Linux NetMag - Aldi-Tablett

Published at 7.11.2001
Author: Sascha Kloss
Translator: Sebastian Kueppers
Languages: de

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Aldi-Tablett

Preface

This article describes the installation of the ALDI-graphic tablet on a Linux-system.
Users of SuSE-Linux can use their tablet from the basic installation without installing it, whereas Mandrake 8.0 users have to go through the installation procedure. Whether an installation is still necessary using Mandrake 8.1 it is still to be seen.
The idea of this article came to me when I changed from SuSe 7.0 to Mandrake 8.0.
If you do not own such a tablet look at the sections below to find everything necessary to be prepared for the installation.
"May the source be with you!"
And here we have a quick look at the tablet:

detailed view

On the tablet's back you (should) find something like this:

Specifications

Model:	T-6000U
FCC ID:	NRQUT6045N

with which you can determine the tablet's manufacturer. Aiptek, manufacturer of this device offers more detailed information on its homepage.
This tablet is being sold by Aldi and Plus already.
With the board you get a wireless mouse and a pen.

The problem

With some Linux distributions the graphic tablet is not automatically installed as a mouse-device or it is simply declared to be "not supported".
But there is in fact no problem using it because it accords to the USB-Mouse-protocoll standard.

The solution...

... is as easy as that:
Supposing that you installed your system using a "spare mouse" (NOT a spare rib!) and you have your system running a Linux-Console there are a few easy steps to do.
Because most of the distributions support USB devices by now, the first step is to remove ALL currently loaded driver modules from the kernel.
Have a look at the currently loaded modules using the lsmod command.
It doesn't matter if modules like usbcore, usb-uhci or mousedev are not loaded.
If some or all of these modules are loaded, unload them by executing:

  >> rmmod usbmouse
  >> rmmod mousedev
  >> rmmod input
  >> rmmod usbcore

Now all modules should be unloaded
Now again for all of you:
Just load the modules back into the kernel. But remember: Better attach your graphic tablet to the computer first!
These are the commands to be executed:

  >> insmod usb-uhci
  >> insmod usbcore
  >> insmod input
  >> insmod mousedev
  >> insmod usbmouse
  >> insmod hid

That's it!
Now the green light on the tablet should flash or light up for a few seconds.
As the tablet surely is used in the X environment mainly you have to edit the /etc/X11/XFconfig86-4 file.
Just edit it with your favourite texteditor from the console prompt (switch to root first!)

/etc/X11/XFconfig86-4

  Section    "InputDevice"
  Identifier "USB Mice"
  Driver     "mouse"
  Option     "Device"	"/dev/input/mice"
  Option     "Protocol"	"PS/2"
  EndSection

In the section "ServerLayout" at the end of the file you have to add:

  InputDevice "USB Mice" "SendCoreEvents"

After (re)staring the X server the mouse (more precisely: both mice) should be working.

Remarks

This article has been tested by the author of the german version of this article.
Unfortunately the needed kernel modules are named differently on some systems.
If loading the usb-uhci module fails, try loading usb-ohci instead.
Please feel free to post comments and remarks in the comment-area.

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