iPod Mini, GTKPod, and Linux using AutoFS

NetRAVEN5000 · 07-25-2005, 02:08 PM

I recently got a new iPod Mini. I already formatted it on a Windows PC and put my CD collection on it, but my MP3's are on my Linux PC and I don't want to have to put them on another PC just to put them on my iPod. I tried to do this with GTKPod by following the instructions at http://www.gtkpod.org/README (BTW I'm using USB 2.0, not FireWire - the guy who wrote the text said he wasn't positive about the instructions for USB)(these instructions start where you see the following text)

Code:

*--------------------------------------------------*
|                                                  |
|  Connecting iPod to a Linux box	           |
|  (kernel 2.6.6)                                  |
|  (should also work with earlier 2.6 kernels)     |
|                                                  |
*--------------------------------------------------*

I installed the autofs package, used these instructions to get it working (read post #6) and have kernel automounter version 4 enabled in my kernel, but I don't have the folder /var/autofs, which is where the GTKPod instructions say that the iPod should be (well, /var/autofs/removable/ipod is where it says the iPod should be, but obviously I don't have this folder/file either).

I'm using the packaged version of autofs-3.1.7-i386-1. What am I doing wrong - do the newer versions of autofs use a different folder other that /var/autofs? Should I be using a different tool meant specifically for kernel automounter version 4? The GTKPod instructions specifically say to DISABLE kernel automounter support (AUTOFS_FS) and to ENABLE kernel automounter version 4 support (AUTOFS4_FS).

NetRAVEN5000 · 07-26-2005, 12:45 AM

Any ideas, anyone?

NetRAVEN5000 · 07-26-2005, 08:33 AM

ANYONE?

NetRAVEN5000 · 07-26-2005, 05:32 PM

Could someone PLEASE just respond with SOMETHING - ANYTHING. . . you don't even have to help - just say "I don't know" or "can't help you" so I know you're at least reading this post?

Centinul · 07-27-2005, 05:24 AM

I'm using a different distribution than you (FC4) but my ipod mini is USB and I plugged it right in and it worked fine.

Try doing mount before and after you plug your ipod in and see if anything has changed. If so mount the new device that shows up and it should be your ipod.

In my distribution my ipod is automatically mounted under /media/ipod. You could also look under /mnt/ see if anything shows up. I hope this helps!

NetRAVEN5000 · 07-27-2005, 11:51 AM

Centinul - I'm not sure what you mean - mount it before I plug it in? What would that do? Wouldn't that just give me an error message?

Anyways, I think i MIGHT have it figured out - after googling a bit I read somewhere that you can put the Mini into something called "forced harddrive mode" or something like that - I was then able to mount it but GTKPod said I needed to recompile it with mp4v2 support (I used iTunes to put my songs on it, and I guess it automatically put them in that format) so I'm rebuilding it with the needed libraries.

I'll post back and let everyone know if it works or not.

NetRAVEN5000 · 07-27-2005, 11:30 PM

Well, it works!

Centinul · 07-28-2005, 05:25 AM

Sorry for the confusion and I'm glad that you got it working

NetRAVEN5000 · 07-29-2005, 01:12 AM

Well yes it does work. . . however, I wonder, why is it that I had to put the iPod into this special mode (it appears that it stays in this mode, luckily) for Linux but not for Windows? Does iTunes send some special signal to the iPod to tell it it's about to receive info?

Hmmm. . . well, at least it works now. Pretty sweet that I can put my entire CD album onto something smaller than my wallet!