Biometric specialist Veridicom has delivered core support for its FPS200 fingerprint reader under Linux, and is working to add Linux middleware and end-user applications to its product portfolio. Initial core support comprises a commandline SDK (software development kit) aimed at enterprise and embedded Linux developers.

According to VP of Strategic Development Cameron Adams, Veridicom's product strategy encompasses hardware, drivers, middleware, and application software for both logical and physical security devices. On the physical side, Adams hopes to see the company's sensors in small embedded Linux systems that control door access and security gates. On the logical side, the company is initially targeting enterprise servers running:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 3, Update2, kernel 2.4.21-15.EL
• RHEL 3, kernel 2.4.21-4.EL
• Red Hat 8, kernel 2.4.15
• Red Hat 7.3, kernel 2.4.5
• Slackware 9.1, kernel 2.4.22
• SuSE 8.1, kernel 2.4.19-4GB
• Sun SuSE 8.1, kernel 2.4.19-4GB

The Veridicom Linux SDK works with free binary drivers available for the platforms listed above. Additionally, the company is interested in working directly with embedded Linux developers, Adams says, to create binary kernel drivers that work with the highly customized Linux kernels typically found in embedded systems. The company is also evaluating a driver source-code licensing strategy, according to Adams.

Adams says that Veridicom decided to offer binary drivers and an SDK in order to better support its customers using Linux. “We had worked with some members of the open source community, initially, and there is a SourceForge project working on a driver that supports our products. However, feedback from customers revealed some problems related to image quality. We realized that unless we're offering a product or service, we couldn't provide a good support mechanism [for our products under Linux].”

According to Adams, the Linux SDK provides matching and extraction algorithms, along with documentation explaining how to best put the algorithms to use. The commandline-based Linux SDK hosts on Linux systems. Veridicom also offers free Windows drivers, and a graphical Windows-hosted SDK that, in time, it may port to Linux, Adams said.

According to Adams, the SDK is “just the tip of the iceberg” in terms of Veridicom's plans to support Linux. “We have delivered the core functionality. From there, we'll begin to provide some of the additional middleware and end-user applications for the markets we're going after.”

CEO Paul Mann adds, “Veridicom plans support for all of our products in the Linux environment, and support for the 2.6 kernel in the coming months.”

Veridicom's Linux SDK costs $1,700 exclusive of maintenance releases, and is available now. Future releases will support additional Veridicom products, the company says. The SDK comes with limited technical support, and Veridicom is currently expanding customer self-support resources, such as FAQs.

 
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