QuickTransit
Encyclopedia
QuickTransit was a cross-platform virtualization
program developed by Transitive Corporation. It allowed software compiled for one specific processor
and operating system
combination to be executed on a different processor and/or operating system architecture without source code or binary changes.
Silicon Graphics
announced QuickTransit’s first availability in October 2004 on its Prism visualization systems. These systems, based on Itanium 2 processors and the Linux
operating system, used QuickTransit to transparently run application binaries compiled for previous SGI systems based on the MIPS
processor and IRIX
operating system.
This technology was also licensed by Apple Computer
in its transition from PowerPC to Intel (x86) CPUs, starting in 2006. Apple marketed this technology as "Rosetta
".
IBM
announced a partnership with Transitive to run Linux/x86 binaries on its Power Architecture
based Power Systems machines. IBM named this software System p AVE during its beta phase, but it was renamed to PowerVM Lx86 upon release.
In November 2006, Transitive launched QuickTransit for Solaris/SPARC-to-Linux/x86-64, which enabled unmodified native Solaris/SPARC applications to run on 64-bit Linux/x86-based systems. This was followed in October 2007 by QuickTransit for Solaris/SPARC-to-Linux/Itanium, which enabled Solaris/SPARC applications to run on Itanium systems running Linux. A third product, QuickTransit for Solaris/SPARC-to-Solaris/x86-64, was released in December 2007.
QuickTransit is an extension of the Dynamite technology developed by the University of Manchester
Parallel Architectures and Languages research group, which now forms part of the Advanced Processor Technologies research group at the University of Manchester
IBM acquired Transitive in June 2009 and merged the company into its Power Systems division. While existing customers of other QuickTransit combinations are supported the only combination still available is the PowerVM Lx86 product.
Cross-platform virtualization
Cross-platform virtualization is a form of computer virtualization that allows software compiled for a specific CPU and operating system to run unmodified on computers with different CPUs and/or operating systems, through a combination of dynamic binary translation and operating system call...
program developed by Transitive Corporation. It allowed software compiled for one specific processor
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
and operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
combination to be executed on a different processor and/or operating system architecture without source code or binary changes.
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. was a manufacturer of high-performance computing solutions, including computer hardware and software, founded in 1981 by Jim Clark...
announced QuickTransit’s first availability in October 2004 on its Prism visualization systems. These systems, based on Itanium 2 processors and the Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
operating system, used QuickTransit to transparently run application binaries compiled for previous SGI systems based on the MIPS
MIPS architecture
MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit...
processor and IRIX
IRIX
IRIX is a computer operating system developed by Silicon Graphics, Inc. to run natively on their 32- and 64-bit MIPS architecture workstations and servers. It was based on UNIX System V with BSD extensions. IRIX was the first operating system to include the XFS file system.The last major version...
operating system.
This technology was also licensed by Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
in its transition from PowerPC to Intel (x86) CPUs, starting in 2006. Apple marketed this technology as "Rosetta
Rosetta (software)
Rosetta was a lightweight and dynamic binary translator for Mac OS X which Apple released in 2006 when it transitioned the Macintosh from PowerPC to Intel processors. It allowed pre-existing software to run on the new systems without modification....
".
IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
announced a partnership with Transitive to run Linux/x86 binaries on its Power Architecture
Power Architecture
Power Architecture is a broad term to describe similar RISC instruction sets for microprocessors developed and manufactured by such companies as IBM, Freescale, AMCC, Tundra and P.A. Semi...
based Power Systems machines. IBM named this software System p AVE during its beta phase, but it was renamed to PowerVM Lx86 upon release.
In November 2006, Transitive launched QuickTransit for Solaris/SPARC-to-Linux/x86-64, which enabled unmodified native Solaris/SPARC applications to run on 64-bit Linux/x86-based systems. This was followed in October 2007 by QuickTransit for Solaris/SPARC-to-Linux/Itanium, which enabled Solaris/SPARC applications to run on Itanium systems running Linux. A third product, QuickTransit for Solaris/SPARC-to-Solaris/x86-64, was released in December 2007.
QuickTransit is an extension of the Dynamite technology developed by the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
Parallel Architectures and Languages research group, which now forms part of the Advanced Processor Technologies research group at the University of Manchester
IBM acquired Transitive in June 2009 and merged the company into its Power Systems division. While existing customers of other QuickTransit combinations are supported the only combination still available is the PowerVM Lx86 product.