How to drive advantech CAN board in python?

Question

I am using advantech's can board, model AMO-2203E. I successfully installed the driver(https://support.advantech.com/support/DownloadSRDetail_New.aspx?SR_ID=GF-GRSC&Doc_Source=Download) on ubuntu14.04, kernel 3.13 , and successfully sent and received with the provided sample program.
This program is written in C, I want to port it to my python project.
I know there is an open source Python-based CAN project (https://python-can.readthedocs.io/en/2.1.0/), but it only supports the following interfaces, and there is no advantech support.

Socketcan
Kvaser’s CANLIB
CAN over Serial
CAN over Serial / SLCAN
IXXAT Virtual CAN Interface
PCAN Basic API
USB2CAN Interface
NI-CAN
isCAN
NEOVI Interface
Vector
Virtual

  I guess I can add support for advantech based on this framework, but it feels a bit tricky for me.
Another idea is to compile the C file for sending and receiving dynamic libraries, which are called by python for ctypes. This should be feasible.
I want to know if there is a better way?

Answer 1

Seems like Advantech provides both SocketCAN driver and another version probably for character device like interface. You just need to install the SocketCAN variant so that you get can0 interface. As soon as it is working you can use python-can's SocketCAN "driver".