBE, Jailhouse, MiniCoreDumper) that anchor its credibility in the Linux kernel community.

Name

Linutronix

Legal name

Linutronix GmbH

Website

https://linutronix.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Linutronix GmbH provides industrial-grade Linux software and engineering services for embedded systems. It markets the TÜV SÜD-certified IGLOS distribution, the PREEMPT_RT real-time kernel, build and lifecycle tools, and security consulting to manufacturers in automation, medical, energy, and railway sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Embedded Linux Software and Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Substation Automation & Digital Substations (IEC 61850) Integration Services (EUAEANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Telecom, SCADA & OPGW/Fiber Integration for T&D Projects (EUAEABAG), DER & Microgrid Interconnection / Grid Edge Integration Services (EUAEANAF)

Keywords

• Embedded Linux services
• Industrial real-time Linux
• PREEMPT_RT development
• Industrial Linux certification
• IoT embedded operating system

Headquarters

HQ city

Uhldingen-mühlhofen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Embedded Linux BSP Development: Full-service embedded Linux development including board support packages, driver development, bootloader customization, and system optimization. From board support package through development environment to browser applications.
2. Training Courses: Instructor-led training programs on embedded Linux, real-time programming, Yocto, Debian/ELBE, debugging, fastboot, TSN networking, IoT security, and OTA updates. Public classroom format with max 8 participants.
3. Industrial Grade Linux (IGLOS) Subscriptions: Subscriptions for continuous maintenance, security monitoring (CVE tracking), care and update of BSPs based on IGLOS distribution. Includes security patches, bug fixes, and regulatory compliance support.
4. Security Consulting and Compliance Services: Advisory services for IEC 62443 compliance, Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) readiness, NIS2 compliance, secure boot implementation, and cybersecurity hardening for embedded devices.
5. Lifecycle Management Services: Ongoing maintenance services including security monitoring, patch integration, testing, and release management for Linux-based embedded products over long product lifecycles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Linutronix provides industrial-grade embedded Linux solutions and professional services, centered on IGLOS (a TÜV SÜD-certified Debian-based Linux distribution with IEC 62443-4-2 compliance), PREEMPT_RT real-time Linux technology, and supporting modules such as ELBE build system, Jailhouse hypervisor, OTA updates, TSN networking, and OPC UA. The company also delivers board support package development, driver and security consulting, lifecycle management, and instructor-led Linux training to industrial manufacturers, medical device makers, energy suppliers, and railway technology providers.

Product overview

Linutronix offers a portfolio of products and services for industrial Linux environments. The core offerings include IGLOS (Industrial Grade Linux Operating System), a TÜV SÜD-certified Debian-based industrial Linux distribution with IEC 62443-4-2 compliance; ELBE (Embedded Linux Build Environment), a custom build system for creating tailored Debian distributions; and PREEMPT_RT, the real-time Linux kernel patch pioneered by Linutronix founder Thomas Gleixner. Supporting modules include OTA Update System (based on swupdate), Jailhouse Hypervisor for virtualization, Container Runtime, Security Solutions (hardened Linux, secure boot, TPM/HSM), IoT/Industry 4.0 Software Kit, TSN support, OPC UA implementation, and Yocto support. Services encompass BSP development, driver development, and professional Linux training courses. The company operates as an Intel-owned independent business unit within Intel's Software and Advanced Technology Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IGLOS (Industrial Grade Linux Operating System): Debian-based enterprise Linux distribution for industrial embedded systems, TÜV SÜD certified, aligned with IEC 62443-4-2 security standards. Features secure boot, mandatory access control, firewall, memory encryption, audit logging, and secure OTA updates for CRA and NIS-2 compliance.

Products and services

• IGLOS (Industrial Grade Linux Operating System) TÜV SÜD-certified Debian-based industrial Linux distribution (IEC 62443-4-2 compliant) providing secure, real-time-capable OS for embedded industrial devices with secure boot, mandatory access control, firewall, memory encryption, audit logging, and secure OTA updates.
• PREEMPT_RT Real-time Linux kernel patch set pioneered by Linutronix that transforms standard Linux into a real-time operating system with deterministic scheduling and microsecond-level latency for industrial applications; now almost fully merged into mainline Linux kernel.
• ELBE (Embedded Linux Build Environment) Build system developed by Linutronix for creating Debian-based embedded Linux distributions tailored to specific hardware requirements, with reproducible image generation, SDK creation, and license compliance management.
• OTA Update System Over-the-air update solution for embedded devices enabling automated, secure software distribution with A/B symmetric updates, rollback capability, delta updates, and signed/encrypted update containers; based on swupdate open source tool.
• Jailhouse Hypervisor Open source Type 1 hypervisor for isolated real-time applications enabling hardware partitioning to run multiple operating systems (Linux, RTOS, bare-metal) on multi-core CPUs with approximately 1 μsec latency overhead.
• Container Runtime Solution Embedded-optimized container solution compatible with OCI runtime specification, enabling third-party software in sandboxed environments with minimal impact on real-time behavior and memory consumption.
• Industrial Linux Security Solutions Comprehensive security portfolio including hardened Linux kernel configurations, secure/measured boot, TPM/HSM integration, disk encryption, VPN, and firewall capabilities for industrial embedded systems.
• IoT / Industry 4.0 Software Kit Complete software kit for Industrial IoT devices supporting OPC UA (Pub/Sub), MQTT, TSN, and cloud connectivity to AWS/Azure/Google Cloud; includes device onboarding, configuration, monitoring, and update management.
• TSN (Time-Sensitive Networking) Support IEEE 802.1 TSN standards implementation for deterministic Ethernet communication enabling sub-microsecond time synchronization and real-time data exchange over standard Ethernet for industrial automation.
• Embedded Linux BSP Services Board Support Package development and integration services for ARM, x86, MIPS, and PowerPC architectures including driver development, kernel customization, and mainline kernel integration for industrial embedded projects.
• Linux Training Services Professional Linux training courses covering Linux Fundamentals, Linux Internals, Yocto, PREEMPT_RT, Fastboot, TSN Networking, Embedded Security, OTA Updates, and Efficient Debugging; offered as public courses or customized on-site sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 18% faster PostgreSQL database performance with Intel memory management patches
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• IntelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2022Intel acquired Linutronix in February 2022. Linutronix continues as an independent business unit within Intel's Software and Advanced Technology Group (SATG). Over 10 years of collaboration prior to acquisition. Thomas Gleixner serves as Intel Fellow. Partnership enables access to Intel's customer ecosystem and chip platforms.
• OPC FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2022Linutronix became a member of OPC Foundation to provide customers with certifiable products enabling seamless use of open source solutions in automation based on open62541. Linutronix previously supported open62541 development through OSADL project.
• Avnu AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term member of Avnu Alliance consortium working towards interoperability of time-sensitive networks for professional audio and industrial applications. Members involved in IEEE standardization efforts. Linutronix contributes expertise on Realtime Linux and TSN integration.
• Phoenix ContactstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Phoenix Contact and Intel on TSN testbench development. Project evaluates whether Linux technologies are suitable for industrial protocols such as PROFINET and OPC/UA PubSub over TSN.
• Industrial Internet ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in Industrial Internet Consortium Testbed for TSN located at ISW University of Stuttgart. Ensures device interoperability through defined use cases and data types exchanged via TSN using OPC UA PubSub.
• Linux FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Linux Foundation for PREEMPT_RT integration into Linux mainline. Linutronix founder Thomas Gleixner leads PREEMPT_RT development as part of Linux Foundation ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wind River Systems: Wind River provides commercial embedded real-time operating systems (VxWorks, Wind River Linux) for industrial, aerospace, automotive, and networking customers. It is the most direct competitor to Linutronix in industrial-grade Linux and real-time OS, serving similar OEM customers with comparable security-certified offerings.
• SYSGO: SYSGO offers PikeOS, a safety- and security-certified real-time operating system and hypervisor for embedded industrial, railway, and aerospace applications. Like Linutronix, SYSGO focuses on certified, deterministic OS platforms for safety-critical industrial use cases.
• BlackBerry QNX: BlackBerry QNX provides safety-certified real-time operating systems and hypervisors for automotive, industrial, medical, and rail applications. Like Linutronix, QNX targets safety- and security-critical embedded use cases requiring deterministic behavior.
• MontaVista Software: MontaVista provides commercial embedded Linux distributions and lifecycle support services for industrial, networking, and medical device manufacturers. It is a direct competitor in commercial-grade embedded Linux with similar professional services and subscription offerings.
• Green Hills Software: Green Hills Software offers INTEGRITY and µ-velOSity real-time operating systems with safety and security certifications for industrial, automotive, aerospace, and medical applications. It directly competes with Linutronix in safety-critical, certified embedded software.

Emerging players

• Konsulko Group: Konsulko Group provides embedded Linux consulting, Yocto Project support, and open-source engineering services to industrial and IoT customers. It is an emerging competitor offering comparable embedded Linux professional services.
• Foundries.io: Foundries.io provides a Linux-based platform for IoT and edge devices with built-in security, OTA updates, and continuous integration. It targets similar use cases as Linutronix IGLOS — secure, maintainable Linux for connected industrial devices — but with a SaaS-style delivery model.
• Canonical (Ubuntu): Canonical offers Ubuntu Core and Ubuntu Pro for IoT and edge devices, providing long-term support, security patching, and commercial backing for embedded Linux deployments. It competes with Linutronix IGLOS in the same industrial/edge segments but with a larger developer ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Industrial Edge: Siemens Industrial Edge provides a managed edge computing platform for industrial automation customers, including OS, container, and update management. As a broad incumbent in industrial automation, Siemens competes indirectly with Linutronix's IGLOS and TSN offerings within its own customer base.
• Red Hat (IBM): Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Edge and OpenShift provide commercial Linux platforms targeting industrial and edge workloads. As a broad incumbent with deep enterprise reach, Red Hat competes in the same space as Linutronix but offers a much wider portfolio beyond the industrial-Linux niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/linutronix

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Linutronix