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authorcbdev <cb@cbcdn.com>2019-03-31 09:00:12 +0200
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+### The `sacn` backend
+
+The sACN backend provides read-write access to the Multicast-UDP based streaming ACN protocol (ANSI E1.31-2016),
+used for lighting fixture control. The backend sends universe discovery frames approximately every 10 seconds,
+containing all write-enabled universes.
+
+#### Global configuration
+
+| Option | Example value | Default value | Description |
+|---------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
+| `name` | `sACN source` | `MIDIMonster` | sACN source name |
+| `cid` | `0xAA 0xBB 0xCC` ... | `MIDIMonster` | Source CID (16 bytes) |
+| `bind` | `0.0.0.0 5568` | none | Binds a network address to listen for data. This option may be set multiple times, with each descriptor being assigned an index starting from 0 to be used with the `interface` instance configuration option. At least one descriptor is required for transmission. |
+
+#### Instance configuration
+
+| Option | Example value | Default value | Description |
+|---------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|
+| `universe` | `0` | none | Universe identifier |
+| `interface` | `1` | `0` | The bound address to use for data input/output |
+| `priority` | `100` | none | The data priority to transmit for this instance. Setting this option enables the instance for output and includes it in the universe discovery report. |
+| `destination` | `10.2.2.2` | Universe multicast | Destination address for unicast output. If unset, the multicast destination for the specified universe is used. |
+| `from` | `0xAA 0xBB` ... | none | 16-byte input source CID filter. Setting this option filters the input stream for this universe. |
+| `unicast` | `1` | `0` | Prevent this instance from joining its universe multicast group |
+
+Note that instances accepting multicast input also process unicast frames directed at them, while
+instances in `unicast` mode will not receive multicast frames.
+
+#### Channel specification
+
+A channel is specified by it's universe index. Channel indices start at 1 and end at 512.
+
+Example mapping:
+```
+sacn1.231 < sacn2.123
+```
+
+A 16-bit channel (spanning any two normal 8-bit channels in the same universe, also called a wide channel) may be mapped with the syntax
+```
+sacn.1+2 > sacn2.5+123
+```
+
+A normal channel that is part of a wide channel can not be mapped individually.
+
+#### Known bugs / problems
+
+The DMX start code of transmitted and received universes is fixed as `0`.
+
+The (upper) limit on packet transmission rate mandated by section 6.6.1 of the sACN specification is disregarded.
+The rate of packet transmission is influenced by the rate of incoming mapped events on the instance.
+
+Universe synchronization is currently not supported, though this feature may be implemented in the future.
+
+To use multicast input, all networking hardware in the path must support the IGMPv2 protocol.
+
+The Linux kernel limits the number of multicast groups an interface may join to 20. An instance configured
+for input automatically joins the multicast group for its universe, unless configured in `unicast` mode.
+This limit can be raised by changing the kernel option in `/proc/sys/net/ipv4/igmp_max_memberships`. \ No newline at end of file