Patching kernel 2.6.38 to allow FFB for Logitech wheels.

Linux Support
1

So I have my wheel working using the LTWheelConf tool, however I have no force feedback and in order to do this I need to patch the kernel. There’s just one thing. I haven’t a scooby what to do, so I’ll post what I know/find. Perhaps someone round here can help me solve the last piece of the puzzle.

So from what I know, I need to patch the kernel to allow FFB,however the only bits of information I have right now is this wiki page and some advice a member from another forum gave me. Problem is, the kernel they talk about is very old, as is Ubuntu 8.10 and so I’d imagine quite a few things have changed.

From what I know it’s about adding the device id.


in drivers/hid/hid-core.c add: 
{ HID_USB_DEVICE(USB_VENDOR_ID_LOGITECH, USB_DEVICE_ID_LOGITECH_DFGT_WHEEL) }, 

in drivers/hid/hid-ids.h add: 
#define USB_DEVICE_ID_LOGITECH_DFGT_WHEEL // DFGT_ID_HERE 

in /drivers/hid/hid-lg.c add: 
{ HID_USB_DEVICE(USB_VENDOR_ID_LOGITECH, USB_DEVICE_ID_LOGITECH_DFGT_WHEEL), .driver_data = LG_FF },

I just haven’t a clue what I’m supposed to be doing and I’d rather someone helped me out, because I don’t want to be patching my kernel for it to then screw up and them me going through the whole process of fixing it.

2

Can you post the model of your wheel, and (with the wheel attached) the output from:

lsusb

so we can get the manufacturer:device ID’s

[EDIT]

If I’m reading this correctly:
http://lwn.net/Articles/438003/
and a few other places… isn’t force feedback support added/enabled by default for G25/G27 devices in kernels >= 2.6.39 ?
In which case wouldn’t it be easier to install 2.6.39, or wait for Oneric (11.10) ?

If you provide the device ID’s I can check in the 2.6.39 kernel source, because I’m currently running that :wink:

Or (Mwuhahahaha) post me your wheel and I’ll test it for you “for a year or two”, oops sorry I meant “and post it right back” :slight_smile:

3

Model of wheel: Logitech Driving Force GT.
Manufacturer id: Bus 005 Device 005: ID 046d:c29a Logitech, Inc.

We can install 2.6.39 if you want, but Oneric is due next month which I was going to upgrade to anyway. I will never send my wheel XD It stays with me :stuck_out_tongue:

4

Heh… It’s not if I want… it’s YOUR call :slight_smile:

5

Ok, well “I” want too then. ::slight_smile:

6

OK, you’re going to want 3 files…

For 32bit Ubuntu 11.04 desktop edition:
linux-image-2.6.39-020639rc4-generic_2.6.39-020639rc4.201104191410_i386.deb
and
linux-headers-2.6.39-020639rc4_2.6.39-020639rc4.201104191410_all.deb
and
linux-headers-2.6.39-020639rc4-generic_2.6.39-020639rc4.201104191410_i386.deb

For 64bit Ubuntu 11.04 desktop edition:
linux-image-2.6.39-020639rc4-generic_2.6.39-020639rc4.201104191410_amd64.deb
and
linux-headers-2.6.39-020639rc4_2.6.39-020639rc4.201104191410_all.deb
and
linux-headers-2.6.39-020639rc4-generic_2.6.39-020639rc4.201104191410_amd64.deb

Now put them all in a directory and call it something like kernel-2.6.39

Move that direcory into your home directory

and run these 2 commands:

cd ~/kernel-2.6.39

then

sudo dpkg -i linux-*.deb

Wait for it to leave you back at an $ prompt (may take a short while)… then reboot.

Once your back at the desktop, run:

uname -r

Output should be -
2.6.39-020639rc4-generic

Her’s where the files are actually located:
http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.39-rc4-natty/

And remember, you can always select the older kernel fron the GRUB boot screen if necessary.

7

Or would you prefer to try kernel 3.1.0-rc4 ? … it’s listed as for Oneric, but seems to work fine on my system :wink:

Though it did mention the possibility of some ATI firmware being missing during the install… but everything seems OK (so far).

8

Two things.

Number one, I can’t remember which bit-version I installed, what’s the terminal command to check that?

Number two, before we proceed, a guy from the LFS forum has built a kernel patch for 2.6.38. See here for details.

So do we still update, or? I say “we” as in, you’re helping me decide because you’re far more knowledgeable then me. :Pz

9

First check to see if you are running 64bit… because if you are, you may be better off using his patched kernel

uname -a

here’s the output for 64bit Ubuntu

Linux mark 3.1.0-0301rc4-generic #201108290905 SMP Mon Aug 29 09:11:07 UTC 2011 [b]x86_64 x86_64 x86_64[/b] GNU/Linux
10

I got:

Linux bally-laptop 2.6.38-11-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jul 29 19:05:14 UTC 2011 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
11

Hmmm he’s uploaded a 64bit kernel, you’ve got 32bit Ubuntu … which will be a problem, as you have 32bit libs and software installed :frowning:

12

Well I have an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, I believe it is 64-bit compatible. I guess I’ll update to 64-bit version of Natty? or a beta version of Oneric? or Mint 11? I could back-up files etc to the win7 box for now.

13

Sounds like a plan :wink:

14

So which to upgrade too? Oneric beta, or Natty? Mint is out the window, didn’t like the look of it at all and I don’t like KDE either :stuck_out_tongue:

15

Ultimately the choice is yours, but I’d probably go for Natty, till Oneiric has been out for a while :slight_smile:

16

Oke dokey. I guess All 76> GB of stuff will be transferred to the Win7 box, hopefully with issues >.> I know Win7 & Linux don’t like each other when it comes to permissions. I have 2x 1GB SD cards, but I’m not gonna even bother putting anything on them because it’s too much work. Might as well copy / paste my stuff from the Win7 box, then transfer back and chmod the files for permissions again… lol… this is where an NAS would come in handy… damn recession.

17

Yup, NAS is VERY handy :wink:

18

Tell you what. I’ll test your NAS for a few years, and you can test my wheel? Fair deal? :stuck_out_tongue: ::slight_smile:

19

Hmmm… let me think about that for a while…

20

Thought about it… NO :wink: