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1 | Linux X.25 Project | ||
2 | |||
3 | As my third year dissertation at University I have taken it upon myself to | ||
4 | write an X.25 implementation for Linux. My aim is to provide a complete X.25 | ||
5 | Packet Layer and a LAPB module to allow for "normal" X.25 to be run using | ||
6 | Linux. There are two sorts of X.25 cards available, intelligent ones that | ||
7 | implement LAPB on the card itself, and unintelligent ones that simply do | ||
8 | framing, bit-stuffing and checksumming. These both need to be handled by the | ||
9 | system. | ||
10 | |||
11 | I therefore decided to write the implementation such that as far as the | ||
12 | Packet Layer is concerned, the link layer was being performed by a lower | ||
13 | layer of the Linux kernel and therefore it did not concern itself with | ||
14 | implementation of LAPB. Therefore the LAPB modules would be called by | ||
15 | unintelligent X.25 card drivers and not by intelligent ones, this would | ||
16 | provide a uniform device driver interface, and simplify configuration. | ||
17 | |||
18 | To confuse matters a little, an 802.2 LLC implementation for Linux is being | ||
19 | written which will allow X.25 to be run over an Ethernet (or Token Ring) and | ||
20 | conform with the JNT "Pink Book", this will have a different interface to | ||
21 | the Packet Layer but there will be no confusion since the class of device | ||
22 | being served by the LLC will be completely separate from LAPB. The LLC | ||
23 | implementation is being done as part of another protocol project (SNA) and | ||
24 | by a different author. | ||
25 | |||
26 | Just when you thought that it could not become more confusing, another | ||
27 | option appeared, XOT. This allows X.25 Packet Layer frames to operate over | ||
28 | the Internet using TCP/IP as a reliable link layer. RFC1613 specifies the | ||
29 | format and behaviour of the protocol. If time permits this option will also | ||
30 | be actively considered. | ||
31 | |||
32 | A linux-x25 mailing list has been created at vger.kernel.org to support the | ||
33 | development and use of Linux X.25. It is early days yet, but interested | ||
34 | parties are welcome to subscribe to it. Just send a message to | ||
35 | majordomo@vger.kernel.org with the following in the message body: | ||
36 | |||
37 | subscribe linux-x25 | ||
38 | end | ||
39 | |||
40 | The contents of the Subject line are ignored. | ||
41 | |||
42 | Jonathan | ||
43 | |||
44 | g4klx@g4klx.demon.co.uk | ||