map keyboard keys to commands (headless server)

actmnophn · 03-10-2014, 08:41 PM

I have a headless computer that is running as a server I want to add a wireless remote that works as HID keyboard to run scripts and the like. The remote is connected via usb and is recognized. the question I have is how to check what the kernel receives on keypresses and how to do "stuff" with those keypresses.

Thanks.

edit: I know it is connected and working somewhat because if i "cat /dev/input/event1" i see something when i press buttons.

michaelk · 03-11-2014, 07:04 AM

One suggestion would be to use lirc. (http://www.lirc.org/) It will do the decoding and can be configured to control the computer to do lots of stuff.

heinblöd · 03-11-2014, 10:06 AM

The command you can use is showkey .

The 'stuff' you could put in .bashrc or /etc/profile and define as aliases or have a look at this :
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Keyboard-a...e-HOWTO-5.html

actmnophn · 03-11-2014, 07:05 PM

I am going to look into those ideas thanks. One point that I am wondering is that the console is not logged into so the keys are not going to work as aliases I imagine.
Thanks again

actmnophn · 03-11-2014, 11:12 PM

I got lirc setup but i still dont know how to run scripts based on key presses. I found xbindkeys but cannot run xbindkeys -k because i dont have x...
I am a little(?) lost...
Thanks

michaelk · 03-12-2014, 09:51 AM

This might help:
http://www.g-loaded.eu/2006/01/10/ho...-and-use-lirc/
http://lifehacker.com/5527752/contro...ote-using-lirc

charsi101 · 07-29-2017, 04:27 AM

Apologies for being three years late but I am trying to do exactly the same thing.

xbindkeys is working perfectly for me and I don't mind having x running on my raspberry pi. But so far I haven't figured out a way to start x automatically on boot.

I have also found another method which doesn't require x running. https://github.com/wertarbyte/triggerhappy It runs as a daemon listening for keystrokes and runs scripts.