How to configure MS Optical PS2 Mouse

railsfreak · 03-18-2004, 07:02 PM

I am using the Fedora Core 1 distribution, updated to the latest levels with up2date. I have an MS Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 that's USB and PS2 compatible. I use a KVM switch so that I can have two systems (Win 2K and Linux), but only one display/keyboard/mouse. Because the switch only handles PS2 mice, that's what I have to use.

Unfortunately, the Fedora install does not give me any way to select a PS2-attach version of the MS optical mouse. Under the Microsoft section, there's a choice for "Intellimouse Optical (USB)," and there's an "Intellimouse (PS2)" choice. I have tried both these choices, and the mouse does not work (in fact, power is never applied to the mouse because the LEDs inside the mouse remain off). I tried using a Generic 3-button mouse (PS2), and that also did not work. I finally had to resort to a separate optical USB mouse, and that works. However, I now have to have two mice, one for each system. This is really annoying - I'm forever grabbing the wrong mouse for the system I'm currently using.

Is there some way to get Linux to recognize and power up a PS2-attached optical mouse?

Austin, TX

rberry88 · 03-18-2004, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Is there some way to get Linux to recognize and power up a PS2-attached optical mouse?

Yes there is, here is my mouse section:

Code:

Section "InputDevice"

# Identifier and driver

    Identifier  "Mouse1"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option "Protocol"    "IMPS/2"
    Option "Device"      "/dev/psaux"
    Option "Buttons" "5"
    Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

# Mouse-speed setting for PS/2 mouse.

#    Option "Resolution"        "256"

EndSection

I have a Logitech Optical PS/2 mouse that has the Left button, right button, wheel that is also clickable and a side button.

You can find other tweaks in these forums and through Google - Linux Flavored .

rberry88

crkpilot · 03-19-2004, 05:18 PM

new to linux here and not exprienced with programming (kinda a dilemma)...this all looks like good advice...i have a 5 button optical ps2 but i need a little more specific directioning as to what exactly needs to be typed in where...if i need to root onto konsole and update a config file or what i really dont have a clue....the above instructions looked like they should be able to help me if i understood where i was suppose to update that information....appreciated

rberry88 · 03-19-2004, 05:57 PM

I'm assuming you are booting into a GUI window manager like KDE or Gnome. If so, then open a terminal or console (konsole in kde) and do this:

Code:

su
<type root password>
vi /etc/X11/XFConfig  <---  might be XFConfig-4
(move down to the lines I show in my above post)
hit the letter I (as in Iowa) and it will say -INSERT- at the bottom of the screen
Now move your cursor to where you want to type the above lines and type (edit) them as above
Next hit the Escape (ESC) key to make the -INSERT- go away
Then hold down the Shift (SHIFT) key and type ZZ (as in two letter z's)

This will edit your X config file for the mouse and dump you back at the cursor prompt in the console or terminal. Type "exit" (without the quotes) to leave root (or superuser su) mode and logout (kill your X server), you may need to reboot and then log back in and test out your mouse.

rberry88