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Linux-based microcontroller system From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Azure Sphere is an application platform with integrated communications and security features developed and managed by Microsoft for Internet Connected Devices.
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| Developer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Written in | C and others |
| OS family | Unix-like (Linux) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | At least partially open source |
| General availability | February 24, 2020 |
| Latest release | 23.05 / June 20, 2023[1] |
| Latest preview | 19.10[2] / November 7, 2019 |
| Repository | |
| Platforms | ARM (MediaTek MT3620) |
| Kernel type | Monolithic kernel |
| License | Proprietary |
| Official website | azure |
The platform consists of integrated hardware built around a silicon chip: the Azure Sphere OS (operating system for Azure Sphere), an operating system based on Linux, and the Azure Sphere Security Service, a cloud-based security service. Azure Sphere security was developed based on Microsoft Research's position on the seven required characteristics of highly secure devices.
The Azure Sphere OS is a custom Linux-based microcontroller operating system created by Microsoft to run on an Azure Sphere-certified chip and to connect to the Azure Sphere Security Service.[3][4][5] The Azure Sphere OS provides a platform for Internet of things application development, including both high-level applications and real-time-capable applications. It is the first operating system running a Linux kernel[6] that Microsoft has publicly released and the second Unix-like operating system that the company has developed for external (public) users, the other being Xenix.
The Azure Sphere Security Service, also known as AS3, is a cloud-based service that facilitates maintenance, updates, and control for Azure Sphere-certified chips.[7] The Azure Sphere Security Service establishes a secure connection between devices and the internet or cloud services and ensures secure boot. The primary purpose of contact between an Azure Sphere device and the Azure Sphere Security Service is to authenticate the device identity, ensure the integrity and trust of the system software, and certify that the device is running a trusted code base. The service also provides a secure channel for Microsoft to automatically download and install Azure Sphere OS updates and customer application updates to deployed devices.
Azure Sphere-certified chips and hardware support two general implementation categories: greenfield and brownfield. Greenfield implementation involves designing and building new IoT devices with an Azure Sphere-certified chip. Azure Sphere-certified chips are currently produced by MediaTek.[8] In June 2019, NXP announced plans to produce a line of Azure Sphere-certified chips. In October 2019, Qualcomm announced plans to produce the first Azure Sphere-certified chips with cellular capabilities.[9] Brownfield implementation involves the use of an Azure Sphere guardian device to securely connect an existing device to the internet. Azure Sphere guardian modules are currently produced by Avnet.
MT3620 is the first Azure Sphere-certified chip and includes an ARM Cortex-A7 processor (500 MHz), two ARM Cortex-M4F I/O subsystems (200 MHz), 5x UART/I2C/SPI, 2x I2S, 8x ADC, up to 12 PWM counters and up to 72x GPIO, and Wi-Fi capability. MT3620 contains the Microsoft Pluton security subsystem with a dedicated ARM Cortext-M4F core that handles secure boot and secure system operation.
An Azure Sphere Guardian module is external, add-on hardware that incorporates an Azure Sphere-certified chip, enabling secure connectivity for an existing device to the internet. In addition to an Azure Sphere-certified chip, an Azure Sphere Guardian module includes the Azure Sphere OS and Azure Sphere Security Service. The Guardian module provides a secure method for connecting existing devices to the internet without exposing them directly. The guardian module can be connected to a device through an existing peripheral on the device and is then connected to the internet through Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The device itself is not connected directly to the network.
Pluton is a Microsoft-designed security subsystem that implements a hardware-based root of trust for Azure Sphere. It includes a security processor core, cryptographic engines, a hardware random number generator, public/private key generation, asymmetric and symmetric encryption, support for elliptic curve digital signature algorithm (ECDSA) verification for secured boot, and measured boot in silicon to support remote attestation with a cloud service, and various tampering counter-measures.[10][11]
The Linux-based Azure Sphere OS is a platform designed for developers writing applications that use peripherals on the Azure Sphere chip. Applications can run on either the Cortex-A7 core with access to external communications or as real-time capable apps on one of the Cortex-M4 processors. Real-time capable applications can run on either bare metal or with a real-time operating system (RTOS). Developer applications can be distributed to Azure Sphere devices through the same secure mechanism as the Azure Sphere OS updates.
The following is a list of announcements and releases from Microsoft around Azure Sphere.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 2018-05-21 | Azure Sphere Announcement[12] |
| 2018-09-24 | Azure Sphere services are in public preview and dev kits are broadly available[13] |
| 2018-10-22 | Explanation of Azure Sphere tenant concept[14] |
| 2018-11-05 | Upcoming Azure Sphere 18.11 release[15] |
| 2018-11-16 | Update 18.11 for Azure Sphere in public preview[16] |
| 2019-01-07 | Description of Azure Sphere secured MCU[17] |
| 2019-01-09 | Azure Sphere: Update to the 18.11 release[18] |
| 2019-02-15 | Azure Sphere 19.02 Release[19] |
| 2019-03-15 | Update 19.03 for Azure Sphere public preview now available for evaluation[20] |
| 2019-03-29 | Update 19.03 for Azure Sphere public preview now available in Retail feed[21] |
| 2019-04-10 | Update 19.04 for Azure Sphere public preview now available for evaluation[22] |
| 2019-04-24 | Update 19.04 for Azure Sphere public preview now available in Retail feed[23] |
| 2019-05-16 | Update 19.05 for Azure Sphere public preview now available for evaluation[24] |
| 2019-05-31 | Azure Sphere 19.05 Release Unlocks new features in the MT3620[25] |
| 2019-06-24 | Update 19.06 for Azure Sphere public preview now available for evaluation[26] |
| 2019-07-08 | Update 19.06 for Azure Sphere public preview now available in Retail feed[27] |
| 2019-07-17 | Update 19.07 for Azure Sphere public preview now available for evaluation[28] |
| 2019-07-31 | The latest update to Azure Sphere (in preview) is now available in the retail feed[29] |
| 2019-09-25 | Azure Sphere Preview – Update 19.09 is now available for evaluation[30] |
| 2019-11-01 | Microsoft announces Azure Sphere will be generally available in February 2020[31] |
| 2019-11-07 | Update 19.10 for Azure Sphere now available[2] |
| 2019-12-06 | Azure Sphere update 19.11 is now available via retail feed[32] |
| 2020-02-24 | Azure Sphere is now Generally Available[33] |
| 2020-08-20 | Azure Sphere OS 20.08 is now available via retail feed[34] |
| 2022-06-20 | Rust support announcement (preview) [35] |
| 2023-06-20 | Azure Sphere 23.05 Release[36] |
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