Express Logic’s FileX Optimized to Improve Flash Memory Reliability and Durability

Express Logic, Inc. announced that FileX, its file management system, now supports the Microsoft Corp.‘ Extended File Allocation Table (exFAT) file system.

With support for exFAT, FileX helps to maximize the reliability and fault tolerance of flash memory in a variety of media devices from flat-panel TVs and media centers to compact flash and USB pen drives. For systems that need wear-leveling capabilities, company’s complements FileX with LevelX, flash wear-leveling software that extends the longevity of storage devices.

With the onslaught of billions of disparate ‘things’ in the burgeoning IoT a plethora of data is being generated. The management and storage of such data requires file management systems capable of managing many file types, sizes, and formats while ensuring dependable retrieval and storage. FileX does this with sensitivity to different levels of criticality and destinations. Moreover, its implementation of exFAT ensures that overhead, memory, and power requirements are kept to a minimum-an ideal fit for the target market that the company serves.

“The growth and diversity of data generated introduces many challenges for embedded developers,” said William E. Lamie, CEO, Express Logic. “The FileX file system, coupled with fault tolerance and LevelX flash wear leveling, delivers all the essential tools developers need to easily build reliable and durable flash file systems.“

Imroved file and device support and dependability
Always-on devices often require the flow of large amounts of data. File management must be efficient. With its support for exFAT, FileX manages individual data files larger than 4GB-an important step forward for applications such as HD video common in medical, business, and consumer technology and that need to stream large files.

In addition, FileX improves dependability through journaling for fault recovery. By tracking uncommitted file-system changes and recording the intentions or changes within the journal data structure, FileX fully supports fault-tolerant systems. It improves system reliability and prevents data corruption by enabling the recovery of files in the case of a system crash or power failure. Such data management is critical for always-on, mission-critical devices.

LevelX helps maximize flash memory durability
LevelX is the complement to FileX for always-on devices, such as wearable heart monitors, in which data is stored locally until it can be uploaded via a network. Such devices typically use NAND and NOR flash, which can be erased and rewritten only a finite number of times. Consequently, such devices must maximize the longevity of usable flash memory. Wear leveling maximizes the life of the flash by distributing the storage of memory evenly over the entire flash.

Company’s LevelX delivers NAND and NOR flash wear leveling through an algorithm that reuses blocks of flash memory on lowest erase count. The algorithm also tracks the number of obsolete mappings to eliminate overhead when moving and mapping new entries. For applications involving multiple instances of NAND and/or NOR flash, developers can use separate instances.

LevelX achieves fault tolerance by performing a multistep process that is interruptible at any point. LevelX automatically recovers to a coherent state during the next power-up operation. Written in ANSI C, LevelX is easy to install and can be configured at compile time.

FileX is available starting at $9,500. LevelX can be used stand-alone or with FileX and can be purchased for $6,000. Devices using FileX for exFAT and FAT32 must obtain the necessary run-time license from Microsoft.