If you develop real-time systems, Data Distribution Service (DDS) technology provides you with considerable benefits. It enables reliable data communications with low latency in distributed applications. Its API interface allows developers to write code that will work with any other compliant DDS implementation, facilitating interoperability. Utilizing the DDS standard, managed by the
Object Management Group (OMG), is the optimal choice for aerospace and defense applications, robotics, transportation, energy and other use cases involving high volumes of data requiring real-time communication.
Not All DDS Vendors Are Equal
As advantageous as using the DDS Protocol can be, there can be a financial downside, however, depending on the vendor you choose. Some vendors won’t commit to freezing pricing throughout the term of your project. Others charge by the feature. You also need to understand whether pricing includes support and if the vendor can be flexible about adjusting the number of licenses you need during your project.
Pricing transparency allows you to calculate total cost of ownership (TCO) associated with using the product and conduct an apples-to-apples comparison of vendor pricing. Without a crystal-clear picture of the vendor’s pricing model, it’s impossible to accurately budget for your project and control costs.
Of course, pricing isn’t the only factor you need to take into consideration when choosing a DDS vendor. You should also vet vendors based on the investments they make in product development and platform support — rather than choosing a vendor interested in only providing services. It’s wise as well to investigate the risk that the vendor could be acquired, which could alter the services that are available to you and mean you have to develop relationships with new contacts.
It’s also smart to review a list of the clients, read testimonies, and even speak to developer and engineers, if possible, to understand what you can expect when working with the vendor. A proven track record with Global 500 customers can assure you that the vendor has the ability to support your team and your project.
Vortex DDS Benefits
When companies compare DDS vendors, ADLINK comes out on top for a variety of reasons.
ADLINK’s Vortex DDS has industry-leading features such as shared memory architecture that enables network scheduling based on importance and urgency of the data — ideal for IoT applications. Additionally, Vortex DDS is the only DDS implementation that provides full support for maintaining historical data, which is essential for fault-tolerant systems.
Vortex DDS clients also have the advantage of end-to-end solution capabilities through ADLINK’s rugged embedded hardware, machine vision, and AI offerings. Additionally, ADLINK clients benefit from the company’s extensive partner ecosystem that includes AWS, Google, Microsoft Azure, Intel, and FogHorn.
ADLINK is proven across a full range of vertical markets, including:
- Aerospace and Defense
- Energy
- Robotics
- Healthcare
- Transportation
- Automotive
- Industrial Automation
Total cost of ownership is a tally in the plus column for Vortex DDS clients. The platform is designed to reduce costs associated with developing, integrating, and maintaining distributed systems. Using Vortex DDS can save up to 50 percent of development time compared to other types of middleware. ADLINK’s transparent pricing structure — with no hidden fees or costs based on feature — also assures clients of cost certainty. All product features are included in Vortex DDS licenses.
One indicator that companies are recognizing that ADLINK provides the lowest TCO and most transparent pricing is the increase in companies migrating from other DDS implementations to ADLINK’s Vortex DDS.
A Migration Process with Ease
Vortex DDS is built on the OMG’s open standards enabling application portability, interoperability, and component re-use. Because Data Distribution Service is vendor agnostic, it’s easy to migrate your DDS implementation. The DDS Protocol includes API definitions specially designed to help speed up your porting process. Also, because DDS is a platform-independent model, it means the structure of code will translate unchanged if you migrate to a different vendor.
Although migrating to a new platform is an inherent advantage of DDS, ADLINK makes it even easier. When you choose Vortex DDS, our professional services team will perform an architecture and migration review to ensure a successful migration.
To learn more about why companies are migrating to ADLINK— as well as the benefits and cost-savings that result —
download this one-page report.
If you’re ready to use Vortex DDS, download a
30-day no-cost trial, and contact us at
ist_info@adlinktech.com to get migration underway.