MuNAS: A Network Audio System for Linux-based Thin-Client Systems

[Gwan-Hwan Hwang \(黃冠寰\)]

The MuNAS solves the problem that the X Window system does not support the transformation of audio data. It makes the thin-client/server computing model in Linux be capable of executing multimedia applications. The audio data generated by Open Sound System (OSS/Free ) compatible audio applications which are executed in the terminal server can be transferred to X-terminals. The MuNAS is designed and developed for the thin-client system. With MuNAS installed, you can execute multimedia applications in the terminal server and listen for the sound from your X-terminal. Otherwise, these applications must be executed mutely in the thin-client architecture of Unix.  It is designed to work on multi-user operating systems: several users can activate the network audio system by executing their own audio applications in the same computer ( terminal server) and their audio data can be forwarded to different computers (X-terminals) simultaneously.  Existing audio applications do not need to be modified or recompiled, and no additional audio libraries are required.  The program is not restricted to any special form of audio data format or device type; i.e., the audio applications can arbitrarily define their own audio data formats and device types according to OSS/Free. The architecture of the MuNAS allows the audio mixing of audio data from different processes of a user. The current version of MuNAS does not provide this function. The MuNAS will support it in the future version. The MuNAS performs well, as indicated by its ability to send stereo, 16-bit, 44.1-kHz linear audio data to forty users in the same Linux terminal server simultaneously.   For more detailed information about the MuNAS, please connect to http://www.advancedthintech.com. Regards, Gwan-Hwan Hwang Advanced Thin-Client Technologies, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.advancedthintech.com