MOST network interface controllers now support Linux

According to IHS, Linux will lead the estimated 130m unit In-Vehicle-Infotainment (IVI) market with a 41.3% share (53.7m units) by 2020. The growth of Linux adoption is in part because it provides automotive designers with an open-source platform that allows them to maximise the reuse of existing work, while making their own incremental improvements. The combination of MOST technology and Linux can meet the increasing complexity of IVI and ADAS, accelerating development via open-source software and the automotive-industry-proven MOST networking technology.

The MOST network technology is a Time-Division-Multiplexing (TDM) network that transports different data types on separate channels at low latency and high quality-of-service. Microchip’s MOST network interface controllers provide separate hardware interfaces for different data types. The company's new Linux driver enables easy and harmonised access to all data types. All MOST network data types are accessible via the regular device nodes of the Linux virtual file system. Additionally, high-quality and multi-channel synchronous audio data can be seamlessly delivered by the advanced Linux sound system architecture subsystem.

Dan Termer, Vice President, Automotive Information Systems Division, Microchip, commented: “Microchip is excited to contribute to AGL’s success, by sharing our long-term and in-depth MOST networking experience. Our new MOST technology Linux driver enables developers to utilise the proven, automotive-standard MOST network technology in a Linux environment, which will further accelerate innovation for ADAS and infotainment systems.”

“A fast and reliable network infrastructure is necessary for us to achieve the promise of the connected car,” added Dan Cauchy, general manager of automotive, The Linux Foundation. “To integrate this into the architecture for an open, common automotive platform will benefit the global car market. We’re excited for Microchip to bring this expertise to AGL so we can think holistically about how the car and all its components can work seamlessly together.”

Support is available for beta customers today, via a beta version of Microchip’s modular Linux driver, and the full version is expected for broad release in October.