Is digital audio output supported under Linux?

[Jomboni]

I heard somewhere that it wasn't. Anyway, I just bought a really really nice 5.1 home theater system, but what I need is one of two things:

If linux supports digital audio, I need a 3/8" to RCA cable.

If linux doesn't support digital audio, I need a standard 3/8" cable (for the laymen, this is a standard headphone cable.)

So what should I buy? :)

[foon]

It depends on what manner of sound card you have. The following chipsets certainly do, either with the kernel or ALSA drivers or possibly both:
EMU10k (Sound Blaster Live series)
Yamaha YMF-7xx
Trident 4DWave-NX
CMI-8738

Additionally, some pro-level cards support it. Otherwise you are probably out of luck.

[bdg1983]

This question was just asked within the last couple of days (maybe in General) and the answer is 'yes'.

You may want to have a look for that thread to see what else it says about digital output.