I received a "Microsoft" usb fingerprint scanner last night, free.
tested it on a friends windows box, and it is functioning.
not in Linux.

what is the best software to probe the device and get the data for writing a driver for it?

Boot up your system, without the reader plugged in. As root, run "dmesg -c", then plug the reader in. Then, run "dmesg" again. You should see SOMETHING in there, which should only be the messages related to the new device. Also, the "lsusb" command will return you information about the device. Post the information from dmesg and lsusb back here....

You don't say what version/distro of Linux you're using, which would be helpful. OpenSuSE has a fingerprint scanner setup utility under YAST, which may do exactly what you're looking for.

well, Harddrake gvies:

Identification
Vendor: ‎Microsoft

Description: ‎Microsoft® Fingerprint Reader

Media class: ‎

Connection
Bus: ‎USB

Bus PCI #: ‎4

PCI device #: ‎3

Vendor ID: ‎0x045e

Device ID: ‎0x00bd

Sub vendor ID: ‎0x0000

Sub device ID: ‎0x0000

Misc
Module: ‎unknown

I'll have to try the rebooting with and without the device.

lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 045e:00bd Microsoft Corp. Fingerprint Reader
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

yup, only one USB device.

and this is a Mandriva 2008.1 box. can't stand the bloat of suse so no suse boxes.

the new info from dmesg:
usb 4-2: new full speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
usb 4-2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice

and still no drive data in lsusb:
lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 003: ID 045e:00bd Microsoft Corp. Fingerprint Reader
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

This device is supported by the fprint driver:

http://www.reactivated.net/fprint/wi...ported_devices

The id (045e:00bd) matches.

jlinkels

thanks jlinkels.