usb problems in slack

mrchaos · 05-01-2005, 07:46 PM

I've just recently tried tinkering around with USB devices in Slackware (I normally don't have much need for them). Much to my dismay, nothing usb-related seems to work. I checked my kernel configuration, and I know that I included usb-hotplug support when I compiled, so that's not the issue.

I ran

Code:

dmesg|grep usb

and the code that came up was,

Code:

root@ZAXCOMP:/home/zax# dmesg|grep usb
usbcore: registered new driver usbfs
usbcore: registered new driver hub

So it looks like the module is loaded. Just to be sure though, I checked rc.modules and uncommented the following:

Code:

### USB Host Controllers:
# Universal Host Controller Interface (Intel standard):
/sbin/modprobe usb-uhci
# Universal Host Controller Interface (alternate JE):
#/sbin/modprobe uhci
# Open Host Controller Interface (Compaq/Microsoft/National standard):
#/sbin/modprobe usb-ohci

I have an intel chipset, so this seems like the logical choice. Now here comes the problem: I attach a Saitek p2500 joypad into a USB port and --hocus pocus-- not a damn thing happens. I check dmesg and it has not displayed anything new. Shouldn't it automatically detect my USB device???????????????

Edit:
** I should add that I am running the 2.6.10 kernel inn Slackware 10.1**

rose_bud4201 · 05-01-2005, 10:18 PM

Unless something's changed a lot (which I'm not denying the possibility of), USB isn't plug-and-play in Slack. You'll p'bly have to try mounting the device manually.

tuxrules · 05-02-2005, 11:37 AM

Yup I agree...usb devices won't mount automatically in slackware.

# dmesg | tail to see what device number your hardware is using

then use mount command to mount it at your choice of location.

mrchaos · 05-02-2005, 11:56 AM

oh, I don't mind mounting the hardware myself. After all, I do it with cd and dvd-rom drives. But the problem is that Slack doesn't even know the hardware is there. dmesg|tail doesn't show anything new. I just checked my compile configuration for my kernel, and nothing looks wrong, so might it be that the joypad isn't supported by linux?

mrchaos · 05-02-2005, 12:17 PM

I think I found the problem. Apparently, the module usb-uhci doesn't exist on my system. I get this error:

Code:

root@ZAXCOMP:/# modprobe usb-uhci
FATAL: Module usb_uhci not found.

This is odd since I compiled the kernel with support for USB. Looks like I'm going to have to recompile the kernel, unless anyone has a better idea that is.

It is possible that I configured the USB as integrated into the kernel rather than as a module. Lemme check up on that.

mrchaos · 05-02-2005, 01:29 PM

somebody help me out here, but if I have a USB 2.0 system on my computer, does this module represent my USB system:

Code:

root@ZAXCOMP:/boot# lsmod|grep ehci
ehci_hcd               27524  0
usbcore               104440  2 ehci_hcd

????

mrchaos · 05-02-2005, 03:51 PM

well, this is the last post, b/c I got the USB device to work. My methods of doing so were a bit unorthodox, however. In order to solve the problem, I recompiled my system with kernel 2.6.11.8... this solved the problem, and I'm not sure why since I used the same configuration file that I used to compile kernel 2.6.10 about a month and a half ago. I've been meaning to upgrade to the new kernel anyhow, so I at least killed two birds with one stone.

SticklerThe1st · 06-19-2005, 09:23 AM

Actually hotplugging does work with slackware, I just plug any joystick in and its there. As long as you have hotplugging enabled (which is standard) and have the correct modules it will work. Joysticks/gamepads don't need manual mounting. Memory sticks/flash cards/extrnal harddrives etc will automatically pick up and load the right module if you have it, but you have to mount those. You also have to make sure you have symlinks from /dev/input/js0 to /dev/js0 because some programs look for the /dev/js0 and won't work unless you manually make the program use /dev/input/js0.