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2024-11-21 - 21:25

Dates and Events:

OSADL Articles:

2024-10-02 12:00

Linux is now an RTOS!

PREEMPT_RT is mainline - What's next?


2023-11-12 12:00

Open Source License Obligations Checklists even better now

Import the checklists to other tools, create context diffs and merged lists


2023-03-01 12:00

Embedded Linux distributions

Results of the online "wish list"


2022-01-13 12:00

Phase #3 of OSADL project on OPC UA PubSub over TSN successfully completed

Another important milestone on the way to interoperable Open Source real-time Ethernet has been reached


2021-02-09 12:00

Open Source OPC UA PubSub over TSN project phase #3 launched

Letter of Intent with call for participation is now available



Real Time Linux Workshops

1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011 - 2012 - 2013 - 2014 - 2015

Twelfth Real-Time Linux Workshop on October 25 to 27, in Nairobi, Kenya

The basis for Real-Time Ethernet protocols in Linux

Thomas Gleixner and Sebastian Siewior, Linutronix GmbH, Germany

Even if the latest PREEMPT_RT patched Linux kernel is used, the network stack can inflict unbound latencies on real-time Ethernet protocols due to:

  • Socket buffer allocations
  • Traffic congestion with non real-time traffic

In a proof-of-concept implementation, the following mechanisms are used
to overcome the above limitations:

  • Generic preallocated socket buffer pools
  • Protocol-specific traffic policing and traffic shaping

This approach is minimally invasive to the network stack and has zero impact when the real-time protocol related functions are not enabled:

  • Network card drivers require no or minimal changes to support preallocated buffer pools
  • Traffic control is modular and only loaded and enabled when required
  • No restriction on network tools and network functionality

The paper does not cover the complex user space part of real-time Ethernet protocols.