Linux

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Craziest/most "exotic" devices able to run Linux? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

74 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Something like a thermostat or a smart fridge -- have you seen any? If so, please share with a video or two.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

managed switches run Linux as I generally would think that at those data rates they'd need something closer to the metal

They might be running userspace networking

https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/userspace-networking-dpdk

Also hard drives. No, not like that.

https://spritesmods.com/?art=hddhack&page=1

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It doesn't have as much to do with where the network stack is running, but that they're leveraging hardware offloading. Their CPUs generally aren't powerfull enough to switch packets at gigabit speeds let alone on many interfaces at gigabit or multi-gig speeds. Its by leveraging ASICs and maybe even some using FPGAs for hardware offload that they can switch packets at line rate. I understand how they do it, I still just find it kind of weird and cool.

I didn't list HDDs as someone else had mentioned that already. I was just listing a few devices that weren't mentioned in other comments yet.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Both really, you can't fully offload to hardware if your kernel still requires an interrupt to pass the payload. That hardware most likely has userspace drivers.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Oh yeah, didn't even think about that. Isn't using userspace network pretty common these days anyway?