LiS 2.18.4 Released

Description: OpenSS7 Old News.

Approved for Immediate Release

Jan 8, 2007
OpenSS7 today announced Release 2.18.4 of the Linux STREAMS LiS package.

(Edmonton, Alberta -- Jan 8, 2007)   OpenSS7 today announced Release 2.18.4 of the Linux STREAMS LiS package. The `OpenSS7 Linux STREAMS (LiS)' package is an OpenSS7 modified version of the `LiS-2.18' package formerly from `GCOM', and formerly maintained by David Grothe .

Note: The original LiS package from `GCOM' is no longer actively maintained by either `GCOM' or the `OpenSS7 Project': use the `OpenSS7 Linux Fast-STREAMS' package <`http://www.openss7.org/STREAMS.html'> instead.

The following are claims made by its authors and original maintainer:

The `OpenSS7 Modified Linux STREAMS (LiS)' package is as "STREAMS" framework that is compatible with "SVR 4 STREAMS". It has lots of debugging features not found in other "STREAMS" packages. Good to do networking and other things. It allows for installation of binary drivers.

`Linux STREAMS (LiS)' aims to provide `SVR 4' compatible "STREAMS" implementation for `Linux' and claims to have special debugging facilities; however, the package suffers from the major failings that it is:

• no longer maintained;
• full of bugs;
• incompatible with POSIX;
• implements SVR 4 STREAMS rather than the more popular SVR 4.2 MP/ES STREAMS;
• portions dubiously licensed under the LGPL;
• unsuitable for mainline adoption;
• adapts poorly to production kernels;
• many SMP races and lockups;
• broken 32-bit over 64-bit compatibility;
• no `strlog(9)' "STREAMS" logger;

This is the final release of LiS. There are too many packages now that cannot build against LiS because it is lacking fundamental capabilities in the Stream head.

This release builds both 32-bit compatibility and 64-bit native libraries and functions on 64-bit architectures. One of the major reasons for doing this for LiS was to demonstrate its sad lack of ability to sustain any form of 32-bit compatibility on most 64-bit architectures. Test suites now run first 64-bit native and then 32-bit compatibility tests to demonstrate LiS' dismal failure in this regard.

The release provides the following enhancements and fixes:

• Minor bug fixes to STREAMS library. isastream(3) and fattach(3) must not contain an asynchronous thread cancellation point, but they could. Added asynchronous thread cancellation protection to these functions to remove any thread cancellation points.
• Additional features supported in all packages (see master package release notes).

This is an unstable public alpha release of the package. Please see README-alpha in the release. information. Do not report bugs on this package.

A large number of additional tests cases were found to fail on x86_64 and SMP architectures making the LiS packages largely unusable, especially on 64-bit or SMP kernels.

Deprecated and unmaintained. Download the latest streams package version instead.

As with other OpenSS7 releases, this release configures, compiles, installs and builds RPMs and DEBs for a wide range of Linux 2.4 and 2.6 RPM- and DPKG-based distributions, and can be used on production kernels without patching or recompiling the kernel.

This package is publicly released under the GNU Public License Version 2. The release is available as an autoconf tarball, SRPM, DSC, and set of binary RPMs and DEBs. See the downloads page for the autoconf tarballs, SRPMs and DSCs. See the LiS package page for tarballs, SRPMs, DSCs, and binary RPMs and DEBs.

See ChangeLog and NEWS in the release for more information. Also, see the LiS.pdf manual in the release (also in html here).

About The OpenSS7 Project

The OpenSS7 Project is an opensource development project (called OpenSS7) to provide a robust and GPL'ed SS7, SIGTRAN, ISDN and VoIP signalling stack for Linux and other UN*X operating systems. The OpenSS7 Project has existed in one form or another since 1996. For dowloads and further information, see the project website.

About OpenSS7 Corporation

OpenSS7 Corporation is the world-leading supplier of OpenSource SS7, SIGTRAN, ISDN and VoIP signalling products and services that enable the Next Generation Network. A staunch supporter of the Open Source development model, OpenSS7 Corporation funds and supports The OpenSS7 Project by providing commercial licensing, training, consulting, development and support for products delivered from The OpenSS7 Project. For more information on OpenSS7 Corporation, please visit our corporate website.

* This news article contains Forward Looking Statements.

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