Accessing a hardware device based on hwinfo output (Yet another ps/2 mouse issue)

kessaris · 06-25-2008, 05:32 AM

Hello all,

I've been searching the linux and ubuntu forums for a remedy to my otherwise functional touchpad not being correctly configured in my installation of Hardy Heron *Kernel 2.6 ps/2 mouse problem*.

There is a related thread here: http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ighlight=mouse

In this case, however, hwinfo has managed to find the device in question. The issue at stake is how to connect the device to a driver and configure it for use in xorg!

The details:

Here is the device's entry from hwinfo:

Code:

53: udi = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/pnp_PNP0f03'
  linux.sysfs_path = '/sys/devices/pnp0/00:01'
  info.subsystem = 'pnp'
  info.parent = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/computer'
  info.product = 'Microsoft PS/2-style Mouse'
  info.udi = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/pnp_PNP0f03'
  info.linux.driver = 'i8042 aux'
  linux.hotplug_type = 2 (0x2)
  pnp.id = 'PNP0f03'
  linux.subsystem = 'pnp'
  pnp.description = 'Microsoft PS/2-style Mouse'

It's like a ps/2 conglomeration of the mouse and keyboard in a sharp laptop.

Here is the device that seems to be currently installed, it appears to be a placeholder that does nothing:

Code:

  16: udi = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/computer_logicaldev_input_0'
  input.device = '/dev/input/event0'
  input.product = 'Macintosh mouse button emulation'
  linux.sysfs_path = '/sys/devices/virtual/input/input0/event0'
  info.parent = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/computer'
  info.product = 'Macintosh mouse button emulation'
  info.udi = '/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/computer_logicaldev_input_0'
  info.category = 'input'
  linux.hotplug_type = 2 (0x2)
  info.capabilities = { 'input', 'input.mouse' }
  linux.subsystem = 'input'
  linux.device_file = '/dev/input/event0'

The question is, how would one access the real mouse? For example add it to thhe /dev/input/event filesystem or better yet connect it to /dev/psaux????

I wish I knew enough about linux to know where to search for this answer.

I suspect this is the answer to a lot of people's problems, so I've started this thread with the hope of solving at least a subset of the issues people are having with ps/2 mice under kernel 2.6

Just a few other relevant bits of information:

Ubuntu Hardy Heron
2.6.24-19-generic kernel
sharp pc-xv70g laptop with what appears to be a non-synaptics touchpad recognized as an i8042 ps/2 style mouse as indicated above.

All help is appreciated on this one.

Much obliged!

Alexandros

whansard · 06-26-2008, 03:35 PM

I have many times had to go into my dev directory and rm mouse, then ln -s psaux mouse.
then checking my /etc/X11/xorg.conf to make sure the references were the same in the mouse section.

Section "InputDevice"
# Identifier and driver
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
# Mouse-speed setting for PS/2 mouse.
Option "Resolution" "128"

this is for sort of typical pc hardware though.

kessaris · 06-26-2008, 06:56 PM

Thank you very much for your reply.
It's unbelievable that these kinds of problems are happening in this day and age.
The smallest problem is also the most vexing.

In any event, this problem is a little more sinister than just linking the /dev/psaux to the mouse device.

Unfortunately, the mouse device, although it exists in hwinfo and is clearly visible in the /sys filesystem, is not presesnt in the /dev filesystem that I could see.

Since your message, however, I have managed to solve the problem. It is a case of unfudging the i8042 controller in the kernel parameters at boot time.

I had tried every suggestion but the one that finally worked was adding the parameters i8042.nomux=1 and i8042.noloop=1. It was the noloop that did the trick in the end. I'm not sure what looping is and why it's undesirable.

The thing, especially with laptops is that it's a blackbox testing scenario. At least in this case we managed to sort it out.

Now! If I could only get the memory stick slot working and learn finally if there is no wireless card or if I'm just not detecting one!

Apart from that, Ubuntu is the best O/s I've used. To be honest I prefer it to Leopard, apart from a few refinements in leopard like Exposé.. which I suspect might be available on linux with the right packages!

Thank you very much, however, again for your suggestion!