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Open Lighting Architecture

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Link: http://code.google.com/p/linux-lighting/
{{ #if: yes | Free! }}{{ #if: | Windows Support }}{{ #if: yes | Linux Support }}{{ #if: yes | Mac OS X Support }}{{ #if: yes | Sends DMX }}{{ #if: yes | Receives DMX }}{{ #if: | RDM Support }}{{ #if: | MIDI Support }}{{ #if: yes | HTTP Support }}

Llad home.png


OLA (Open Lighting Architecture) is a framework that allows applications to send and receive DMX512, using various hardware devices and 'DMX over IP' protocols. It enables software controllers talk to DMX hardware.

OLA allows DMX sent using various DMX over IP protocols to be converted from one format to another. This enables devices from different manufacturers to talk to each another (for example a Strand Console can send DMX to an Enttec EtherGate). When combined with a physical DMX interface such as the DMX USB Pro, OLA can send and receive data from traditional wired DMX networks.

OLA can run on Linux and on Mac OS X. A port to Windows is feasible if someone wants to add the necessary platform-dependent code for plug-ins and create an installer.


Bugs: Check the bug tracker at http://code.google.com/p/linux-lighting/issues/list

Questions: See the news group at http://groups.google.com/group/open-lighting


Supported Devices/Protocols:

Device / Protocol Linux Mac OS X
Anyma uDMX Yes Yes
Arduino RGB Mixer Yes Yes
ArtNet Yes Yes
DMX 4 Linux Yes -
DMX USB Pro Yes Yes
DMX-TRI Yes Yes
DMXking USB DMX512-A Yes Yes
E1.31 / ACN Yes Yes
ESP Net Yes Yes
Open DMX USB Yes -
Pathport Yes Yes
Sandnet Yes Yes
ShowNet Yes Yes
StageProfi Yes Ethernet version only
USBDMX2 Yes Yes
Velleman K8062 Yes Yes


Getting Started

Start here if you've never used OLA before and read these in order.

Advanced Topics:

Developer Documentation:

Tutorials, these refer to the previous release but parts of them are still relevant.

Deprecated Documentation

OLA can also run on a wireless access point. [1]

There is a project underway to build packages for OpenWrt. See http://lists.culturebase.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/lla-openwrt for more details.