Slashdot Mirror
Are There Alternatives to UPnP?
semanticgap asks: "I am thinking of putting together a PC based home entertainment system (media server in the basement talking to various computers around the house and controllable via some sort of a remote control device, etc.) as a fun project with emphasis on writing software. I've been reading up on the current state of affairs, and it looks like the protocol for this sort of a thing is UPnP (Universal Plug-n-Pray). It seems to provide all the functionality I want, but I don't like the fact that it is developed by Microsoft, nor do I like it in general - it relies heavily on things like UUID's, HTTPMU and other Microsoft-ish hacks. So I thought I'd ask Slashdot community - is UPnP going to gain acceptance, or are there alternatives to it?"
http://developer.apple.com/macosx/rendezvous/j ini/
http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/products/
The fact the uPnP is being thrust upon the world by Microsoft guarantees that it will be a winning "standard" (gag). Already it is widely deployed on Win2k and XP and as these system's market penetration continues, after a while everyone will have it.
You, however, asked if there are alternatives. Of course there are. None will likely have the market penetration that uPnP will have but a possibly strong contender will be Apple's Rendevzous, recently announced here on Slashdot. It uses Apple's "Open Source" license.
There are no alternatives, you dumbass. It's universal plug and play.
Also note that MS isn't the only folks supplying UPnP, Intel also developed a lot which is now Open Sourced.
Rendevous & Zeroconf information:
-
IETF Zero Configuration Networking (Zeroconf) Group
-
IETF Zeroconf on Apple Rendezvous and Zeroconf
-
Apple's Customer-pitch for Rendezvous
-
Apple's Developer-pitch for Rendezvous
Here's an earlier Apple implementation called SLP (RFC 2608) also used by Novell:Finally, for completeness here is UPnP:
I don't read ACs: If a post isn't worth so much as a nom de plume to its author then I wont bother either.
Jini is a java based service delivery system that is a great alternative to UPnP. I'm currently working on a network based music player so I can play mp3's on my home stereo and control it from anywhere with a web browser.
First, let me address UPnP and Microsoft. Yes, UPnP was originally conceived by MS, and MS has written themselves onto the steering committee forever. However, the UPnP membership agreement precludes any member from owning the technology outright, and says that anyone who offers technology to the forum must do so without encumberance. Even Microsoft. UPnP is NOT proprietary to MS.
Second, the technology. Everything in UPnP can be had for free. We've developed (and are successfully selling) two UPnP protocol stacks, one in ANSI C and one in Java. This was all home-grown, and we didn't need to license anything from anyone except the UPnP forum.
As mentioned before to use the technology, you need to be a UPnP Forum member. Membership is free, and the only real restriction is that anything you suggest for inclusion be done so without encumberance. Anyone can join. If you join, and don't want to donate technology, then don't bring it up. It's as easy as that.
The underlying standards are either pre-existing standards or build by the UPnP Forum. A case in point is Auto-IP, which does the ad-hoc network configuration. It's based on an IETF draft (draft-ietf-ipv4-autoconfig-05), which was originally authored by someone at Apple. I wouldn't be too surprised if it's very similar to Auto-IP. It's too bad that Apple didn't get involved earlier, we'd only have one uniform way to do this, instead of two Again, this isn't a MS invention.
There are a lot of UPnP implementations available. Intel did indeed provide a GPL protocol stack that you can download from their site. It builds on Linux nicely, and give you sample apps, etc. We have our two stacks that will begin appearing in cheap applicances Real Soon Now (tm) thanks to our silicon-builder-friends.
Alternatives to UPnP? Not really, at least not in one place. Many folks who responded to this message address only the Auto-IP part, where the box gets its IP address (FYI, Auto-IP on a net with DHCP is pretty much just DHCP). What they're missing is the juice of UPnP, where there's a protocol for device discovery and control. All the control and discovery is without any a-priori knowlege or configuration! (N.b., UPnP and Plug&Play are entirely different beasts: UPnP is on a network, Plug&Play and Kudzu are a single box)
E.g., your UPnP PVR is on a net with your UPnP phone (they're both coming). They know about each other, thanks to UPnP. Phone rings, PVR pauses automatically and puts up caller ID. You pick up the phone, talk, hang up, PVR starts again. Your washing machine tells you it's time to switch the load over, not only on the TV, but on your UPnP Zaurus or iPaq (reality today), or perhaps your electronic picture frame. You want to listen to your MP3 library from your home server. Easy. Your iPaq, Zaurus, stereo receiver, anything, knows in advance how to search for media sources, get a list of titles available, and start spooling it down. Click and go.
Our demos are much, much cooler than that even, but I don't know how much I can say.
To answer your question, sure there are alternatives, but they're in many disjoint parts. I'd suggest getting Intel's kit, and playing with it, seeing what you can do with it. Whether you do that, or play with disjoint parts, you'll be experimenting, but UPnP will take off fairly soon now.
He said Rendezvous, not DNS. Rendezvous is based on the DNS protocol, to create an unmanaged DNS solution.
-BrentHash your device boot time plus a random delay.
-I like my women like I like my tea: green-
From your recommendation it appears you have no clue what Universal Plug and Play even is.
WTF!!!!!!
What the hell is Linux 8.0
Linux "numbering schemes" are a pile of marketing crap, made up by the distribution peoplel.
And if you bought a Banshee new then you are even more or a git than your "Linux 8.0" comment makes you out to be - I got one of those new about 3 years ago.
Why dont you go and learn what you are talking about before posting.
Linux isn't about version numbers, if anything the distributions should be numbered after the Kernel.
Besides running Debian as I do, I dont run ANY kind of version, I have the apps I need, the kernal I need and it works - who cares if its Linux XP or whatever.
Just keep telling yourself that. A commodity 2ghz PC costs around 500 - 700$. A "top quality" pc costs 1000 - 1500$.
Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley
Why is it people think you can' upgrade imacs?
I even hear people say you can't upgrade powermacs, which is totally absurd.
Medal of Honor on my lowly iMac G4 runs at least 30fps at max resolution and with all the effects turned on. I really doubt that his experience is suffering on a nicer machine (And certainly not compared to a PC- the graphics card does all the work.) If he's getting 60fps instead of 80fps, then its silly to complain- you can't perceive more than about 30 fps anyway.
If he wanted a Ti video card, he could have bought one. I don't see what the big deal is-- PC weenies seem to think that you can't put a different video card in a mac.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23
I've never had MOHAA crash on me.
I love how you're telling me how UT2k3 won't run fast on a Mac -=- this is a game that isn't even out yet.
You're just expressing your bigotry. You don't know how UT will perform.
Macs, generally, are faster and a bit cheaper than PCs. Even for gaming.
Yeah, and you guys panned the ipod too: http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/23