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MuNAS: Multi-user Network Audio System for UNIX-based Thin Client Systems

MuNAS 1.2.1 is ready for download.

What is the MuNAS?
The tested multimedia applications in Linux
Free download and installation
License rules
Frequently asked questions

History

May 1, 2004.
MuNAS 1.2.1
April 7, 2004.
MuNAS 1.2 The MuNAS 1.2 fixes several bugs in the MuNAS 1.1 for SMP PC.
December 11, 2003.
MuNAS 1.1 The MuNAS 1.1 solves the problem of MuNAS 1.0 that the user cannot execute audio applications in the terminal server. That is, with MuNAS 1.1, the user can execute his audio applications in the X-terminal and terminal server.
November 24, 2003.
MuNAS 1.0 The new version has a brand new architecture and fixes a few bugs. It is faster and more stable than previous versions. The bugs for the compatible problem with "aRts" and "record" are fixed.
September 24, 2003.
MuNAS 0.8.5 beta for SuSE 8.2.
September 2, 2003.
MuNAS 0.8.5 beta for Linux kernel 2.4.20, kernel 2.4.21, kernel 2.4.22, and RedHat 9.0.
August 15, 2003.
MuNAS 0.8.4 beta for RedHat 9.0.

What is the MuNAS?

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.

The tested multimedia applications in Linux

Snes9x: The Portable Super Nintendo Entertainment System Emulator. http://www.snes9x.com
Snes9x is a portable, freeware Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) emulator. It basically allows you to play most games designed for the SNES and Super Famicom Nintendo game systems on your PC or Workstation; which includes some real gems that were only ever released in Japan.
Wine: http://www.winehq.com
Wine is an Open Source implementation of the Windows API on top of X and Unix.
rdesktop: http://www.rdesktop.org/
A Remote Desktop Protocol Client for accessing Windows NT Terminal Server.
aRts
It can work in MuNAS 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2.
mpg123
xine
gtv
mplayer (standard media player in SuSE 8.2), gmplayer
mplayerplug-in for Mozilla web browser
The video player plug-in for Quicktime and Windows Media Player streams using mplayer.
shockwave flash player plug-in for Mozilla web browser
realplayer 8.0, 9.0
alsaplayer
record
It can work in MuNAS 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2.
gnome-volume-control in RedHat 9.0
With the gnome-volume-control or similar programs, the user can have his X-terminal become a karaoke player.
kmix
With the kmix, the user can have his X-terminal become a karaoke player.
X-Movie
........

Free download and installation

We have tested the MuNAS in RedHat 8.0, RedHat 9.0, SuSE 8.2, Mandrake 9.0, and in Linux kernel 2.4.20, 2.4.21, and 2.4.22. The MuNAS also supports the LTSP environment.

License rule for the X-terminal (Free, without any limitation)

The program "mrcvd" must be installed and executed in the X-terminal.
It allows you to: freely download and use "mrcvd", in whole or in part, for personal, company internal, or commercial purposes; use "mrcvd" in packages or distributions that you create.

Currently, several manufactures of windows terminal are going to install the MuNAS in their X-terminals. See the following MuNAS complied X-terminals:

The eBox of Media Stream Technologies, Inc.
The Thinware AP-200 and AP-533 series of Ace Plus.
The EPIA 5000 or EPIA 800 with LTSP.
The EPIA 5000 or EPIA 800 with ThinDOM.

License rule for the terminal server

License for two users in a terminal server (Free, without any limitation)
It is free. When you download and succcessfully install the MuNAS, you already get a two-user license for a terminal server. The first and second user can use it without any limitation. However, the third user will get a "no such device" error when his audio application tries to open device files "/dev/dsp" or "/dev/mixer".
License for more than two users in a terminal server
For each company or organization, we offer a free license for unlimited users in a terminal server for two weeks. To apply for this free license, please send mail to service@advancedthintech.com.

For asking the price of the license of MuNAS, please send mail to service@advancedthintech.com.
For purchasing the licenses of MuNAS, please send mail to service@advancedthintech.com.

Frequently asked questions

Click to see the FAQ of MuNAS.

(Last updated on 29/4/2003 )

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