[CLUE-Tech] Palm synching on a Dell, running Knoppix/Debian

[James LaRue]

I'm investigating Linux platforms for the library. My goal is to move 
both staff and public over to Linux by spring of 2005. This would make 
us the first public library in the country to do so! Recent experiments 
have included Fedora Core, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 (WS), and now I'm 
mucking about with Knoppix/Debian.

The setup was easy. apt-get is a marvelous tool for updating everything. 
But I'm stymied by something that is essential for staff use: I cannot 
get my Palm M505 to synch. This subdivides into two issues:

1. USB synching. Apparently, Knoppix doesn't install USB modules in the 
kernel. Even setting up a symbolic link to /dev/ttyUSB0 doesn't 
recognize the HotSync. I believe the "lsmod" command must list visor and 
usbserial. It doesn't. I can find the visor.o module, but the "modprobe" 
command won't install it, even if I give the full file name. No clue 
why. Late update: I did manage to install BOTH usbserial.o and visor.o 
using the insmod command (and full filenames). I also checked the 
/proc/bus/usb directory to make sure that it had the following 
files:001  002  devices  drivers. But it doesn't seem to have made any 
difference... Well, the Info Center program now does show USB devices, 
so that's progress. But still no friendly chirp that suggests my machine 
is talking to the Dell.

2. Serial synching. I DID expect this to work with JPilot. Again, set up 
the sym link to /dev/ttyS0, and got the friendly chirp -- but it hangs 
on "identifying user," then eventually times out. I have the latest 
available versions of both pilot-link and JPilot (which is what I'm 
trying to synch to). But no matter what I do -- including using KPilot 
to set the user name, no luck.

Details on machine: Dell Precision 450, 512K RAM, 80 gig hard drive.

Anybody have any ideas?

-- 
Jamie LaRue, Director
Douglas County Libraries
Voice: 303-688-7656
Email: jlarue @ jlarue.com

"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door." - Jack Handey