Beta! | About us | Contact | RSS	Webspace | Tech docs | Downloads | BBC Micro | Gallery | Wallpaper

USB ethernet driver in development Published: 24th Jun 2006, 22:37:34. Could offer support for USB cable modems [Updated] Using an ethernet network over USB on RISC OS will be possible thanks to a new driver in development. Programmer James Peacock has produced a USB Ethernet driver module, and says he will open source it. USB Ethernet devices basically allow computers to turn a USB port into a network socket. The Avalanche VNC client author said: "I have my USB ethernet driver functioning at last - I can browse drobe.co.uk and so on." James, an Iyonix owner, has written his software for the Castle USB stack, and it should support a chipset found in most USB ethernet products. His work paves the way for support for USB-only cable and ADSL modems, used for high speed Internet access. He said: "The driver will currently talk to a AX88172 chip which supports 10Mb or 100Mb, although the best I've managed is about 20Mb so far and this was intermittent. "It has been written to allow different 'backends' to be added to support other hardware - most of the Network DCI and USB ickyness is done now, so adding support for other chips should be relatively easy; CDC ethernet (as specified by the USB people and used by some cable modems) would seem high one the list." The driver module still requires some tidying up and a few USB issues need resolving, according to James, who believes a public release 'make take a while'. He added: "This chip is used in loads of devices apparently, though I've only tested it with a SiteCom part. It currently works fairly reliably - I used it for a couple of days instead of my on-board ethernet." Update at 14:47 1/7/2006 The software driver is now available with source code from the website link below. Links James's website Discussion Viewing threaded comments | View comments unthreaded, listed by date A version supporting he Simtec stack woud be nice sa110 on 25/6/06 12:10AM [ Reply | Report ] Nice to see another development and added functionality. Well done to James. What would be nice is the ability to use a USB Wireless LAN device so I could network my Iyonix through it. I know other things exist like the Wireless Access points and the Wireless Over power devices but in my opinion it would be better to have a USB device. Also if there was a Simtec stack version the addition of a USB Wireless device would make it even more portable. bluenose on 25/6/06 10:01AM [ Reply | Report ] A very useful development indeed, well done James. AMS on 25/6/06 3:50PM [ Reply | Report ] bluenose> STD have a USB wi-fi device: [link] (Simtec stack only though, it appears) After their second talk at Wakefield 06 Matt (I think) explained that the experience of developing the USB wi-fi devices for RISC OS had made them wary about doing the same for USB Bluetooth - the core chips are proprietory and can get changed without warning, so months of developent is suddenly wiped out and required once more for devices which have the same appearence and part number. Hence the apparently expensive USB wi-fi dongles currently available. Bought in bulk to reduce the per-unit price, now taking up shelf space but too expensive from initial costs and developent time to cut the price and clear out (once STD's stock is gone they're unlikely to get more). cleminan2 on 27/6/06 12:39AM [ Reply | Report ] A shame to hear about the troubles experienced by STD. I was hoping we would see more development along those lines perhaps adding WPA support and faster speeds. A wireless dongle is certainly an appealing option when considering how to network your A9! JohnB on 27/6/06 5:45PM [ Reply | Report ] It's been tricky enough getting this working with one API, let alone another one, and performance is still lacking. Maybe someone with more experience of both APIs could comment on the feesibility. In EtherUSB, the pipes are fairly well abstracted, but opening them isn't, neither are enumeration of devices/device descriptors and device addition or removal. jamesp on 28/6/06 12:45AM [ Reply | Report ] Please login before posting a comment. Use the form on the right to do so or create a free account.

Login Username Password Create a new account Forgot your password? Search this website Featured articles South East 2008 show round up News from the event in the south of the UK  42 comments, latest by diomus on 9/11/08 8:45PM. Published: 19 Oct 2008 NetSurf bags GBP10K investment from Google Four uni coders lined up to improve web browser  33 comments, latest by rjek on 27/04/08 1:01PM. Published: 21 Apr 2008 Click right on with RISC OS Martin Hansen runs through a few useful desktop tricks you may not be aware of  14 comments, latest by DS1 on 27/3/08 1:13PM. Published: 22 Mar 2008 Useful links News and media: Iconbar • MyRISCOS • ArcSite • RISCOScode • ANS • C.S.A.Announce • Archive • Qercus • RiscWorld • GAG-News Top developers: RISC OS Open • RISC OS Ltd • MW Software • R-Comp • Advantage Six • VirtualAcorn Dealers: CJE Micros • APDL • Castle • a4 • X-Ample • Liquid Silicon • Webmonster Usergroups: WROCC • RONE • NKACC • IRUG • SASAUG • ROUGOL • RONWUG • MUG Useful: RISCOS.org • RISCOS.info • Filebase • NetSurf Non-RISC OS: The Register • The Inquirer • Apple Insider • BBC News • Sky News • Google News • xkcd • diodesign

Recently logged in:  lym •  rjek •  ninja •  JohnR •  SimonC •  IvanDobski •  bucksboy •  jlavallin •  jess •  druck •  Stats
© 1999-2008 The Drobe Team. Some rights reserved, click here for more information | Powered by MiniDrobeCMS, based on J4U
"Thanks for leaving out a significant part of my statement. Is that the standard of journalism we can expect from Drobe?"
Page generated in 0.1249 seconds.