COMMERCIAL OFF-THE-SHELF (COTS)

Implementation of commercially available technologies for

traditionally customized applications
Examples:
Military
Industrial
Space
Applies to Hardware and/or Software

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Examples:
Software:
Operating Systems (UNIX, Windows/NT, OS2)
Databases (Oracle, Sybase)
Graphics Packages (Motif, ??)
Hardware:
Busses (VME, PCI, cPCI)
Processors (Motorola, HP, Sun, Intel)
Disk Drives (Western Digital, Red Rock)
Peripherals (Printers, Monitors, Keyboards, etc.)

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COTS vs. Custom

Advantages:
Cheaper (large quantity production)
General Purpose (more flexible for different applications)
Shortens design-to-production cycles
Large user base generally uncovers design defects early
Provides current technology solutions
Emerging technology tends to be backward compatible with
legacy products (allows solutions to advance with
technology)
Avoids binding solution to single hardware/software source

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COTS vs. Custom
Disadvantages:
May not be suitable for all applications:
Highly deterministic performance may require special operating system
Environmental constraints (temperature, radiation exposure, corrosive exposure)
Packaging (size, weight, shape)
Reliability:
May not meet reliability requirements of mission critical systems (flight control, weapons
direction, medical equipment)
Obsolescence:
COTS binds user to market trends - critical components may become unavailable and
impossible to reproduce

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Examples where COTS has replaced traditional (custom) systems

Space Shuttle (non mission-critical systems)

Missile Guidance systems
Military ground based and shipboard sensors (radar, sonar)
Industrial control and monitoring systems
telecommunications
Air traffic control

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Issues and Considerations when using COTS

Supporting, maintaining, and upgrading systems with long life-cycles
(10+years)
Licensing and Data Rights
COTS Software is usually distributed under license (a per-user fee is
typical)
COTS documentation is normally copyrighted - distribution as part of
another product usually requires special arrangements and a copy fee
Software source code and designs for hardware are usually
proprietary and protected by copyright or patent - even after it is no
longer distributed