What is most4linux?
most4linux provides a Linux kernel driver for MOST PCI interfaces and userspace programs to test the driver.The driver can be compiled for Linux 2.6 or for the RTDM which works for the realtime extensions RTAI and Xenomai.
It also provides a NetServices adaptation layer for the Linux operating system.
The driver was developed at Siemens CT SE 2 with friendly support by OASIS Silicon Systems/SMSC.
What is MOST?
MOST stands for Media Oriented
System Transport and is an Infotainment Bus for automotive systems.
Originally, it was developed by OASIS Silicon Systems.
It's a serial bus system to transfer audio, video and data signals over a plastic optic fiber connection.
- hot-plugging capabilities,
- synchronous data transfers,
- asynchronous data transfers,
- and transfer of control data.
What are MOST NetServices?
The MOST NetServices Application Programming Interface (API) provides a software interface to the MOST Network low level system services. MOST NetServices provides access to all data transportation mechanisms on a MOST Network, while at the same time ensuring compatibility with the MOST Specification.It was developed by OASIS Silicon Systems as platform independent C source code provided as a library.
Because the copyrights for the source code are held by OASIS, this project does not provide the NetServices API. So only an adaptation layer to the Linux operating system is provided. Of course providing a NetServices adaptation layer makes no sense without the NetServices API, but in case you have purchased a license from OASIS Silicon Systems, you are able to use it with most4linux. If you haven't already purchased a license, most4linux also provides program samples to use this driver without the NetServices API.
What comes with most4linux?
The most4linux package consists of- the Linux kernel driver itself, compilable for a standard Linux kernel 2.6 or for Linux kernel 2.6 with the RTAI or the Xenomai realtime extension,
- the NetServices adaptation layer for the Linux operating system,
- example programs which should demonstrate how to use the driver without MOST NetServices.
- a most-base driver module, which functions as a framework, where low-level and high-level drivers could be registered and deregistered,
- a most-pci driver module (low-level driver), which provides the raw hardware access to the MOST PCI card OS8604,
- a most-sync driver module (high-level driver), over which synchronous data can be transfered to the MOST network by userspace applications,
- a most-nets driver module (high-level driver), which provides an interface to userspace applications, which want to read/write registers of the MOST hardware (e.g. for network initialization tasks),
- and a most-alsa driver module (high-level driver), which can be used by applications to write and read data from or to the MOST network, using the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture framework.
Is there support for transfer of asynchronous data?
Not yet. Currently the implemented part includes transfer of synchronous data and control data.How can I use this driver package without MOST NetServices?
There are 4 examples provided by this package, which show how this driver can be used without the MOST NetServices API:- an example which shows how synchronized data can be received
- an example which shows how synchronized data can be transmitted
- an example which shows how control data can be transfered
- an example which shows how to use the most4linux driver in conjunction with the ALSA sound framework
Which licenses are used for most4linux?
most4linux is distributed under the following licenses:- the kernel driver is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 2.
- all userspace example programs and the NetServices adaptation layer are published under the terms of the Mozilla Public License version 1.1.
