Personal tools
The Open Lighting Project has moved!

We've launched our new site at www.openlighting.org. This wiki will remain and be updated with more technical information.

Open Lighting Architecture

From wiki.openlighting.org

Revision as of 20:11, 22 March 2012 by Nomis52 (talk | contribs) (Reverted edits by 91.224.161.250 (Talk) to last revision by Nomis52)
Jump to: navigation, search
Ola.png

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: yes | RDM Support }}{{ #if: | MIDI Support }}{{ #if: yes | HTTP Support }}

Ola-download.png
Universe Settings
RDM Devices Page
Drag & Drop RDM Patching
Mobile UI


The Open Lighting Architecture (OLA) is part of the Open Lighting Project and provides applications with a mechanism to send and receive DMX512 & RDM commands using hardware devices and DMX over IP protocols. This enables software lighting controllers to communicate with hardware either via Ethernet or traditional DMX512 networks.

OLA can also convert DMX512 data sent using DMX over IP protocols from one format to another, allowing devices from different manufacturers to interact with one another. For example a Strand Lighting Console using ShowNet can send DMX512 to an Enttec EtherGate. When combined with a physical DMX interface such as the DMX USB Pro, OLA can send and receive data from wired DMX512 networks.

Main Features

  • Supports a variety of DMX over IP Protocols and a dozen different USB DMX devices.
  • Priority based merging of different sources.
  • Built in web based configuration including:
    • RDM controller
    • Drag and drop RDM patching with an automatic patcher
    • Custom UI for mobile devices (iPhone, Android)
  • Command line tools which enable scripting of configuration and RDM commands.
  • Python, C++, Objective-C++ APIs for developers to build their own applications.
  • Runs on Mac OS X (ppc, i386, x86_64) & Linux ( i386, x86-64, arm).
  • Source code is open and available at no cost.


A port to Windows is feasible if someone wants to add the necessary platform-dependent code. For now it can be run on Windows using VMWare (see OLA on Windows with VMWare)

Questions: See the mailing list

Bugs: Check the bug tracker

Contribute: Looking to help? Visit the OLA Contributors page. The page also lists people and companies who have supported OLA. Please support them in return!

Supported Protocols

Protocol Linux Mac OS X
ArtNet, ArtNet 2, ArtNet 3
Green-tick.png
Rdm.gif
Green-tick.png
Rdm.gif
E1.31 / ACN
Green-tick.png
Green-tick.png
ESP Net
Green-tick.png
Green-tick.png
Pathport
Green-tick.png
Green-tick.png
Sandnet
Green-tick.png
Green-tick.png
ShowNet
Green-tick.png
Green-tick.png

Supported Devices

Device Linux Mac OS X
Anyma uDMX
Trans.gif
Trans.gif
Arduino RGB Mixer
Green-tick.png
Rdm.gif
Green-tick.png
Rdm.gif
DMX 4 Linux
Trans.gif
DMX USB Pro
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Rdm.gif
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Rdm.gif
DMX-TRI
Trans.gif
Trans.gif
DMXking USB DMX512-A
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
DMXter4 RDM / MiniDMXter
Rdm.gif
Rdm.gif
Eurolite USB DMX512 PRO
Trans.gif
Trans.gif
Open DMX USB
Trans.gif
Packetheads USB_DMX Dongle
Green-tick.png
Green-tick.png
RDM USB Pro
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
RDM-TRI
Trans.gif
Rdm.gif
Trans.gif
Rdm.gif
Robe Universal Interface
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Rdm.gif
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Rdm.gif
RUNIT WTX
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Rdm.gif
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Rdm.gif
StageProfi
Trans.gif
Trans.gif
(Ethernet version only)
uDMX_asp
Trans.gif
Trans.gif
ultraDMX Pro
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
Trans.gif
Recv.gif
USBDMX2
Trans.gif
Trans.gif
Velleman K8062
Trans.gif
Trans.gif
VX8062
Trans.gif
Trans.gif

Getting Started

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

Tutorials

Advanced Topics:

Developer Documentation:

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