GPS and Mepis 6.0

What does readme.txt say?

--
Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Thanks, Adrian, The readme.txt says, Quote:

Release Information

Driver Version for Linux 2.4.x : V0213

Released date: 02/13/2002

Files Included in This Release:
pl2303.c
pl2303.h
usbserial.c
usb-serial.h
readme.txt
makefile

Changes in This Release:
1. To fixed using cat command problem in Linux

Sorry, but that driver is very unlikely to work in Mepis 6.0 as it is written for 2.4 series kernels and Mepis 6.0 uses a 2.6 series kernel. A lot of APIs have changed between the two.

Tks, M8, but that's not much help. If necessary, I can go back to Mepis 3.4 for the GPS issue if that's the problem. I just need to know how to install the driver to see if the thing will run. Else, I can continue with XP if there is no alternative.
Sorry, but I'm ignorant of the difference between 2.4 and 2.6 and whether or not there are any advantages for me in this situation, i.e. I know that I am not going to go to Vista, but I'm glad I left '98, if you know what I mean?

Why don't you create a virtual machine with Win 98, and use it for the app you need. That way you won't have to reboot every time

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Uh, Win '98? What would be the purpose of that?

Oh, or XP for that matter. 98 is just lighter for a VM, that's all. But if you have > 512 MB memory and a decent CPU (> 2 GB), XP can be installed without problems in a VM, especially when you cut out all the frills.

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

The point is that I want to move my machine into a Linux mode and not have to rely on MS/XP. Yeah, I know about VM and all that, but that defeats the purpose of what I am trying to do: use my GPS receiver under Linux.
I could also load up one of the mini XP versions on a VM but if there is a Linux driver, why not go that route? What I am trying to do is wean myself off MS.

Well, you could try compiling it. Just open up a terminal there and type

make

if that works, su to switch to root and type

make install

As stated above, it may not work. You might need to install the header files for your kernel version to get it to compile, too.

Thanks for the constructive idea!
Tried it - no go. Lots of error notifications:

ron@1[ld_pl2303_v0213]$ make
gcc -D__KERNEL__ -I/usr/src/linux/include -DCPU=586 -march=i586 -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes -O2 -fomit-frame-pointer -fno-strict-aliasing -pipe -DMODULE -c pl2303.c
In file included from pl2303.c:12:
/usr/include/linux/config.h:1:2: error: #error "Compilation aborted. Please read the FAQ for linux-libc-headers package."
/usr/include/linux/config.h:2:2: error: #error "(can be found at http://ep09.pld-linux.org/~mmazur/linux-libc-headers/doc/)"
In file included from /usr/include/linux/sched.h:16,
from pl2303.c:14:
/usr/include/linux/signal.h:2:2: warning: #warning "You should include . This time I will do it for you."
In file included from /usr/include/linux/resource.h:4,
from /usr/include/linux/sched.h:79,
from pl2303.c:14:
/usr/include/linux/time.h:9: error: redefinition of 'struct timespec'
/usr/include/linux/time.h:15: error: redefinition of 'struct timeval'
/usr/include/linux/time.h:20: error: redefinition of 'struct timezone'
/usr/include/linux/time.h:47: error: redefinition of 'struct itimerval'
In file included from pl2303.c:15:
/usr/include/linux/signal.h:2:2: warning: #warning "You should include . This time I will do it for you."
pl2303.c:19:24: error: linux/slab.h: No such file or directory
pl2303.c:22:30: error: linux/tty_driver.h: No such file or directory
pl2303.c:23:28: error: linux/tty_flip.h: No such file or directory
In file included from pl2303.c:24:
/usr/include/linux/module.h:41: error: field 'attr' has incomplete type
/usr/include/linux/module.h:49: error: field 'kobj' has incomplete type
In file included from /usr/include/linux/spinlock.h:1,
from pl2303.c:25:
/usr/include/linux/err_kernel_only.h:1:2: error: #error Kernel only header included in userspace
In file included from usb-serial.h:40,
from pl2303.c:33:
/usr/include/linux/config.h:1:2: error: #error "Compilation aborted. Please read the FAQ for linux-libc-headers package."
/usr/include/linux/config.h:2:2: error: #error "(can be found at http://ep09.pld-linux.org/~mmazur/linux-libc-headers/doc/)"
In file included from pl2303.c:33:
usb-serial.h:72: error: syntax error before 'wait_queue_head_t'
usb-serial.h:72: warning: no semicolon at end of struct or union
usb-serial.h:76: error: syntax error before 'port_lock'
usb-serial.h:76: warning: type defaults to 'int' in declaration of 'port_lock'
usb-serial.h:76: warning: data definition has no type or storage class
usb-serial.h:79: error: syntax error before '}' token
usb-serial.h:92: error: array type has incomplete element type
usb-serial.h:117: error: field 'driver_list' has incomplete type
usb-serial.h:127: warning: 'struct file' declared inside parameter list
usb-serial.h:127: warning: its scope is only this definition or declaration, which is probably not what you want
usb-serial.h:128: warning: 'struct file' declared inside parameter list
usb-serial.h:131: warning: 'struct file' declared inside parameter list
usb-serial.h:132: warning: 'struct termios' declared inside parameter list
usb-serial.h: In function 'serial_paranoia_check':
usb-serial.h:164: warning: implicit declaration of function 'dbg'
usb-serial.h: In function 'port_paranoia_check':
usb-serial.h:188: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
usb-serial.h:193: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
usb-serial.h:198: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
usb-serial.h: In function 'get_usb_serial':
usb-serial.h:209: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
usb-serial.h:215: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type
pl2303.c: At top level:
pl2303.c:42: warning: 'struct file' declared inside parameter list
pl2303.c:43: warning: 'struct file' declared inside parameter list
pl2303.c:45: warning: 'struct termios' declared inside parameter list
pl2303.c:47: warning: 'struct file' declared inside parameter list
pl2303.c:53: error: array type has incomplete element type
pl2303.c:54: warning: implicit declaration of function 'USB_DEVICE'
pl2303.c:58: error: array type has incomplete element type
pl2303.c:78: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
pl2303.c:79: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
pl2303.c:83: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
pl2303.c:84: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type

And then the command line stopped.

A clarification rlfeathers. Make sure that you "cd" into th directory that you have created, and that contains all of the code (the directory should have been created when you unzipped the package). So cd into it, and then do the "make". Any changes?

Another thing, along the line that carlops, and AdrianTM mentioned above. If you don't want to use Windows (I don't blame you). You could always use Mepis 6x for the HOST computer, but create a virtual machine and put Mepis 3.3 or 3.4 into it. Or put any other Linux distro that still uses the 2.4 kernel. Slackware comes to mind. It's extremely conservative, and can be pared down to the minimal info you need. The only problem I forsee will be whether the VM could properly see the USB connection...

Jon

No computer is magic, no operating system is magic, no website is magic. They all require human interaction, thought, and responsibility to work.

Jon, I did the make from the unzipped driver directory and got those results.
I have an old mepis 3.4 disk that I will use to see if I can get the driver loaded from the LiveCD and, if so, follow your suggestion, in one fashion or another. I like Mepis because I don't have to jump through any hoops to get my WLan working - Knoppix, Ubunto and others have caused me problems in that field. I don't wanna go through any NDISWrapper nonsense to get the card fired up.
As it it, Mepis won't see my WiFi on my HP dv5000 notebook. Neither Mepis 3.4 nor 6.0. Machines with PCMCIA wireless cards work fine.

I could also load up the Mini-XP I have, run it on a VM but that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? I'd still be running XP and not Linux.

Ron

Have you gone through these steps:

http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php/Adjust_the_wireless_connection

If those don't work, paste back the info described at the bottom and we can try to help.

Thanks, Jerry. I'll give it a whirl when I figure out how to get my USB GPS working on my Mepis Evo that already works well with wireless.
I simply want to be able to use the receiver with Linux and not have to depend on MS, whether on a VM or strictly in XP. Linux should work, I just need to learn how to make it work.
That's the point I am trying to get passed at the moment.

Ron

And I agree completely. I was just trying to offer some help in another area of frustration where I actually know something...

Appreciate it, Mate. The fact is I have a problem with Linux and folks are telling me how to solve it with MS. Hell, I don't have a problem in MS/XP, the damned thing works there. I want it to work in Linux.
If I had a problem with MS, I'd not be in this forum.

I simply want a Linux Driver for my Holux GR-213. No bells or whistles - just a driver so I can use my GPS with Google Earth.
The Holux supplied driver does not, repeat DOES NOT work with 2.4 or 2.6 kernels.
I don't need a VM - I have dual boot in XP/Mepis and Earthbridge and Google Earth work there in XP.
I don't need a mini XP.

No one can help me - guess I'll stay with XP. It works.
Mepis will remain a toy for me, not a real OS.
Thanks for the ideas.

I hope you noticed that there have been a number of people trying to help you. And many of us understand that you want to do this entire thing in Linux Only, no vms, etc.

But one question has not been asked, nor answered, so I'm going to ask it now. Have you contacted the vendor to ask why their driver(s) use the old 2.4 kernel?. The 2.6 kernel's been out for a couple years now. I don't follow the details of such things, but open-source or no, the vendor is responsible for keeping things up-to-date.

Don't you find it rather irksome that the vendor can keep a Windows XP driver up-to-date, but not be bothered to keep the Linux driver up-to-date? Have you contacted the vendor to tell them your concerns?

Please let us know what you find out (if anything).

Jon

No computer is magic, no operating system is magic, no website is magic. They all require human interaction, thought, and responsibility to work.

Brilliant, Jon. Just Brilliant. Great idea. I wasn't aware that vendors were responsible for that stuff. I'll check.
I suspect the driver works for '98 and XP and, Hey, what the Hell, why not for Vista? Linux? Do Linux folks really use GPS?
I'll check with the folks.

Thanks

Ron

Update - OK fellas, I learned about dmesg - it tells me that my gps is recognized and loaded to either /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyUSB01 (depending on what else is running at the time) so I have to assume a/the driver has been loaded. Correct or not?
2nd thing - when I load gpsdrive and change the device to one of the above, I still get no sign from the program that it has locked on to any signals.
3rd thing - does anyone really know about using USB GPS receivers with Linux and Google Earth or am I in the wrong forum?

I don't know zip about this stuff, but the issue of connecting the device and seeing it in the program should be fairly standard.

For the heck of it, I installed gpsdrive (though I have no GPS device) and played around with it.

The only obvious things I can come up with:
- did you uncheck the 'test for Garmin'?
- did you uncheck 'use DGPS-IP'?
- did you check the 'use serial connection'?

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Yep, been there and done 'em all. That dog don't hunt.