NCD Network Audio System 1.2p4 Release Notes

Table of Contents

  • What is the Network Audio System
  • Support Policy
  • Author's Notice
  • Silicon Graphics Legal Notice
  • Installation Information
  • Documentation Information

    • What is the Network Audio System

    This package contains the NCD sample implementation of the Network Audio System, which is an audio protocol for networks. It is a system developed by Network Computing Devices, Inc. (NCD) for playing, recording, and manipulating audio data over a network. Like the X Window System, it uses the client/server model to separate application code from the specific drivers needed to control audio input and output devices attached to the X terminal or workstation.

    Basically, it allows remotely-executing applications to play or record audio on the local workstation. See the NAS overview document for more information.

    Author's Notice

    The original authors of the Network Audio System are Jim Fulton, Greg Renda, and Dave Lemke of Network Computing Devices, Inc. who are not responsible for SGI additions and modifications.

    The original distribution of NAS 1.2p4 is subject to the following Copyright: 

                     Copyright 1995 Network Computing Devices, Inc.

    Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software and
    its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided
    that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that both that
    copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting
    documentation, and that the name Network Computing Devices, Inc. not be
    used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of this 
    software without specific, written prior permission.
    
    THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED `AS-IS'.  NETWORK COMPUTING DEVICES, INC.,
    DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING WITHOUT
    LIMITATION ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A
    PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NONINFRINGEMENT.  IN NO EVENT SHALL NETWORK
    COMPUTING DEVICES, INC., BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING
    SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF USE, DATA,
    OR PROFITS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF, AND REGARDLESS OF
    WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, TORT OR NEGLIGENCE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN
    CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

Translation:  You can do whatever you want with this software!

    Installation Information

    NAS Server automatic startup

    If the NAS server is going to be used often, it may be convenient to have it start at bootup automatically. A sample startup script is installed in /etc/init.d/nas_server, but is chkconfig'd off by default. To have the NAS server automatically start at boot time, type "chkconfig nas_server on" as root. The server (when started from the sample rc2 script) does not run as root. See the rc2(1), chkconfig(1), and auserver(1) man pages for more information.

    NCD NAS Subsystems

    fw_NCDnas.sw.server
    Contains the audio server software; runs on the machine with the audio hardware.
    fw_NCDnas.sw.clients
    Contains sample clients that may run remotely, using audio hardware on the NAS server.
    fw_NCDnas.sw.dev
    Contains headers and libraries for developing NAS client programs.
    fw_NCDnas.man.nas
    Contains preformatted, on-line pages for use with man(1).
    fw_NCDnas.man.relnotes
    Contains these SGI release notes in html format; they can be read with an HTML viewer like xmosaic or netscape.
    fw_NCDnas.man.psdocs
    Contains PostScript documentation which can be read with a Postscript viewer like ghostview, ghostscript, or xpsview.
    fw_NCDnas.src.nas
    Contains complete source code to NCD NAS 1.2p4 plus SGI additions.

    Installation Method

    All of the subsystems for this product can be installed using IRIX. You do not need to use the miniroot. Refer to the Software Installation Administrator's Guide for complete installation instructions.

    Compatibility

    This software is compatible with IRIX 5.3 and later.

    Documentation Information

    Several documents are provided:

  • An overview of the Network Audio System.
  • A library reference for programmers writing NAS clients.
  • The paper and slides from a conference presentation on NAS.
  • The NAS overview manual page nas(1).
  • The NAS server manual page auserver(1).
  • The NAS sample clients manual pages: auplay(1), audemo(1), audial(1), autool(1), auinfo(1), auctl(1), auscope(1), aupanel(1), auedit(1), auconvert(1), auphone(1), aurecord(1), and auwave(1).
  • The NAS client library manual pages.
    • The NAS client library manual pages can be found in /usr/freeware/catman/p_man/cat3/X11, and the others (for server, intro, and clients) can be found in /usr/freeware/catman/u_man/cat1/X11.

    The X Consortium anonymous FTP site is a distribution site for NAS.

    Network Computing Devices, Inc. maintains a mailing list for people who are working with the Network Audio System:

    nas@ncd.com
    General discussion of the Network Audio System; anyone who who will actively participate is welcome to join.
    nas-request@ncd.com
    Where to send requests to get on or off the mailing list.