Tomasz Grzegurzko: Created page with "Not all devices need a Linux kernel driver in order to work properly. The following is a list of some of these types of devices. == USB devices == Most of these should not ..."

2012-05-07T04:02:58Z

Created page with "Not all devices need a Linux kernel driver in order to work properly. The following is a list of some of these types of devices. == USB devices == Most of these should not ..."

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Not all devices need a Linux kernel driver in order to work properly. The following is a list of some of these types of devices.

== USB devices ==

Most of these should not need in-kernel drivers beyond those that already exist. Userspace can access USB devices via [http://libusb.sourceforge.net libusb], or soon via [http://wiki.cs.pdx.edu/usb/usbfs2.html usbfs2].

=== USB Scanners ===

These devices use [http://libusb.sourceforge.net libusb] and the [http://www.xsane.org xsane] project to access the device properly. Please contact that project if you need new devices supported.

=== USB Digital Cameras ===

For digital cameras, first check if the camera shows up as a mass storage device; if not, see [http://www.gphoto.org/ gphoto].

=== USB Media Players (music, video) ===

If the device shows up as a mass storage device, then either it finds media automatically (no driver needed) or it needs a magic media index built (userspace support needed only). If the device does not show up as a mass storage device, it can have a driver written in userspace (no kernel driver needed, often using [http://libusb.sourceforge.net libusb]). Such userspace drivers exist for e.g MTP devices (see [http://libmtp.sourceforge.net libmtp]), NOMAD devices ([http://libnjb.sourceforge.net/ libnjb]).

=== Mobile Phones ===

Mobile phones can typically present several types of interfaces, sometimes all at once. They are all already supported through kernel drivers or userspace libraries.

==== Mass storage interface ====

Kernel driver available, but occasionally device quirks need to be specified for new phones.

==== CDC ACM Modem ====

Supported by cdc_acm kernel driver.

==== OBEX filetransfer interface ====

Supported through [http://www.openobex.org libopenobex] (which is using libusb) and various frontends to that library.

==== OBEX SyncML interface ====

Supported through [http://www.opensync.org OpenSync] and libsyncml library that it includes (that in turn is using libopenobex).

==== Nokia FBUS interface also known as DKU2 interface ====

Supported by [http://www.gnokii.org] through libusb.

==== Generic serial interfaces ====

Supported by kernel drivers.

==== Windows Mobile RNDIS interface ====

Supported via rndis_host driver. Check [http://www.synce.org/index.php/Connecting_your_Windows_Mobile_2005_device_via_USB_(usb-rndis-lite) this] and [http://ohioloco.ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=3588717&postcount=54 this].

== Printers ==

All Linux printer drivers are done in userspace. Contact the [http://www.linuxprinting.org Linux Printing Project] if you have a printer that you wish to get properly supported under Linux.

== Video Cards ==

A number of video cards are directly supported by the [http://www.x.org x.org] project and do not need a kernel driver. However, for some newer devices, to get properly 3d graphics support, a kernel driver is needed to help out the X side. We will be glad to help out with the kernel driver for projects like this if needed.

== GPS ==

For GPS devices, see [http://gpsd.berlios.de/ gpsd]

== Fingerprint Readers ==

These are the same as scanners mentioned above, kernel drivers are not needed. The [http://www.reactivated.net/fprint/wiki/ fprint project] supports a lot of fingerprint scanners found in consumer devices.

== Spectrometers and Colorimeters ==

These devices are used for colour calibration and profiling. A number of them are supported via the [http://www.argyllcms.com Argyll CMS project] and don't need a kernel driver.

== Winmodem devices ==

The large majority of these devices are already supported by the ALSA modem drivers, and should work just fine in the latest version of your favorite Linux distribution.

== FireWire Audio devices ==

FireWire Audio devices are handled in userspace; see the [http://www.ffado.org/ FFADO project].

== Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) ==

These devices, whatever the bus used (serial, USB, network), use [http://www.networkupstools.org Network UPS Tools] project to access the device properly. Please contact that project if you need new devices supported.

No Linux Driver Needed - Revision history

Tomasz Grzegurzko: Created page with "Not all devices need a Linux kernel driver in order to work properly. The following is a list of some of these types of devices. == USB devices == Most of these should not ..."