mini Ipod patch usb (the mini iPOD thread)

Okay okay I know that there are a gazillion posts about ipod and linux but this is different (promise!)

This thread is only for the mini iPOD. NO 20gb, NO 40gb, NO photo, NO u2. I just don't care about them (since I don't own them )

Now, the reason for this post. I am about to get my mini iPOD, and have been installing all the software in preparation (yes I'm excited) like faad2 and gtkpod etc.

HOWEVER, it seems like its going to be a struggle after reading all the posts here, seems like the mini iPOD is less than honest about its weight (must be the FAT filesystem).

One of the recommendations is to rebuild the kernel. I don't feel like doing that because I've had issues with the NVIDIA driver and my monitor and everything is hunky dorey now. So let's let the kernel just be.

The other recommendation is to run a patch which magically fixes the linux problems that occur when trying to mount the mini iPOD over USB. I want that patch! I have searched and searched but to no avail. I came across an email from Avi Kivity on a sourceforge mailing list saying the patch is attached, but I saw no attachment. So close yet so far.

Anyone know where I can get this magic patch? If it works for mini iPOD?

Please, no posts on other ipod versions, let's keep one thread for the mini, how cool would that be? Then the next person who wants to install there mini can just come to one thread that will have all the info they want! And they won't have to sift through 100 posts on other ipod versions.

Dave.

2.6.8-24.11 kernel already has the patch, doesn't work. Product id is different so you have to install the kernel source, add another unusual_devs.h entry, and recompile the kernel. Might as well disable EFI support too just to be double sure.

This is what I did and iPod mini works fine.

This is the entry the patch adds to /usr/src/linux/drivers/usb/storage/unusual_devs.h

UNUSUAL_DEV( 0x05ac, 0x1203, 0x0001, 0x0001,
"Apple",
"iPod",
US_SC_DEVICE, US_PR_DEVICE, NULL,
US_FL_FIX_CAPACITY ),

1202 = iPod Mini

Alright, so I have to add the lines

UNUSUAL_DEV( 0x05ac, 0x1202, 0x0001, 0x0001,
"Apple",
"iPod",
US_SC_DEVICE, US_PR_DEVICE, NULL,
US_FL_FIX_CAPACITY ),

because the mini is 1202?

I'll go off and give it a try

okay, I didn't add those lines, I bit the bullet and did a kernel recompile....

IT WORKED!

Bloody fantastic. I'm running Suse 9.2 and these are the steps I followed

$cd /usr/src/linux
$sudo cp .config /tmp
$make mrproper
$sudo /boot/config /usr/src/linux/.config
$sudo make xconfig
{had to do it with sudo to save changes and couln't use su (something to do with x11); make sure Qt libraries are installed}
Search for EIF_partition and unmark it, it will be with all the other partition info


I didn't have to edit the makefile
#make install

Rebooted, and added this line to fstab:
/dev/sda2 /mnt/ipod subfs fs=vfat, procuid, nodev, nosuid 0 0
Had to update my ipod mini on a windows computer first (don't know why)

But not as painful as I expected, now after my ipod has synched, I shall go and re-install the Nvidia drivers

[EDIT] forgot to add EIF_partition removal

BTW haven't succesfully transferred songs to it yet

For those who have the ipod mini working now, here are my suggestions,

when you start gtkpod, and it pops up a warning about the gtk version, just leave it open, don't click OK, just seems to make it freeze more often. Leaving it as is stops gtk from freezing (as much )

I had to have an existing itunes db before I could transfer songs. Without one, trying to create directories just resulted in "Unable to create ipod directories"

Once you're done transfering, type
$eject /dev/sda (or b depending on where the ipod has been mounted)
and it will get rid of the annoying "Do not disconnect"

Hope this is all helping someone out there

dave

This is my first posting - ever

I have kids with ipod minis and, as you know, it is difficult (to say the least) to get them to work on linux.

There was a post with sudo commands that I tried.
I killed my kernel doing it.
I suspect that my level of retardation is to blame.

Does anyone have a true "step by step" suggestion on how to modify the kernel (or whatever it is that I am supposed to do) so that the mini will work with suse 9.2?

You help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Lew(ser)

Firstly, your kernel sources must be installed. Goto YaST, click on install and remove software. A search bar should come up, search for 'kernel' and install the kernel sources. Then follow my instructions above. The only thing you need to change in the kernel is the EIF_PARTITION

dave