Intel has released the USB4STREAM protocol for the Linux kernel 7.2, a solution that allows data transfer between two hosts using a USB4 or Thunderbolt cable without relying on the traditional network stack. The /dev/tbstreamX devices facilitate tasks such as fast backups or sharing peripherals between computers, simplifying processes that previously required configuring complex networks.
How the USB4STREAM protocol works in the kernel 🔌
The protocol creates a direct communication channel between two machines at the physical level, bypassing layers like TCP/IP. By using block devices /dev/tbstreamX, applications can read and write data without intermediaries. This reduces latency and overhead, ideal for mass transfers or disk synchronization. The implementation focuses on efficiency, using the full bandwidth of the cable without the need for switches or routers.
Goodbye to configuring networks to transfer a file ⚡
If you ever lost twenty minutes looking for an Ethernet cable or struggling with Windows network settings to transfer a photo, this is for you. Now you just plug in the Thunderbolt cable and you're done. Of course, don't expect your 90s USB peripheral to magically work; the protocol doesn't revive dead hardware, it only speeds up what you already have. But hey, fewer excuses not to do backups.