NVIDIA's Approach for Achieving ASIL B Qualified Linux

Explore NVIDIA's comprehensive approach to qualifying Linux for safety-critical automotive applications in this 42-minute conference talk from the Linux Foundation. Discover how to achieve ASIL B certification for Linux systems according to ISO 26262:2018 standards, covering the complete Linux ecosystem including the kernel, user space libraries like libc, and user-space components such as init processes. Learn about treating Linux as a Safety Element out of Context (SEooC) within a defined architecture that supports specific safety use cases. Understand the methodology for addressing kernel safety functions and technical safety requirements designed to mitigate kernel-related hazards in automotive environments. Examine the implementation of additional safety measures through both avoidance and monitoring mechanisms, which can be deployed within the Linux kernel itself or as external components. Gain insights into how this strategic approach allows qualification efforts to focus on specific kernel areas or preferably external components, rather than requiring certification of the entire kernel, making Linux viable for safety-critical automotive applications while maintaining the benefits of open-source technology.

Syllabus

This talk presents a safety integrity qualification approach for Linux—comprising the Linux kernel, user space libraries e.g. libc, and user-space components e.g. init processes—up to ASIL B per ISO 26218. Linux is treated as a SEooC within an assumed architecture supporting defined safety use cases. These use cases address kernel safety functions and technical safety requirements designed to mitigate kernel-related hazards.