cifX/netX Linux device drivers now available on Github

Hattersheim, 31. Jul. 2024 – Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation has released the latest version of the cifX/netX device driver (NXDRV-LINUX) for the PC card portfolio (cifX) as open source on Github. With the change from a paid product to free of charge, Hilscher supports its customers in the simple and seamless integration process of netX technology for OT communication with Linux-based devices and machines.

"In the Linux ecosystem, device drivers are increasingly expected to be open source and free of charge - and we are very happy to meet these requirements," explains Christof Hunger, Head of Product Management Communication Products at Hilscher. An exemplary use case for the now open source driver is the growing market of Linux-based edge devices that need to be upgraded for OT communication, e.g. by the Hilscher PC card portfolio.

"However, by providing it free of charge, we are of course not relinquishing our responsibility for keeping the software up to date, functional and secure," notes Hilscher expert Hunger. Hilscher will continue to keep the NXDRV LINUX device driver in line with the latest developments and provide it with regular updates. As an additional advantage, the provision via Github enables suggestions and proposals for improvement from the open source community to be evaluated and considered in the future. "Users of Hilscher products such as the PC cards will therefore benefit from the changeover in many ways," says Hunger.