Berlin, December 1st, 2025

IPv6 functionality with new IP socket API

IPv6

The real-time operating system Kithara RealTime Suite has received a comprehensively revised API for real-time network communication. The newly introduced IP socket API is a completely new set of functions that supports socket communication for UDP, TCP and RAW-IP over IPv4 and now also IPv6. To do so, the Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) is used for IPv6 the same way the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) was used for IPv4.

The new API completely replaces the existing socket API. However, compatibility with older applications and interfaces will be maintained, and the old socket API will continue to co-exist alongside the new one for the foreseeable future. It is nevertheless recommended to use the new API for new developments.

Features:

  • New, intuitive and extensible structures for IP addresses and socket addresses
  • Performance-optimized implementation for minimal response times and maximum data rates
  • Introduction of an optional timeout parameter for send and receive functions, allowing them to be used in blocking mode
  • Configurable send and receive pool sizes, allowing data buffering to be suitable for the application, depending on the requirements for data rate, latency, or data processing time
  • Jumbo frames are also possible as a configurable Maximum Transfer Unit (MTU)
  • Optional fast retransmit function for TCP to increase efficiency in case of packet loss
  • Communication possible via unicast, multicast and broadcast
  • Connection via real-time network adapters, virtual adapters, VLAN, pass-through adapters to Windows or EtherCAT EoE
  • New example programs illustrating the use of the improved IP socket API