3SB Audio

2026

Linux AVB/Milan

Linux AVB/Milan is the transport-layer software workstream within 3SB Audio.

The objective is to make AVB/Milan more practical for Linux-based DSP hosts and consumer-oriented active audio systems by improving robustness, interoperability, and deployment confidence.

History

Earlier AVB network work was carried out on macOS and Windows using RME Digiface AVB USB interfaces as the bridge into AVB environments.

On Linux, transport and conversion work instead relied on an RME HDSPE MADI PCIe interface connected to an RME M32 DA Pro. That arrangement provided a workable Linux path, but it did not align with the longer-term objective of building a unified AVB/Milan transport and DSP platform on Linux.

That gap led directly to the current OpenAvnu-based effort: improving the Linux AVB stack so a single Linux host can participate more cleanly in AVB/Milan networks while also serving as the basis for integrated transport and DSP deployment.

Current Focus

  • Improve the robustness of OpenAvnu's AVB stack in real Linux deployment conditions.
  • Extend or adapt the stack to better support Milan-oriented behaviour and interoperability requirements.
  • Reduce integration friction between AoIP transport, DSP hosts, conversion hardware, and control layers.

Status

The current public reference point for this workstream is OpenAvnuMilan, a fork of OpenAvnu focused on improving robustness and aligning the stack more closely with Milan-oriented deployment requirements.

Using an RME Digiface AVB, the current codebase has been tested with RME AVB Controller. The OpenAvnuMilan branch has also been tested with Hive on Linux and macOS, and with Milan Manager on macOS.

Transport testing has included both a direct connection between OpenAvnuMilan and the RME DAC and switched operation through a PreSonus SW5E AVB switch. Issues were encountered with the PreSonus switch path, and planned validation includes testing on a Netgear AV 4250 switch.

When development reaches a broader testing stage, installation packages will be made available to support evaluation on target systems rather than requiring a source-first workflow.

Please contact 3SB Audio if there is interest in testing the stack with AVB or Milan devices.

Future updates to this page will expand on implementation notes, patches, test results, and deployment guidance as the Linux AVB/Milan workstream is documented publicly.