Intel Introducing USB4STREAM Protocol For Linux - Opening Up Some Nifty Uses For USB4
An exciting Intel innovation expected to be added for the upcoming Linux 7.2 kernel is introducing the new USB4STREAM protocol for USB4/Thunderbolt as a "super simple" way to "basically just transfer raw packets from one host to another". This can be useful for quickly backing up a system from one host to another, sharing of web cameras or other peripherals across systems, or other environments where not having networking or wanting to avoid the traditional Linux networking stack...
The introduction of USB4STREAM is a natural evolution given the increasing bandwidth and capabilities of USB4/Thunderbolt, enabling more direct and efficient data transfer between devices without traditional networking overheads.
This new protocol streamlines data sharing and system interaction through USB4/Thunderbolt, offering performance benefits and new user experiences for quick backups and peripheral sharing across diverse computing environments.
Direct host-to-host packet transfer through USB4/Thunderbolt becomes significantly simpler, bypassing traditional networking stacks for specific use cases and potentially improving the efficiency and security of certain operations.
- · Intel
- · Linux ecosystem
- · Peripheral manufacturers
- · Power users
- · Traditional networking solutions for niche use cases
- · Vendors reliant on complex network configurations
The immediate effect will be simplified, high-speed data transfer and peripheral sharing between systems connected via USB4.
This could lead to innovative tethered computing arrangements or 'ad-hoc clusters' for specialized tasks that benefit from ultra-low latency direct links.
Long-term, it may foster new hardware product categories that leverage direct, high-bandwidth USB4 connections as a primary inter-device communication method, potentially blurring the lines between standalone devices and distributed systems.
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