What Linux Automation does

Linux Automation GmbH is a privately held German hardware company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, that designs, manufactures, and sells specialized test automation equipment and industrial communication interfaces for embedded Linux development. The company's product portfolio centers on USB-based multiplexers (USB-SD-Mux FAST, USB-Mux) that enable automated switching of storage and USB connections between devices-under-test and test servers, CAN/CAN-FD adapters (candleLight FD), a 10Base-T1L industrial Ethernet interface (USB-T1L), a latency measurement system (Optick with 21 ns resolution), and the proprietary LXA IOBus ecosystem — a CANopen-inspired protocol with modular I/O peripherals (4DO-3DI-3AI, voltage injectors, multi-plug modules) and a REST API gateway. The company's core technical differentiators are firmware-free hardware designs where feasible, native mainline Linux kernel driver support (gs_usb for CAN, kernel 6.1+ for USB-T1L), and deep integration with the labgrid open-source test automation framework, which Linux Automation positions as the default physical-layer provider.

The business model is direct-to-customer hardware sales through a single proprietary online shop (shop.linux-automation.com), with products priced between EUR 54.74 (candleLight FD) and EUR 534.31 (LXA TAC) inclusive of 19% German VAT. The company employs a product-led, community-driven go-to-market motion anchored in the open-source embedded Linux ecosystem, with secondary reach via Mastodon (Fosstodon), comprehensive technical documentation, and sponsored open-source projects (labgrid and RAUC). Customer segments are two primary groups: embedded Linux developers requiring hardware-in-the-loop test infrastructure, and industrial/OT companies maintaining long-lifecycle embedded systems. No named enterprise customers, no channel partners, no volume licensing, and no external institutional funding are disclosed; production occurs in Germany with individual device testing and renewable energy usage under the company's Responsible Business Alliance compliance posture.

Name

Linux Automation

Legal name

Linux Automation GmbH

Website

https://linux-automation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Linux Automation GmbH, founded 2019 in Hildesheim, Germany, designs and manufactures specialized test automation hardware (USB/CAN multiplexers, IOBus modules, latency tools) for embedded Linux developers and industrial/OT companies, sold direct-to-customer through its own online shop and integrated with the labgrid open-source framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Test Automation Hardware

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded Software & Firmware Tools (Compilers, Debug, RTOS tooling) (HDAHAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

System-Level, Multi-Physics & Package/PCB Co-Design (EDA) (HDAHAFAD), Industrial Embedded Computers (Box PCs) (HDACALAF)

Keywords

• Embedded test automation
• Linux hardware tools
• USB multiplexers
• Firmware flashing devices
• Industrial automation hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Hildesheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: Sale of electronic development tools and test automation hardware including USB-SD-Mux, USB-Mux, CAN adapters, IOBus modules, and accessories. Products are sold as finished devices through the company's online shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Linux Automation GmbH designs and manufactures specialized hardware tools and devices for embedded Linux development, testing, and automation. Their product line includes USB multiplexers, SD card multiplexers, CAN interface adapters, and related accessories used by engineers to automate firmware flashing, testing, and validation workflows on embedded Linux devices.

Product overview

Linux Automation GmbH is an embedded Linux hardware company that develops and manufactures test automation equipment, industrial communication interfaces, and debugging tools. The product portfolio centers on USB-based multiplexers (USB-SD-Mux, USB-Mux) for automated hardware-in-the-loop testing, CAN/CAN-FD adapters (candleLight, candleLight FD), 10Base-T1L Ethernet interfaces (USB-T1L), and the LXA IOBus ecosystem including controllers (LXA TAC), I/O modules, and voltage injectors. The company also offers accessories (Micro-SD extenders, level shifters, power supplies) and supports open-source projects labgrid and RAUC. Products are designed for native Linux integration via labgrid and SocketCAN.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LXA: Product line prefix for Linux Automation branded hardware products including LXA TAC (Test Automation Controller), LXA IOBus, LXA Tools, and other test automation equipment.
• candleLight
• USB-SD-Mux
• USB-T1L

Products and services

• USB-SD-Mux

Quantifiable outcome

• USB-SD-Mux FAST provides max. 104 MB/s bandwidth between DUT and SD-Card
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PengutronixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspired by the needs of embedded Linux developers at Pengutronix. Linux Automation was created to simplify and support software development for embedded systems. The company founder/employees come from this ecosystem.
• labgridcoreTechnology or Integrationlabgrid is an open-source embedded test automation framework that Linux Automation products are designed to integrate with. Products like USB-SD-Mux, USB-Mux, and Ethernet-Mux are labgrid-compatible.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Pengutronix: German embedded Linux services and BSP provider whose developer community inspired Linux Automation. Comparable in target buyer (embedded Linux teams) and ecosystem position, though Pengutronix sells services rather than hardware.
• Beagle (by Total Phase): USB and embedded bus protocol analyzers originally spun out of Total Phase. Adjacent/overlapping on USB debugging and embedded developer tools often used alongside labgrid setups.

Broad incumbents

• Keysight Technologies: Global T&M leader with oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and signal integrity tools. Comparable on electrical test & measurement instrumentation, including the Optick-style latency/video measurement use cases.
• Rohde & Schwarz: German test & measurement incumbent with EMC, oscilloscope, and wireless test products. Comparable on EMC-tested hardware manufacturing credentials and German engineering positioning.
• National Instruments (Emerson Test & Measurement): Established test & measurement incumbent spanning DAQ, modular instruments, and automated test. Overlaps with Linux Automation's LXA TAC test automation controller and instrument-grade hardware play, though at vastly larger scale.
• Vector Informatik: Large German automotive embedded tools vendor covering CAN, FlexRay, Ethernet, AUTOSAR, and HIL test. Overlaps with Linux Automation on CAN-FD and embedded test, but at much broader scope and enterprise scale.

Direct peers

• PEAK-System Technik: German manufacturer of PC interfaces for CAN, LIN, and industrial networks. Closely comparable to Linux Automation's candleLight FD USB-to-CAN-FD adapter and shared footprint in the German embedded/CAN tooling market.
• Kvaser: Swedish vendor of CAN/CAN-FD interface hardware with strong SocketCAN and Linux support. Directly comparable to candleLight FD on product, customer base, and Linux-native delivery model.
• Intrepid Control Systems: Supplier of automotive-grade CAN, Ethernet, and embedded networking test tools. Directly comparable to Linux Automation's LXA IOBus and CAN-FD adapters in automotive and industrial embedded testing.
• Total Phase: Maker of USB, I2C, SPI, and CAN protocol analysis hardware used by embedded developers. Comparable on developer-tools business model and USB-hardware-instrument profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/linux-automation
• Xx.com/AutomationLinux

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Linux Automation