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DO-178C Software Partitioning and RTOS Audit Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for auditing software partitioning strategies and RTOS implementations in compliance with DO-178C guidelines for aerospace and defense avionics systems.

DO-178C Software Partitioning and RTOS Audit Checklist

by: audit-now
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About This Checklist

The DO-178C Software Partitioning and RTOS Audit Checklist is a critical tool for ensuring the integrity and safety of complex avionics systems in the aerospace and defense industry. This comprehensive checklist addresses the essential aspects of software partitioning and Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) implementation as specified in the DO-178C guidelines. By systematically evaluating the partitioning strategies and RTOS configuration, from resource allocation to inter-partition communication and scheduling, this checklist enables auditors and systems engineers to verify the robust separation of software components with different criticality levels. Proper partitioning and RTOS implementation are crucial for maintaining the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance in modern avionics systems, ultimately contributing to enhanced aviation safety and efficient certification processes.

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Industry

Aerospace and Defense

Standard

DO-178C - Software Considerations in Airborne Systems

Workspaces

Laboratories

Occupations

Systems Engineer
Software Architect
RTOS Specialist
Safety Engineer
Certification Expert
1
Is the RTOS implemented in accordance with DO-178C standards?

Select the compliance status.

To ensure that the RTOS meets the necessary safety and compliance standards for aerospace applications.
2
What is the complexity score of the software partitioning?

Provide a score from 1 (low complexity) to 5 (high complexity).

To evaluate the complexity of the software partitioning which may affect performance and safety.
Min: 1
Target: 3
Max: 5
3
Is the documentation for the software partitioning available and complete?

Indicate whether the documentation is available.

Documentation is essential for verifying compliance and for future audits.
4
What issues were identified during the audit of the RTOS implementation?

List any identified issues.

To track any non-compliance issues or areas for improvement.
5
Please provide your observations during the audit.

Enter your detailed observations.

To document any additional notes that may not be captured by the standard questions.
6
Is the software partitioning deemed adequate for the intended functions?

Select the adequacy status.

To assess whether the partitioning effectively supports the required safety and performance levels.
7
What is the maximum execution time for critical tasks in milliseconds?

Provide the maximum execution time in milliseconds.

To ensure critical tasks meet timing requirements for safety-critical applications.
Min: 0
Target: 200
Max: 500
8
When was the last review of the RTOS implementation conducted?

Select the date of the last review.

To track the frequency of reviews and ensure timely evaluations.
9
What risk assessment comments were noted during the audit?

Provide any relevant risk assessment comments.

To document any identified risks associated with the RTOS and software partitioning.
10
Does the RTOS comply with applicable safety standards?

Indicate compliance with safety standards.

To verify that all necessary safety standards are being adhered to for safe operation.
11
Is the RTOS meeting all specified real-time requirements for the application?

Select the compliance status regarding real-time requirements.

To ensure that the RTOS can handle real-time operations as required by the aerospace standards.
12
What is the percentage of memory utilization of the RTOS?

Provide the memory utilization percentage.

To evaluate whether the memory utilization falls within acceptable limits for performance and reliability.
Min: 0
Target: 75
Max: 100
13
When was the RTOS implementation completed?

Select the date and time of RTOS implementation.

To keep track of the implementation timeline for review and compliance purposes.
14
What are the findings from the evaluation of the RTOS implementation?

Enter all findings from the evaluation.

To provide detailed insights and observations derived from the evaluation process.
15
Is there a formal change management process in place for the RTOS?

Indicate whether a change management process exists.

To ensure that changes to the RTOS are managed properly to maintain integrity and compliance.
16
Are appropriate error handling mechanisms implemented in the RTOS?

Select the status of error handling mechanisms.

To verify that the RTOS has adequate error handling to ensure system reliability and safety.
17
What is the maximum latency measured for task switching in milliseconds?

Provide the maximum latency in milliseconds.

To ensure that task switching latency is within acceptable limits for real-time performance.
Min: 0
Target: 50
Max: 100
18
When is the next scheduled review of the RTOS performance?

Select the date for the next review.

To ensure that regular reviews are scheduled for ongoing compliance and performance evaluation.
19
What known limitations exist in the current RTOS implementation?

Describe any known limitations.

To document any limitations that could affect system performance or compliance.
20
Is there an audit trail available for changes made to the RTOS?

Indicate whether an audit trail is available.

To verify that an audit trail is maintained for tracking changes and ensuring accountability.
21
Have all safety-critical functions been verified in the RTOS?

Select the verification status of safety-critical functions.

To ensure that safety-critical functions are properly verified to meet compliance with safety standards.
22
What is the measured system availability percentage of the RTOS?

Provide the system availability percentage.

To evaluate whether the RTOS meets the required availability for operational safety.
Min: 0
Target: 99
Max: 100
23
When was the last maintenance performed on the RTOS?

Select the date and time of the last maintenance.

To track maintenance activities that impact the performance and reliability of the RTOS.
24
What recommendations for improvement were identified during the audit?

Enter any recommendations for improvement.

To provide actionable insights for enhancing the RTOS implementation and compliance.
25
Have all personnel involved in the RTOS implementation received proper training?

Indicate whether training compliance is met.

To ensure that all relevant staff are adequately trained to maintain compliance and safety.

FAQs

The primary focus is to ensure that software partitioning strategies and RTOS implementations in aerospace and defense applications comply with DO-178C guidelines, verifying robust separation of software components and deterministic system behavior.

Effective software partitioning ensures that software components of different criticality levels are isolated, preventing interference between partitions and containing potential faults, thereby enhancing the overall safety and reliability of avionics systems.

The checklist covers areas such as partition design and implementation, RTOS configuration, resource allocation, inter-partition communication mechanisms, scheduling and timing analysis, partition isolation verification, and RTOS certification evidence.

The audit should involve systems engineers, software architects, RTOS specialists, safety engineers, and certification experts to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the partitioning and RTOS implementation.

The audit should be performed during the system architecture design phase, revisited during detailed design and implementation, and verified again during integration testing. Additional audits may be necessary when significant changes are made to the system architecture or RTOS configuration.

Benefits

Ensures compliance with DO-178C software partitioning and RTOS requirements

Enhances system safety through robust separation of software components

Improves overall system reliability and deterministic behavior

Facilitates efficient resource utilization in complex avionics systems

Supports smoother certification processes for integrated modular avionics