The Crossbeam XOS™ software software represents a foundational element of unique capability for the Next Generation Security Platform. This software architecture is founded on a Symmetrical Multi-Processor (SMP) Linux kernel operating system which has been custom hardened for the secure processing of network flows. This assures the inclusion of the complete suite of functionality available for the Linux systems, while meeting the specific needs of high availability security applications.

Within the XOS software, secure flow processing provides wire-speed flow and packet classification through user-defined security services policies, active management of data flows through various security applications, and load balancing with “state” maintained for firewalls and content gateways. This manages how the flows pass from ingress through various applications, one after the other, until egress. This unique technology can also manage transitions between Layer 2 and Layer 3 applications, as well as Layer 2 to Layer 2, and Layer 3 to Layer 3.

Additional capabilities include native virtualization and clustering where pre-hardened OS images can be dynamically applied to any application blades, automated distribution of applications and configuration data can be applied to multiple computing modules, and virtualized clustering and application redundancy can be easily scaled. Also embedded within the XOS software are numerous high reliability and self-healing capabilities, enabling a highly available system.