XPE versus XP Pro

[Steve Wagner]

Good morning community,

We have been slogging through Target Designer and have been successful
building XPE images for an SBC. But the nagging question that keeps coming
back: what is the advantage of XPE? Is it size? You can control most of the
components you want? What happens if you include "everything"? Do you get XP
Pro when you're done?

As an "embedded" operating system, things that you might expect would be
this: 1) light-weight kernel; 2) more "real time" like; 3) access to native
I/O. What exactly applies to XPE and what are the advantages?

You can tell we are rank beginners, and you're welcome to be cynical. But
you have to start some place with bonehead questions, so you're it!

Steve

 

[Adora Belle Dearheart]

Good morning community,

We have been slogging through Target Designer and have been successful
building XPE images for an SBC. But the nagging question that keeps coming
back: what is the advantage of XPE? Is it size? You can control most of the
components you want? What happens if you include "everything"? Do you get XP
Pro when you're done?

"ish" is the answer I'd give there. There are differences, which seem to
be mostly accidental, and a few extra features.

As an "embedded" operating system, things that you might expect would be
this: 1) light-weight kernel;

I've built images that came in at well under 100MB. Other people have
built considerably smaller.

2) more "real time" like;

Well... smaller and doing less tends to make it run a bit faster...

 

[Zirong Wang]

Steve,

here are my view of XPe 'pros' vs XP pro:
1. footprint can be smaller, and embedded world is keen of smaller size
2. royalties is smaller than XP pro
3. it is easier to deploy and clone
4. it is easier to configure, well, if you know well XPe
5. since it is smaller, the 'attack surface' is smaller, so more
secure.
6. support from MS is longer vs XP pro. it seems it is till 20??.
7. you can add your own components, especially drivers for newer
hardwares.

now comes your 3 last question:
1. light weight kernel
I do not think, it is exactly the same code than XP pro
2. more 'real time'
no, it is same as XP pro, so not a real time OS
but someone sales real time feature on it.
3. access to native IO
I don't think so, it is same as XP pro, if you want
native IO, we must write your own driver.

indeed, if you include the 'right' components, you can end up
with an XP pro, but MS does not like that, for example, you
should not allow running MS Office. correct me if I am wrong
MS guys.

today, we can have alternative OS, real time OS, royalty free
OS.... but this should not ne said here. shuuuut

Zirong