Linux Platform Creation
Production-ready embedded Linux platforms that last
Engineered Foundations for Smart Products
At Rufilla, Linux platform creation means building robust, secure and maintainable foundations for smart products, not stitching together generic distributions. As official Yocto contributors (and creators of the UK’s first Yocto training course), we’ve delivered platforms powering smart energy devices, scientific instruments, industrial systems and infrastructure.
A Rufilla platform is engineered for real-world deployment: hardened security, reliable OTA updates, stable BSP integration, and clear long-term maintainability.
Our BSP Approach
What Makes a Rufilla Platform Different
Reliable Over-the-Air Updates
We use proven OTA frameworks (Mender, SWUpdate with Hawkbit) to ensure field updates are secure, atomic, and rollback-safe.
Comprehensive Security Hardening
Security is built into every layer. We apply automotive-grade Linux security models to protect against physical and network-based attacks.
Production-Ready from
Day One
Our platforms are built for deployment at scale, with update systems, security models, and maintainability planned from the outset — not added later.
Designed for Long-Term Maintainability
Modular architecture and clear documentation enable your team to extend and evolve the platform across product generations.
Our Linux Platform Expertise
Yocto Project Development
We create minimal, efficient Linux distributions tailored to your hardware and performance requirements.
Yocto Project Development
Custom distribution + recipe development
Layer and build system structuring for maintainability
Cross-compilation toolchain and SDK creation
CI pipelines for automated builds and testing
Embedded Linux Security
Security integrated across bootloader, kernel, filesystem, and network stack.
Secure boot chain + hardware root-of-trust
SMAC / IMA integrity enforcement
Encrypted filesystems and secure key management
Network hardening + firewall and intrusion detection
Role-based access control and audit logging
Kernel Customisation & Optimisation
Platform-specific tuning, with stability and performance prioritised.
Device tree and driver integration
Real-time performance optimisation (where required)
Power, memory, and connectivity configuration
Networking stack optimisation
Device Driver Integration
Reliable hardware-to-platform interaction.
Existing driver adaptation
Custom driver development
Hardware abstraction layers
Performance and diagnostic improvements
Board Support Package (BSP) Development
Ensuring Linux correctly initialises and controls your hardware.
Bootloader configuration
Peripheral and sensor integration
Power and thermal management
Manufacturing test integration
Board Support Package (BSP) Development
Ensuring Linux correctly initialises and controls your hardware.
Platform Architecture and Features
Modular Design Philosophy
Our platforms use modular architecture that enables easy customisation and future enhancement. This approach ensures platforms can evolve with your product requirements without requiring complete rebuilds.
OTA Update and Rollback
Robust update systems that maintain uptime and protect system integrity.
Atomic updates with automatic rollback
Signed and verified update packages
Delta updates to minimise bandwidth
Update status reporting and scheduling
Developer & Debug Support
We equip your team to build confidently.
SDKs, toolchains, remote debugging
Performance and system monitoring
Logging and diagnostic frameworks
Industry Applications
Smart Energy Platforms
Our Linux platforms power smart energy solutions including the Home Mini for Octopus Energy and other innovative energy management devices. These platforms balance performance with security whilst enabling mass deployment and remote management.
Medical Device Platforms
Medical device platforms require exceptional reliability and regulatory compliance. Our platforms support hospital bed monitoring systems and other critical healthcare equipment where system failure isn’t acceptable.
Industrial IoT Platforms
From smart factory systems to connected industrial equipment, our platforms enable Industrial IoT applications that operate reliably in challenging environments with extreme temperatures, vibration, and electromagnetic interference.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Our smart products power motorway signage systems, railway safety monitoring, and other critical infrastructure. These applications demand the highest levels of reliability and security – areas where we excel.
Infrastructure and Transportation Platforms
Our platforms power critical systems including motorway signage and railway monitoring equipment. We’ve successfully ported modern Linux to legacy hardware, bringing contemporary security and capabilities to existing infrastructure.
Scientific Instrumentation Platforms
Working with Oxford Instruments, our platforms power electron microscopes and nano-analysis equipment. These sophisticated instruments require stable, high-performance platforms with precise timing and minimal noise.
Platform Development Process
Requirements and hardware capability analysis
Architecture and security model design
Platform build, BSP integration and kernel configuration
OTA update and security implementation
Testing under operational conditions
Documentation and development enablement
Manufacturing and deployment integration
Manufacturing Integration
Our platforms integrate seamlessly with our UK manufacturing partnerships, enabling efficient production scaling from prototypes through to high-volume deployment.
Manufacturing Benefits:
Production line integration for automated platform installation
Quality control integration with automated testing
Configuration management for product variants and customisation
Traceability systems for compliance and support
Manufacturing documentation for production teams
Ready to Build a Platform That Lasts?
We design Linux platforms that are secure, stable and maintainable, not just functional today, but reliable for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes your Linux platforms different from standard distributions?
Our production-ready platforms include comprehensive security hardening, reliable over-the-air update systems, optimised performance for your specific hardware, and complete documentation for long-term maintenance. Unlike standard distributions, every platform is tailored specifically for your requirements and deployment environment.
How do you approach Yocto Linux development?
As official Yocto participants, we use proven Yocto Project methodologies to create custom, minimal Linux distributions. Our approach includes requirements analysis, custom recipe development, layer management, and comprehensive testing and validation to ensure production readiness.
What security measures do you implement in Linux platforms?
Our embedded Linux security includes secure boot chains, root filesystem encryption, SMAC and IMA integration, network security hardening, and automotive-grade Linux security implementations. We design security into every layer of the platform architecture.
How do over-the-air updates work in your platforms?
We implement proven OTA update systems using technologies like Mender and SWUpdate with Hawkbit. These systems provide atomic updates, automatic rollback capabilities, update verification, and remote monitoring to ensure reliable field updates whilst maintaining system security.
Can you work with our existing hardware design?
Absolutely. Our BSP development and device driver integration services adapt Linux platforms to work optimally with your existing hardware. We create custom device trees, integrate hardware drivers, and optimise performance for your specific hardware configuration.
What ongoing support do you provide for Linux platforms?
We offer comprehensive platform maintenance including security updates, kernel updates, driver updates, and feature enhancements. Our knowledge transfer approach also enables your team to maintain platforms independently whilst we provide consultation for complex updates.
How do you ensure platforms remain maintainable long-term?
Our modular architecture design, comprehensive documentation, industry-standard development practices, and knowledge transfer programmes ensure platforms remain maintainable throughout their lifecycle. We design for evolution, not obsolescence.
Can you help migrate from legacy Linux systems?
Yes, we help modernise legacy embedded Linux systems by migrating to current Yocto-based platforms, updating security implementations, improving update mechanisms, and enhancing performance whilst maintaining operational continuity and existing application compatibility.
What development tools do you provide with platforms?
Every platform includes cross-compilation toolchains, SDK packages for application development, debugging tools, performance profiling capabilities, and comprehensive development documentation. We ensure your development team has everything needed for efficient application development.
How do you handle compliance and certification requirements?
Our platforms support various compliance requirements through appropriate security implementations, audit logging, access controls, and documentation. We work with certification partners to ensure platforms meet industry-specific standards for your target markets.