The Challenge: Moving from Windows to Linux — Without the Risk
Many machine builders and system integrators in industrial automation face a critical challenge:
How can they transition from established Windows-based control systems to modern, Linux-based platforms — without running two development tracks, duplicating maintenance, or risking their existing software investments?
At the same time, they are looking to expand their offerings with scalable, reliable digital services directly on the machine.
The Solution: Virtualization Meets Software-Defined Extensibility
Together with our technology partner acontis technologies, FLECS offers a powerful answer:
A combination of the acontis RTOSVisor and the FLECS Marketplace.
The RTOSVisor is a type-1 real-time hypervisor that enables Windows, Linux, and real-time operating systems like VxWorks or RTOS32 to run side by side on a single industrial PC — with guaranteed real-time performance.
This means that existing Windows applications can continue to operate without disruption, while new features and digital services are developed and deployed natively on Linux, without the need for additional hardware or code duplication.
An App Store for Your Machines: Your Own Marketplace
The FLECS Marketplace is more than just an app store. It’s a fully preconfigured, customizable platform that allows machine builders and automation providers to:
- Offer their own apps and software services to customers
- Build and monetize digital extensions for their machines
- Retain full control over the customer relationship
With full whitelabel support, companies can launch their own branded marketplace — tailored to their ecosystem, seamlessly embedded in their products.
At the same time, users gain access to a growing library of over 70 ready-to-use apps — from visualization tools to edge analytics and AI-based services.
Step-by-Step Migration — Flexible, Secure, Future-Ready
Thanks to the RTOSVisor and FLECS, businesses no longer need to choose between legacy and innovation.
Windows and Linux can run in parallel, allowing existing solutions to remain in place while new technology is introduced in secure, isolated Linux containers.
This hybrid model reduces migration risk, cuts development costs, and enables companies to evolve their automation platforms at their own pace.
The Benefits at a Glance
- Protect existing software investments — Continue using Windows apps
- Add new services effortlessly — Install Linux-based apps via FLECS
- Launch your own Marketplace — Deliver, manage, and monetize your own software
- Save space and effort — Reduce hardware, energy, and maintenance costs
- Accelerate time-to-market — Deploy innovations without infrastructure friction
- Leverage 70+ pre-built apps — From cloud connectivity to edge AI
Ready for the Next Generation of Automation?
FLECS and acontis enable a forward-thinking automation architecture — built to support your current systems and future business models alike.
👉 Get in touch and start building your own app platform today.
acontis RTOSVisor: Type 1 Real-Time Hypervisor powered by FLECS
The acontis RTOSVisor, a type 1 hypervisor, is the perfect software solution for highly sophisticated use cases – especially when multiple, different operating systems with contrasting real-time requirements shall be consolidated onto one hardware system. The RTOSVisor is a perfect fit for artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, as well as for IIOT devices, edge controllers but also ideal for high-performance real-time workload consolidation.
