Maemo Wiki Mirror - User contributions [en]

N900 Hardware USB Host

2010-11-15T17:12:34Z

212.90.177.150: /* Demos */

This page is for those working on the implementation of friendly USB host mode.

See also [https://garage.maemo.org/projects/h-e-n/ the garage project].

==Status==
USB Host mode has reached beta status, and is working reliably with manual speed switching.

Proper host mode would only require the normal cable, and a commonly available adapter. ([http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250641334947 USB A-A adaptor])

A pre-alpha of hostmode was released on the 23rd of September, here: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=824298

This release is unreliable, and an implementation of proper host mode is likely to be much more stable.

A beta release, based on Paul's completely rewritten patches (see h-e-n's garage repository) was released on the 7th of November, and is the closest release yet to proper hostmode, http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=65232

There are several parts to getting USB host mode working for normal users.

Some of these are quite easy, many are not.

* Kernel modifications to make USB host work properly [done, thanks to Paul]

* USB modules for supporting hardware. This is fairly simple for most hardware - some hardware modules will not compile cleanly on ARM, and binary drivers that allow you to use windows drivers with some stuff will never work.

For most drivers, if a particular driver does not work, it's generally a bug in the driver that should be fixed by that drivers maintainer.

* Understanding and reverse engineering [[N900_Software_BME|BMEs (Battery managment Entity)]] interaction with the hardware.

This is in progress. All of the hardware required to make a BME clone is understood.

* Usermode software.
** The current software will not do the right thing if the user plugs in almost all devices - even if hostmode worked. To make a mouse work, you might want to enable a pointer for example.

==Ideas for hostmode user-software==
When an external power supply is found, the following should be done in sequence.

*If the supply is a charger (D+,D- short, detected by the 1707a), fast charge.
*Attempt to enumerate as a device, if this succeeds (including handling of suspended busses), then enumerate and charge as a device, respecting the enumerated current.
*If enumeration as a device, and charger detection have failed, we may be plugged into a hub or device with reverse power. Attempt to enumerate connected devices. Charge at user-defined maximum current. For example - may be a 500mA power supply also supplying the hub and a keyboard = 2 unit loads - max draw = 300mA.

==Installation==
Install hostmode-gui from -devel, your kernel will be replaced.

'''apt-get install hostmode-gui'''

[Update]

"The most recent h-e-n pkg itself should come '''without any kernel''' now (just the GUI), and - as mentioned in a previous post - h-e-n doesn't plan to ship any dedicated hostmode kernels anymore, and '''recommends using power kernel''' instead.
The GUI will check if a compatible kernel is installed, and will notify to user if problems are detected (with hostmode support in whatever is the currently installed kernel).

Of course a mere update of h-e-n pkg won't magically switch from h-e-n hostmode kernel to power kernel. You have to care for that yourself."

==Usage==

"A help window is available and will guide you through the steps needed.
The mount button is currently hardcoded to mount /dev/sda1, default for most USB flash drives and HDDs.
For NTFS support, do modprobe ntfs as root
For ISO (CDs/DVDs - most of them), do modprobe isofs (also as root).
CDs will have the dev node /dev/sr0, so you'll need to do mount /dev/sr0 /mnt etc...
Disabling tracker by adding /media/flash to tracker-cfg's non watch configuration is recomended, use tracker-cfg UI."

== Devices ==
You can plug-in almost anything into a usb port of the n900. However, many devices require a special driver in order to work. The custom kernel already provides basic drivers for devices such as:

* USB Storage(cd-roms, flash drives, hdd, etc)
* USB HID(Keyboards, mice, joysticks, touchpads, etc)

== Demos ==
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDzUG-bno6Q by MohammadAG (usb CD-ROM)
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ED92orZLMM by divan0 (usb flash drive)
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qfx_jaQ9jo by divan0 (usb HDD via usbhub)
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua5xpTZJpwo by divan0 (usb mouse)
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9byE_qTl15M by divan0 (usb keyboard)
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YPk4Y0ZPQY by divan0 (usb card reader)

==Hostmode development team:==

'''Project Admins:'''
*Joerg Reisenweber
*Paul Fertser

'''Developers:'''
*Chitrang Srivastava
*Dave na
*Hagen Meyer
*Ian Stirling
*Jacek Milewicz
*Klaus Kurzmann
*Mohammad Abu-Garbeyyeh
*Mugur Enache
*Sarah Newman
*Sonny Jim
*Tom Tanner

Most information is taken from [http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=65232 this thread] created by MohammadAG

[[category:N900_Hardware]]

Preenv/FAQ

2010-10-28T14:13:01Z

212.90.177.150: /* How to get NFSU Working? */

==How to install Preenv?==

Gain [[root access]] and use <code>apt-get</code> in the [[terminal]]:
$ root
# apt-get install preenv
# exit

== What do I use to extract an ipk file? ==

[http://7-zip.org 7-zip] or any other tool able to extract Debian packages (dpkg, file-roller, ...)

Here is the Video guide on how to install WebOS games to the N900 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGQwWZ_VriA

Or you can follow the steps below....

==How to install a game==

use 7-zip to extract -> game-folder

Copy the game folder to <code>/home/user/[webOS-games]</code>:

$ sudo gainroot
$ cd game-folder
$ chmod a+x filename

e.g. <code>filename</code> = <code>nfsuc</code> in need for speed case or sims in case of sims3

$ preenv
$ ./filename

Once you know that the file plays properly. you can add the menu button:

$ sudo gainroot
# preenv
# desktopgen game-folder/appinfo.json
# exit

==How to delete a game==

Enter preenv and cd into the game folder:
$ preenv
$ cd game-folder

Become root and use desktopgen to delete game icons:
$ root
# preenv
# desktopgen -r appinfo.json
# exit
# exit

Now you can delete the game folder itself:
$ cd ..
$ rm -r game-folder

=== Deleting games installed with old preenv 0.1 ===

Become root and delete the folder:
$ sudo gainroot
$ rm -r game-folder

To remove the icon, you need to delete three files:
$ rm /usr/share/applications/hildon/filename.desktop
$ rm /usr/share/dbus-1/services/filename.service
$ rm /usr/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/hildon/filename.png

Refresh your menu:
$ killall hildon-desktop

==How to get N.O.V.A working?==

Install extra packages for N.O.V.A, then follow the regular install guide.

$ sudo gainroot
$ apt-get update
$ apt-get install libsdl-net1.2

==How to get Monopoly Classic working with an icon?==

After installation and creating an icon, lastly follow it with this step

$ cd *monopoly
$ chmod 777 monopolyclassic/save

== How to get NFSU Working? ==
'''Easy way:'''

install [http://maemo.org/packages/view/nfsu-installer/ nfsu-installer] from extras-devel via Application Manager and run it. See [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f-a-7yakkM youtube video] on how it works.

'''Manual way:'''

get root
root
install preenv and OpenGLES1 (need extras-devel)
apt-get install libgles1 preenv
create main game dir on eMMC card
mkdir -p /home/user/MyDocs/Games/nfs
go to that dir and copy dowloaded .ipk file from desktop (or download directly here)
cd /home/user/MyDocs/Games/nfs
scp user@COMPUTER:/path/to/game/com.ea.app.nfsuc_20.0.28_all.ipk /home/user/MyDocs/Games/nfs
create file for loopback mount
dd if=/dev/zero of=/home/user/MyDocs/Games/nfs/nfsu.ext2 count=120 bs=1024k
create ext2 filesystem on it
mkfs.ext2 /home/user/MyDocs/Games/nfs/nfsu.ext2
press 'y'<br>
make mountpoint
mkdir /mnt/nfsu
save it to the fstab
echo -e "/home/user/MyDocs/Games/nfs/nfsu.ext2\t/mnt/nfsu\text2\tloop,auto\t0\t0" >> /etc/fstab
finally, mount it
mount /mnt/nfsu/
create symlynk from /usr/palm (NFSU installs there)
ln -s /mnt/nfsu/ /usr/palm
extrack .ipk file
dpkg -X /home/user/MyDocs/Games/nfs/com.ea.app.nfsuc_20.0.28_all.ipk /mnt/nfsu/
make binary executable
chmod +x /mnt/nfsu/applications/com.ea.app.nfsuc/nfsuc
create desktop launcher
desktopgen /mnt/nfsu/applications/com.ea.app.nfsuc/appinfo.json

== Unable to connect to USB after above method? ==

If after following the following tutorial, you are unable to connect your N900 to your PC's USB, open xterm on your device:

get root
root
unmount the image file
umount /mnt/nfsu

Once you're done with USB you can remount the image
mount /mnt/nfsu

[[Category:Software]]

== Save space (Transfer games to MyDocs folder) ==

If running out of space in the /home/user/[webos] directory, part of the game that usually takes up the most space can be copied to /home/user/MyDocs. ''NOTE'': You still need the game folders to be in the /home/user/[webos] directory, only some of the files are transferred to MyDocs.

'''Example using NFSU'''

The example assumes NFSU does not exist in /home/user/[webos].

Open xterm, create a folder in MyDocs:
mkdir /home/user/MyDocs/preenv
mkdir /home/user/MyDocs/preenv/nfsu

Create NFSU folder in /home/user/[webos]:
mkdir /home/user/[webos]/com.ea.app.nfsuc

Copy ''only'' the files indicated as below from the NFSU source (location where ipk file has been extracted) to /home/user/[webos]
cp [SOURCE]/com.ea.app.nfsuc/appinfo.json /home/user/[webos]/com.ea.app.nfsuc/
cp [SOURCE]/com.ea.app.nfsuc/nfsuc /home/user/[webos]/com.ea.app.nfsuc/

Copy res_nfusc folder from NFSU to MyDocs:
cp -r [SOURCE]/com.ea.app.nfsuc/res_nfsuc /home/user/MyDocs/preenv/nfsu/

Now create a symbolic link res_nfsuc in the [webos] nfsuc folder that points to the actual res_nfsuc folder in the MyDocs folder:
ln -s /home/user/MyDocs/preenv/nfsu/res_nfsuc /home/user/[webos]/com.ea.app.nfsuc/res_nfsuc

Don't forget to change the permission of the executable nfsu file in [webos]:
sudo gainroot
chmod +rwx /home/user/[webos]/com.ea.app.nfsuc/res_nfsuc/nfsuc
exit

Now you should still be able to play NFSU, having saved roughly 110MB on /home/user/[webos].

'''Example using BrainChallenge'''

The example assumes BrainChallenge does not exist in /home/user/[webos].

Open xterm, create a folder in MyDocs:
mkdir /home/user/MyDocs/preenv
mkdir /home/user/MyDocs/preenv/brainchallenge

Create BrainChallenge folder in /home/user/[webos]:
mkdir /home/user/[webos]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge

Copy ''only'' the files indicated as below from the BrainChallenge source (location where ipk file has been extracted) to /home/user/[webos]
cp [SOURCE]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/appinfo.json /home/user/[webos]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/
cp [SOURCE]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/icon.png /home/user/[webos]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/

Copy files from the brainchallenge folder from BrainChallenge source to MyDocs:
cp [SOURCE]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/brainchallenge/*.* /home/user/MyDocs/preenv/brainchallenge/

Also copy any subdirectories in the brainchallenge folder to MyDocs:
cp -r [SOURCE]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/brainchallenge/sounds /home/user/MyDocs/preenv/brainchallenge/

Copy the following code and save it to a file with the name 'createln.sh'. ''NOTE'': Do not save this file using Windows Notepad; if using Windows, use software like TextPad to save the file in unix format. Copy this file to any folder on your N900.

#!/bin/sh

cd $1
files="`ls -1 $1`"

for file in $files
do
echo $file
ln -s $1/$file $2/$file
done

Create folder brainchallenge in [webos] brainchallenge folder:
mkdir /home/user/[webos]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/brainchallenge

Copy the brainchallenge executable file from Brainchallenge source location to the [webos] folder:
cp [source]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/brainchallenge/brainchallenge /home/user/[webos]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/brainchallenge/

Now create symbolic links in the [webos] nfsuc folder that point to the actual files in the brainchallenge folder located in MyDocs (using ''createln''):
sh [..]/createln /home/user/MyDocs/preenv/brainchallenge/brainchallenge/ /home/user/[webos]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/brainchallenge

Also create symbolic links to any folders inside the brainchallenge folder in MyDocs:
ln -s /home/user/MyDocs/preenv/brainchallenge/brainchallenge/sounds /home/user/[webos]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/brainchallenge/sounds

Don't forget to change the permission of the executable brainchallege file in [webos]:
sudo gainroot
chmod +rwx /home/user/[webos]/com.gameloft.app.brainchallenge/brainchallenge/brainchallenge
exit

Now you should still be able to play BrainChallenge, having saved roughly 114MB on /home/user/[webos].

The method used for the BrainChallenge game has also been tested and works with Asphalt 5, Blades of Fury and X-Plane Airliner.