CrystalVision is designed as a robust distributed network system. Each node in the network uses the same base software and is responsible for polling and controlling those devices that are connected to it. When changes are detected, the new data is sent to the other nodes. The nodes with devices attached may or may not include a user interface. There may also be a node such as an operator terminal that contains only a user interface and no devices. Each process is assigned a priority. At the top are those processes related to devices such as protection switching. At the bottom are the GUI and logging. If your GUI feels temporarily slow, it's because the system is executing more important, real-time functions such as a scheduled script. For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions.
We cannot stress enough the importance of the operating system, QNX, upon which CrystalVision runs. QNX was specifically designed in 1981 for real-time applications. QNX enables CrystalVision to be different from all other monitor and control systems: our software is real-time. For more than 20 years, QNX operating system technology has powered the world's most reliable systems in manufacturing and process control. Whether they're making chocolate, manufacturing microchips, producing concrete, or running oil rigs, QNX-based control systems have earned a serious reputation for running nonstop 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Fast & Gorgeous According to Al Fasoldt's November 12, 2000 article in The Syracuse Newspapers titled, "QNX computer operating system: Faster than Windows or Linux, with a Gorgeous Interface:" "[QNX] is clearly faster than any version of Windows on the same PC, and tops both Linux and Be operating system in responsiveness." He adds that QNX Photon is the "...coolest looking GUI this side of Star Trek Voyager. It's simply gorgeous, a model of how interfaces should look." See specifications for speed statistics.
Reliable What makes the QNX® Neutrino® RTOS so reliable? It all comes down to microkernel architecture. As a true, message-based microkernel operating system, QNX Neutrino not only offers exceptional resilience to software fault, but allows virtually any software component to be started, stopped, or replaced on the fly. Reboots are virtually eliminated. Read about our software architecture for more information.
Scalable Better yet, QNX microkernel architecture provides distributed processing: a control application on any node can transparently access disks, ports, protocol stacks, or other resources residing on any other node in the network. A network of individual machines becomes a virtual supercomputer, giving you seamless, distributed control over hundreds of thousands of input/output points.
From the manufacturing space to manufacturing in space, QNX Neutrino is also decidedly flexible. Each module functions in its own encapsulated memory space. Upgrades and new hardware can be added on the fly. It can intelligently recover from virtually any software fault. Its networking is fault-tolerant and can load-balance network traffic. The QNX Neutrino microkernel provides true multiprocessing and requires very little memory. It has been implemented in numerous industries:
And, of course, real-time control in broadcast environments, especially those that require frame-level accuracy.
Secure Where do all the worms and viruses go when they come across CrystalVision NMC running on a QNX operating system? No place! QNX just doesn’t understand code that is written for Windows. By choosing CrystalVision NMC, you avoid the concern, hassle, and cost of virtually all viruses and worms.
However, you can be confident that we sell only state-of-the art computers capable of handling your CrystalVision system for a reasonable period of future enhancements and additions. Video Card and NIC Card specifications can be found at http://www.qnx.com/support/sd_hardware/.
Desktop PC (option) You can request a desktop PC and monitor that come with the same specifications as our standard computer.
Fault-Tolerant PC (option) For peace of mind, Crystal offers a fault-tolerant PC with a RAID 1 Controller which allows hot swapping and rebuilding on the fly, as well as 3 hot-swappable power supplies with independent power entry modules.
Crystal uses Comtrol's line of serial port products to attach your devices to CrystalVision. The Comtrol Device Master is a serial port manager with up to 16 ports and is 1 rack unit high. You can plug in devices with RS-232, RS-422 and RS-485 cables. It displays communications with receive and transmit lights at each port so you can see polling and responding.
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CrystalVision
is modular and message based rather than data-based. Each module
is encapsulated within its own hardware-protected
memory space
that cannot be disturbed by other modules. Each module communicates
via messages with the CrystalVision kernel and is totally unaware
of any other modules. If the GUI crashes, the system is still fully
functional. The kernel is smart enough to forward messages to the
appropriate modules. By creating and adding a new software module,
we can introduce new function to CrystalVision with absolutely
no impact on existing modules. One software module cannot interfere
with another's data. This produces unequalled reliability in monitor
and control. 
Flexible 
Control systems for nuclear reactors
Virtually
all viruses and worms are written to invade Microsoft Windows® Operating
Systems. Hackers target Windows for two reasons: it has many coding
flaws that leave it vulnerable to attack and it is ubiquitous (some
statistics put its market share at 97%). Hackers want to disrupt
the lives of computer users, particularly business users, and Windows
is the perfect target. 
CrystalVision
NMC is PC-based and is sold with an IBM-compatible computer. With
the rapid advancements
in PCs, it is not feasible to list the specifications of the
computer that we provide on this web site.
Every
rack-mount computer comes with dual NICs, 2-button mouse, 3.5" floppy
drive, CD-ROM
drive,
rack-mount keyboard, video card and rack-mount monitor
capable of 1280x1024 resolution.
RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive
Disks. The theory behind RAID is that instead of using one large
drive to store all
of your data, you use a set of smaller drives that allows you
to add redundancy and performance. By striping or mirroring data
across
multiple drives and then adding redundancy, customers can get
the highest performance and fault tolerance, allowing them to
lose a drive and still continue to operate with access to all of
the
data.