Download Linux Infrared HOWTO

Linux Infrared HOWTO
4.4. SMP
Jean Tourrilhes: "Tested IrSock, IrNET and OpenObex with multiple dongles on a SMP box. Works fine.
However, the code is not fully SMP safe yet, so you never know..."
4.5. IrDA Hardware
• SIR
• FIR
• serial dongle
• USB dongle
• PCMCIA cards
• PCI cards
You may find a survey of Linux/IrDA capable devices at TuxMobil.
4.6. IrDA and USB
The IrDA USB driver is included in recent 2.4 kernels. It's not as efficient as other FIR hardware, but at least
is supported and is relatively easy to get working. Also, all the current products are based on the same
hardware, and we know most of its bugs.
As far as I know the Actisys 2000U and Extended System ESI−9685 dongles seem to be based on the same
hardware. Both USB dongles work fine with the Linux driver. It's possible to have multiple USB dongles in a
box (for now, only up to 4).
The latest version of the driver has been tested with usb−uhci and usb−ohci. see also driver infos in src e.g.
USB 2.0
There is an USB IrDA Bridge Device spec at Rev 0.9B , it's being adopted as an USB class specification. You
can find it at under 0.9 Class Specification header at USB.org .
Recently a new type of USB dongle from SigmaTel has appeared on the market which is _not_ compliant
with the IrDA−USB specification, and therefore doesn't work with this driver. On the other hand, SigmaTel
has made available the full technical specification , so writing a driver for it is possible.
4.6.1. Environment
I have checked this chapter with this environment: ACTiSYS ACT−IR2000U FIR−USB Adapter (but it
should work for any other USB dongle except the one mentioned above), Kernel 2.4.19, irda−utils 0.9.14 and
Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 Woody.
4.6.2. Prerequisites
You need a kernel with appropriate IrDA and USB support and the standard entries in
/etc/modprobe.conf (kernel 2.6) /etc/modules.conf (kernel 2.4) and devices in /dev/ir* as
described in the chapters above. And a second IrDA device whether with Linux inside or not, e.g. a laptop, a
printer or a cell phone with IrDA port.
Chapter 4. Hardware Supported by Linux/IrDA
44