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Announcements Software Networking Upgrades Linux

Linux To Be First OS To Support USB 3.0 296

An anonymous reader writes with an excerpt from Neowin.net "Sarah Sharp, a self-styled 'geekess' and Linux developer at Intel's Open Source Technology Center who has recently been working on the Linux USB subsystem, announced on her blog that support of USB 3.0 will soon be integrated into the Linux kernel. This makes Linux the first operating system to support the standard. If you can't wait and have the expertise necessary, she includes instructions on how to get USB 3.0 support in Linux now." Here's Sharp's post.
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Linux To Be First OS To Support USB 3.0

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  • by thomasdz ( 178114 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @04:50PM (#28301001)

    My Linux box goes to USB 11

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @04:53PM (#28301067)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • This isn't going to change much for anyone. I wasn't even aware there were consumer devices/computers that were shipping with USB 3 ports yet.
  • by moon3 ( 1530265 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @04:56PM (#28301103)
    Nice to hear that, but are there any USB 3.0 devices to plug ?
  • Poor naming (Score:4, Insightful)

    by sakdoctor ( 1087155 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @04:57PM (#28301119) Homepage

    The official USB 3 logo has the phrase "superspeed" on it, and the icon has a matching "SS"

    Who keeps on doing this!! Being a relative term, you'll be up to ludicrous speed by USB 5.
    Ditto for fast ethernet.

    • by WinterSolstice ( 223271 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @05:00PM (#28301165)

      I believe that would make the USB5 logo Plaid?

    • Guess they decided to go for a Godwin award this time.

    • by Chabo ( 880571 )

      I see the "Superspeed", but I don't see an "SS". Do you mean the red and blue arrows?

      USB 2.0 was called "Hi-Speed", so if you don't like that designation, just use the version number.

    • I'm so prepared for ludicrous speed!
    • 83 thousand workers all over the globe including Israel and they can't figure out why companies never use anything matching "SS"? Perhaps they should also add original swastika and can explain they used it in terms of original meaning.

      We used a stylish logo with "SS" letters once at TV and we had our lesson. If Intel calls their Israel office, they can be surprised.

      Remember they jumped to 667 Mhz instead of natural 666 in Pentium since people were already putting "Satan Inside" logos on web? Yes, SS still s

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by tyrione ( 134248 )

        Seriously? I was thinking of Super Sport. Should all those classic car collectors crap themselves a pile of guilt because you go straight to Weisswurst or Die every time SS follow one another?

        Only a mental moron thinks 666 means Satan. Even a Rabbi will laugh their ass off on that butchered Qabalistic interpretation.

        Hell they might even mock you and say, ``Stay back you devil's advocate!''

        Grow up. This Satan fallacy for the past 2,000 plus years has got to be the greatest one-trick lie ever spread.

        • Oh I bet the moron at Intel thought exactly like you. Guess what? You don't design the names/logos based on 1-2% of population. You base them on 98% which includes every kind of uneducated, fanatic freak out there.

          USB3 "super speed" lame name will transform to "SS" and people will really be bugged about it. Look past browser window displaying slashdot, there is a World out there and they have no clue about the real root of number 666.

        • I'm with you on this. I still have dreams of finally getting my hands on a '67 Nova SS fuel prices be damned.
          I'll even smuggle in Tetra-ethyl lead if I have to.
          -nB

        • The Usual Suspects quote:

          "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."

      • by hkz ( 1266066 )

        I installed the Super Server flavor of the Firebird database some weeks ago at work. Came in a FirebirdSS.tar.gz package and was referred to in the docs as the 'SS' (as opposed to the 'CS', or classic server). I swear, the initial reaction in Holland, where I'm located, is immediately on the Schutsstaffel. When some crazy loon committed suicide some months ago by driving his Suzuki Swift into the crowds at the Queen's Day parade, media were quick to point out that the guy might have been a right radical, gi

      • by wampus ( 1932 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @06:31PM (#28302247)

        It was definitely Satan that was behind 667 MHz. Without a doubt. Or rounding 666.67 MHz up to 667 looked nicer. One or the other. But probably Satan. Also, I think you are probably the kid in class who ate too much paste.

      • Remember they jumped to 667 Mhz instead of natural 666 in Pentium since people were already putting "Satan Inside" logos on web? Yes, SS still sounds like the SS from WW2. It will be trouble. That is why companies like Apple, Microsoft have huge databases for naming products and even filenames in their operating systems.

        Speaking of Apple, they priced the Apple 1 at $666. So these companies aren't above finding humor in these things - of course, Apple was not a large corporation in those days. But it's particularly amusing when combined with the "bitten apple" representing knowledge (and the fall of mankind). Then there are other fun and provocative namings like "sosumi" and "BHA".

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward

      That SS really confused me.. In Holland we have a not so positive meaning associated with those two letters (same for SA) they are the only two letter combination that is not allowed in license plates for example.

    • The official USB 3 logo has the phrase "superspeed" on it

      At first glance, I read that as "superceded". Sounds about right.

    • by fast turtle ( 1118037 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @07:42PM (#28302893) Journal

      Nope. USB 4.0 will have "OMG Ponies" as it's moniker

  • by erroneus ( 253617 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @05:03PM (#28301205) Homepage

    I may have to preface this with the fact that I am a hard core Linux user. I run Mac OS on the wife's machines. I have a WindowsXP VM. That's about it for me personally. I use Linux exclusively and favorably. But what I have to say is the objective truth the way I see it... objectively.

    It means nothing to Windows pushers and nothing to Mac pushers. It only means something when they have something that Linux doesn't support. Then they can point their fingers and say "Linux doesn't support my hardware [again]!"

    Linux isn't entitled to bragging rights of any kind. Sure we have snazzy 3D OpenGL desktops with cubes and spheres. Sure we have the ability to many things "unencumbered" by DRM or other schemes while at the same time can play all media (so far). There are lots of games natively written for Linux though not the ones someone wants to play usually... (No WoW and no chance in hell of an OpenGL version of XWing vs. Tie Fighter....)

    The point is what Linux has is completely unimportant to others... even when they DON'T have it. What is important is what Linux doesn't have.

    Still, I'll chalk this little bullet point up in Linux's favor... but at the same time, none of it matters until really useful USB 3.0 devices are available and at that time there WILL be Windows drivers and support and there WILL be Mac OS X support. "Sure, you had it first... but what could you do with it?"

    (I'll still get modded troll)

    • For that matter (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Sycraft-fu ( 314770 ) on Thursday June 11, 2009 @05:14PM (#28301377)

      There may already be Windows drivers, Microsoft may have simply not released them since, lacking final hardware, that isn't a real useful thing to do. However internally there could well be a driver prepped and ready to go.

      • As you mention MS, something comes to my mind... There is nothing stopping MS from _never_ releasing drivers and such "Linux gets support first" gestures could either be a kick to them or could guarantee USB3 becoming a failure just because MS didn't include drivers.

        While Apple is certainly more nice company than MS, Apple is the one who always loves "We had it here first" type of things and all (excluding hopeless fanatics) must thank Apple for helping USB to really take off, with first iMac.

        So, they are t

        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          by drinkypoo ( 153816 )

          There is nothing stopping MS from _never_ releasing drivers and such "Linux gets support first" gestures could either be a kick to them or could guarantee USB3 becoming a failure just because MS didn't include drivers.

          Not really. You're wrong because:

          1. USB3 drivers can be bundled with the controllers.
          2. If you mean a stack for USB3, Bluetooth was implemented on XP by WIDCOMM, I see no reason USB3 couldn't also be implemented by a third party.
          3. If everyone but Microsoft has USB3, they will look like bitches. They will add USB3 support just to have the line item. It will suck, just like their USB2 and Bluetooth support, but it will be there.
          • by Ilgaz ( 86384 )

            We had a USB Bluetooth dongle and it took 3 days until I give up trying and plugged a infra receiver on a XP PC. That is the Widcomm you speak about.

            As I never throw away devices, I plugged the same thing to OS X 10.2.7 running on G5, I was amazed to see there is a bluetooth icon appearing instantly. As XP SP2/SP3 has built in bluetooth support, same icon appeared on very same OS when I tried later.

            Bundling things doesn't really work. I still have gigantic driver CD in hand and I dare you to make it work in

            • We had a USB Bluetooth dongle and it took 3 days until I give up trying and plugged a infra receiver on a XP PC. That is the Widcomm you speak about.

              widcomm mostly sucks and I wrote a howto on switching to the windows xp usb stack once. It involves whacking some inf file, and that's about it. OTOH I have had widcomm work and windows XP actually has a working stack now. And of course, is end of life :P

              As I never throw away devices, I plugged the same thing to OS X 10.2.7 running on G5, I was amazed to see there is a bluetooth icon appearing instantly.

              As I loosely remember the process for de-WIDCOMMing Windows XP, you would have to go remove all references to it in c:\windows\inf\*.*, then hack usb.inf or something like that (I'm using Vista right now actually, with SP2 it seems almost OK but I don't do

        • As you mention MS, something comes to my mind... There is nothing stopping MS from _never_ releasing drivers
          There is also nothing stopping intel writing them themselves.

          • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

            by Ilgaz ( 86384 )

            and we all know, users really install third party drivers that didn't come with their computer.

            If you speak with a browser vendor like Firefox, Opera, you may get surprised about how a huge part of population doesn't install their better application just because it didn't come with computer.

            Basically, how many people installed "Intel chipset drivers" (a very small download) to their XP which will make their PC perform way better and compatible?

            • and we all know, users really install third party drivers that didn't come with their computer.
              Surely if the motherboard has USB 3 support the drivers would come with the computer (at least if it's from a decent manufacturer).

        • by geekoid ( 135745 )

          Except the market.

          SSD will want USB3.

          It's moot anyways, Win7 will support it.

    • I was planning a iMac 24" and looking for a secondary display solution since I used 2 monitors even back in Windows 98. So, I checked the "real life solution" USB2 scene (e.g. not toasters) a bit.

      First stuff to use USB3 will certainly be SSD drives and later, "secondary display" or even "main display" (e.g. opengl 2/3 capable) GPU stuff will start shipping.

      So, if USB3 is supported under Linux but the GPU solution, likely from a Taiwan/China company doesn't have driver/GUI app... It will be a really ironic s

      • I was planning a iMac 24" and looking for a secondary display solution since I used 2 monitors even back in Windows 98. So, I checked the "real life solution" USB2 scene (e.g. not toasters) a bit.

        Umm, why not just use the Mini DisplayPort output with a DVI adapter for your second monitor? Why screw around with inferior USB solutions that won't perform anywhere near as well?

    • It means nothing to Windows pushers and nothing to Mac pushers. It only means something when they have something that Linux doesn't support. Then they can point their fingers and say "Linux doesn't support my hardware [again]!"

      You must keep some pretty bad company. Most of the world has moved on from that mentality.

      (I'll still get modded troll)

      Uh... why?

  • To figure how huge thing this is, you should be running Linux in 1990s and tried to use USB early, practical devices such as mouse.

    Windows 95 with "hacked in" USB support was working better with USB devices. We ended up struggling for hours and ending up with PS/2 adapter coming with USB mouse under Linux. Need to say more?

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward

      bash.org [bash.org]

      Grover: On my linux box, I once swapped out the motherboard, put in a new video card, doubled the RAM, installed a CD burner, installed a RAID array of (6) 200GB SATA Drives, and overclocked the CPU without ever rebooting it

      Rusty: Didn't you reboot it a few weeks ago?

      Grover: Yeah, I had to reboot to install my Thumb Drive

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      Linux isn't the operating system it was in the 1990's, just like Windows.
  • by Anonymous Coward

    This naming scheme invites shady marketing. You know we're going to see USB3.0 mice. They'll be USB3.0 alright, just implementing the low-speed part of the spec. It doesn't matter in case of mice, but users will not expect USB3.0 external hard disks to just implement "hi-speed", yet we will see this kind of up-labeling again: "USB3.0 Hi-Speed."

    (The Superspeed logo does not have SS in it - that would have been a major marketing faux-pas.)

    • I wonder if Firewire guys (including Apple) stop telling the true bandwidth of Firewire 1600/3200 and adopt AMD naming scheme?

      If USB3 claims 5 gigabit and yet performs same as firewire 3200, Firewire (IEEE1394) should use Firewire 5000 and wait for Intel to say a WORD about it.

      Enough with this fake bandwidth scheme by CPU monopoly company really.

  • My God! (Score:2, Funny)

    by xSurioNx ( 1387249 )
    They've Gone Plad!!
  • It doesn't matter who's first (just think: which company produced the first commercial TV set, or SLR camera - much good did it do them today). What does matter is who has the best support.

    Given that Linux can't even support the vast majority of USB 1 devices that are out there, since none of the hardware manufacturers think it's worth spending the time and money to write drivers, provide a support channel and publicise the fact, just slapping a USB 3 stack into the kernel means nothing.

    Let's see how ma

    • by geekoid ( 135745 )

      It does matter whose firt. At least to some of uis. Does that mean that person will reap the monitory rewards? no.

      "vast majority of USB 1 devices that are out there, "
      such as...?

      Of course had you read it, you would know she implemented for a hardware reason.

  • I haven't seen any USB 3.0 devices for sale yet. I suspect that they won't appear until sometime after Windows and Mac support USB 3. So, as cool as this is, there is no need to rush off and implement it on your own now. You can wait until your next kernel update.

  • by atomic-penguin ( 100835 ) <wolfe21@marshall. e d u> on Thursday June 11, 2009 @10:00PM (#28303847) Homepage Journal

    I wonder when Microsoft will catch up, so that Windows will be, you know, "ready for the desktop"?

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