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#1 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:50 AM

Hi,

I installed Gentoo on my Sony laptop. I configured the standard embedded pointing device, and today
I added a Kensington trackball. The trackball uses a standard mini-din connection. I want to be able
to use both of them (trackball at home, default device when I travel)
I rebooted the computer and the trackball hasn't been detected. How can I have it to work? I've read
on a google search that I have to edit the X86Config file, but then I'm stuck... Also I'd like to
configure each of the 4 buttons around the central ball. Can I do it on Gentoo?
Thanks,

--

Charles.

Fatal error for /usr/bin/laden

#2 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:51 AM

"Charles" <nothing@nothing.com> writes:

> Hi,
>
> I installed Gentoo on my Sony laptop. I configured the standard embedded pointing device, and today
> I added a Kensington trackball. The trackball uses a standard mini-din connection. I want to be able
> to use both of them (trackball at home, default device when I travel)
> I rebooted the computer and the trackball hasn't been detected. How can I have it to work? I've read
> on a google search that I have to edit the X86Config file, but then I'm stuck... Also I'd like to
> configure each of the 4 buttons around the central ball. Can I do it on Gentoo?

In general the answer will be yes, but I know nothing about Sony laptops, so beware ;-)

There are two considerations: First, the physical device must be
supported by the kernel before X can use it. Second, your XF86Config
file must be correct before X will use the physical device.

What device is the trackball connected to? My guess would be a ps/2 port,
but I don't know. Do you?

Second, what kind of built-in mouse does the machine have? Your XF86Conifg
should tell you that if X is working okay. The section marked "InputDevice"
dealing with mice should tell you what X is using now.

#3 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:51 AM

If it's PS/2 you'll generally end up with a new mouse entry

/dev/input/mouse2

Create a new mouse entry in XF86Config and point it to the second mouse
device... I've successfully had a USB and PS/2 mouse working at the same
time this way, so it's completely possible.

The section should look something like this...

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mouse2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

but you may also need to get imwheel to get all the buttons to work right.

-=KW=-

#4 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:51 AM

KW wrote:
> If it's PS/2 you'll generally end up with a new mouse entry
>
> /dev/input/mouse2
>
> Create a new mouse entry in XF86Config and point it to the second mouse
> device... I've successfully had a USB and PS/2 mouse working at the same
> time this way, so it's completely possible.
>
> The section should look something like this...
>
> Section "InputDevice"
> Identifier "Mouse0"
> Driver "mouse"
> Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
> Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
> Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
> Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
> EndSection
>
>
> Section "InputDevice"
> Identifier "Mouse1"
> Driver "mouse"
> Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
> Option "Device" "/dev/input/mouse2"
> Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
> Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
> EndSection
>
> but you may also need to get imwheel to get all the buttons to work right.
>
>
> -=KW=-

I have had luck with (on a Dell Inspiron)
Option Protocol "Auto"

Then I have my bios to auto disable the touchpad so that an external
mouse works fine with the ps/2 port and scrolling works fine with
ZAxisMapping and when I do not have an external mouse, the touchpad
works fine too.

#5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:51 AM

Mmmh.... It didn't work out. Let me see if I can find a solution. Are you sure 2 pointing devices
can reside on the same computer?
Thanks,

--

Charles.

Fatal error for /usr/bin/laden

#6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:52 AM

"Charles" <nothing@nothing.com> writes:

> Mmmh.... It didn't work out. Let me see if I can find a solution. Are you sure 2 pointing devices
> can reside on the same computer?

Yes, the X documentation specifically allow for multiple input devices,
which you can specify as per the other posters in this thread.

Any specific error messages, etc?

#7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008, 05:52 AM

Charles wrote:

> Mmmh.... It didn't work out. Let me see if I can find a solution. Are you
sure 2 pointing devices
> can reside on the same computer?

try to add the following line in your XFree86Config-File in
Section "InputDevice"

Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"

for both Input Devices (Generic + Trackball).

Don´t forget to add the new mouse entry in Section "ServerLayout" ->

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "..."
InputDevice "..."
InputDevice "Generic Mouse"
InputDevice "Trackball"

Regards,
Jung-Mok

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