[Discuss-gnuradio] raw USRP2 interface vs the UHD interface

[Steve Mcmahon]

Hello:

I want to make sure I understand the raw USRP2 interface and the new UHD 
interface correctly. I have USRP2, and I'm running GNU Radio 3.3.0 under Linux 
(Fedora 13), and if I use the default USRP2 interface, it uses raw Ethernet (no 
UDP or TCP) by means of raw sockets, and there is no transport layer protocol 
used. But now there is a new UHD driver deing developed for USRP2. It uses UDP 
as the transport layer protocol. This means that the USRP2 will need to have an 
IP address and subnet mask, unlike before. What are the advantages to doing 
this?? Won't this reduce the bandwidth somewhat over raw Ethernet, since UDP 
adds some overhead?? What is the motivation for creating the UHD driver?? 
What's wrong or inadequate with the current raw Ethernet interface?? Any 
explanation and help in understanding is appreciated. Thanks.

Steve McMahon