Re: Re: Look ma, no hub?

[Jean-Paul Figer <jfiger@xxxxxxxxx>]

>From an architecture point of view, the hub is a key component of a
distributed Home automation system. Being able to interconnect X10,
Asterisk
PBX, Winamp, my old home automation system, text to speech, IR and more in
a
fast and coherent way is a strong advantage. The hub concept is more
important than the Xpl protocol.
Please keep the hub.
--
Jean-Paul Figer

On 11/17/05, Gerry Duprey <gerry@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>  Howdy,
>
> > I thought the hub was an implementation detail, specific to the
> > transmission of xPL over UDP in a Windows environment? It's not
> > part of the xPL protocol itself. If the platform doesn't require
a
> > hub to function, I see no need to require as part of the spec.
> >
> > However, being able to run without a hub means binding to the xPL
> > port rather than 50000+. You would have to be sure that all other
> > Linux xPL apps could run hubless (ie don't just assume that there
> > will be a hub), and that all versions of Linux support multiple
apps
> > binding to the same port.
>
> Well, here's lies my earlier note about confusion. Even apps running
under
>
> linux are not all going to be able to do this. Consider
multiple-platform
> apps (xPL4Java, the perl and python bindings, etc). They have to be
> written
> to support the most common config available on all platforms and that
> would
> rule out being able to bind directly under linux (without linux
specific
> code -- then what about OSX, solaris, AIX, etc...).
>
> Worse, if a linux-only app did bind directly to the port, any
subsequent
> multi-platform app started on that computer would not function. Since
the
> linux only app is bound to the port, the multi-platform apps are going
to
> wait until a hub (which doesn't exist) starts sending them messages.
>
> So know you need to know if the apps you are running are linux only
and
> support a no-hub mode or a mix of these and others that are either
> multi-platform and/or do not support a no-hub mode. Then you need to
> decide
> to run a hub (and if you have a mix, you need to start the hub first
or it
>
> will die when it starts and finds one of the hubless apps already
> listening).
>
> I believe that technically, the hubless stuff can work and for folks
who
> understand the implications, a mixed hubless and hub-based environment
can
>
> be made to work. However, I see making it all work for the average
person
> in a mixed environment to be difficult. Knowing which setup each app
they
> want to use needs, starting things in the right order, etc, etc.
>
> That is my concern -- an xPL app creator cannot provide a simple set
of
> directions for installation (Step 1 -- confirm you have a hub and
install
> one if not. Step 2 -- install this app).
>
> Gerry
> --
> Gerry Duprey
> Ann Arbor, MI 48103
> http://www.cdp1802.org
>
>
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