Chipmaker IDT has revised the free Linux distribution for its MIPS-based “Interprise” embedded communications processors, which target a wide range of networking device applications. The distribution is now based on a preemptible 2.6-series Linux kernel and includes support for PCI Express and other advanced features, IDT says.

IDT first offered a royalty free Linux distribution and toolkit for its Interprise line in March, 2003. The company claims to be the first silicon vendor to deliver a distribution based on the Linux 2.6 kernel.

IDT says its new Linux 2.6 distro includes a preemptible kernel, ALSA (advanced Linux sound architecture) audio drivers, JFS (journaled file system), IPv6, and SCTP (stream control transmission protocol). It also supports PCI Express, an advanced bus standard supported by several chips in IDT's

The distribution also includes “application-specific development tools,” according to IDT, which claims it “completely redesigned” several aspects of the kernel in order to enable developers to add wireless chipsets, disk drive controllers, and other devices more easily.

IDT Director of Applications Upendra Kulkarni said, “We are committed to further developing and strengthening our software design and optimization competencies. Especially as we develop products that accelerate packet processing, we anticipate proliferation of this proficiency across our strategic product areas.”

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.