New Version of Linux1394 Delivers Significant Design Benefits and Advantages for Industrial, Instrumentation, Camera Applications

Revisions and enhancements to Linux1394 will provide significant advantages to developers of industrial and security cameras, vision systems, and other innovative applications based on 1394b, also known as FireWire800.

The enhancements include automatic bandwidth allocation for isochronous (real-time) data transmission in case of bus resets.  All re-allocations are now handled within the kernel so developers do not need extensive knowledge of, nor experience with, these requirements.  Client programs no longer need to implement reallocation in their bus reset handling, and in many applications can get rid of bus reset handlers.  Isochronous resources are reliably released at client program shutdown. 

Other improvements enable accurate packet reception timestamps, and 100 percent correct determination of maximum bus speeds even with intermediary hops with limited bandwidth.  This capability, previously exclusive to kernel-level drivers, is now accessible to Linux libraries and application programs and enables full interoperability with advanced 1394b equipment, notably long haul interconnects. 

The latest Linux1394 releases are libraw1394 v2.0.2 and libdc1394 v2.1.2.  The latest version of the Linux kernel is Version 2.6.30.

“The Linux community's goal with our 1394 drivers and libraries is to provide an OS platform with robust support of the latest 1394 specifications, high performance, and great compatibility with the wide range of available 1394 equipment,” said Dr. Stefan Richter, who maintains the 1394 kernel subsystem.   “With the latest releases of drivers and libraries, Linux' 1394 programming interfaces have become more powerful and also a lot easier to work with, especially for 1394b and IIDC/ DCAM based video acquisition in industrial and research settings.”