N900 Hardware USB Host

(New page: This page is for those working on the implementation of friendly USB host mode. {{category:N900_Hardware}})
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This page is for those working on the implementation of friendly USB host mode.
This page is for those working on the implementation of friendly USB host mode.
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{{category:N900_Hardware}}
+
 
 +
See also [https://garage.maemo.org/projects/h-e-n/ the garage project].
 +
 
 +
==Status==
 +
USB Host mode has reached beta status, and is working reliably with manual speed switching.
 +
 
 +
Proper host mode would only require the normal cable, and a commonly available adapter. ([http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250641334947 USB A-A adaptor]) Or maybe you like to get a fitting all-in-one small adapter, or make one fit ([http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=873725#post873725 N8 OTG adapter rework]). Huge rigid adapters are STRONGLY DEPRECATED, regarding the notorious problems with USB receptacle coming off the PCB.
 +
 
 +
A pre-alpha of hostmode was released on the 23rd of September, here: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=824298
 +
 
 +
This release is unreliable, and an implementation of proper host mode is likely to be much more stable.
 +
 
 +
A beta release, based on Paul's completely rewritten patches (see h-e-n's garage repository) was released on the 7th of November, and is the closest release yet to proper hostmode, http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=65232
 +
 
 +
There are several parts to getting USB host mode working for normal users.
 +
 
 +
Some of these are quite easy, many are not.
 +
 
 +
* Kernel modifications to make USB host work properly [done, thanks to Paul]
 +
 
 +
* USB modules for supporting hardware.  This is fairly simple for most hardware - some hardware modules will not compile cleanly on ARM, and binary drivers that allow you to use windows drivers with some stuff will never work.
 +
 
 +
For most drivers, if a particular driver does not work, it's generally a bug in the driver that should be fixed by that drivers maintainer.
 +
 
 +
* Understanding and reverse engineering [[N900_Software_BME|BMEs (Battery managment Entity)]] interaction with the hardware.   
 +
 
 +
This is in progress. All of the hardware required to make a BME clone is understood.
 +
 
 +
* Usermode software.
 +
** The current software will not do the right thing if the user plugs in almost all devices - even if hostmode worked. To make a mouse work, you might want to enable a pointer for example.
 +
 
 +
==Ideas for hostmode user-software==
 +
When an external power supply is found, the following should be done in sequence.
 +
 
 +
*If the supply is a charger (D+,D- short, detected by the 1707a), fast charge.
 +
*Attempt to enumerate as a device, if this succeeds (including handling of suspended busses), then enumerate and charge as a device, respecting the enumerated current.
 +
*If both enumeration as a device and charger detection have failed, we may be plugged into a hub or device with reverse power. Attempt to enumerate connected devices (=hostmode. Will not work due to [probably hardware] limitations in hostmode, which block speed selection after VBUS got applied). Charge at user-defined maximum current. For example - may be a 500mA power supply also supplying the hub and a keyboard = 2 unit loads - max draw = 300mA. Anyway see http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=921203#post921203 for actually powering N900 from external supply during hostmode. Implementation of this feature to h-e-n GUI still pending.
 +
 
 +
==Installation==
 +
Install hostmode-gui from -devel, kernel-power will be installed if no other compatible kernel is present.
 +
 
 +
'''apt-get install hostmode-gui'''
 +
 
 +
[Update]
 +
 
 +
"The most recent h-e-n pkg itself should come '''without any kernel''' now (just the GUI), however, it does depend on kernel-feature-usbhost, so any kernel providing that works, if no kernel is installed, kernel-power will be installed, and - as mentioned in a previous post - h-e-n doesn't plan to ship any dedicated hostmode kernels anymore.
 +
The GUI will check if a compatible API is present (as per /proc/driver/musb_hdrc), and will notify to user if problems are detected (with hostmode support in whatever is the currently installed kernel).
 +
 
 +
Of course a mere update of h-e-n pkg won't magically switch from h-e-n hostmode kernel to power kernel. You have to care for that yourself."
 +
 
 +
==Usage==
 +
 
 +
A help window is available and will guide you through the steps needed.
 +
The mount button currently executes a script that reads /proc/partitions and mounts all devices there on /media/<partition_number>.
 +
The script will also modprobe ntfs and isofs (if /dev/sr0 is present), it will also create a temporary symlink (/dev/dvd) so mplayer works without any modifications (a package with DVD support compiled is needed)
 +
Disabling tracker by adding /media/<partition_name> to tracker-cfg's non watch configuration is HIGHLY recommended, use tracker-cfg UI.
 +
 
 +
== Devices ==
 +
You can plug-in almost anything into a usb port of the n900. However, many devices require a special driver in order to work. The custom kernel already provides basic drivers for devices such as:
 +
 
 +
* USB Storage(cd-roms, flash drives, hdd, etc)
 +
* USB HID(Keyboards, mice, joysticks, touchpads, etc)
 +
 
 +
== Demos ==
 +
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDzUG-bno6Q by MohammadAG (usb CD-ROM)
 +
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ED92orZLMM by divan0 (usb flash drive)
 +
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qfx_jaQ9jo by divan0  (usb HDD via usbhub)
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* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua5xpTZJpwo by divan0 (usb mouse)
 +
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9byE_qTl15M by divan0 (usb keyboard)
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* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YPk4Y0ZPQY by divan0 (usb card reader)
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* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IyeSNGCWTA by divan0 (usb Ethernet adapter)
 +
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUjbFi3-GpA by davidxfoo (USB I2C Sonar SRF08)
 +
 
 +
==Hostmode development team:==
 +
 
 +
'''Project Admins:'''
 +
*Joerg Reisenweber
 +
*Paul Fertser
 +
 
 +
'''Developers:'''
 +
*Chitrang Srivastava
 +
*Dave na
 +
*Hagen Meyer
 +
*Ian Stirling
 +
*Jacek Milewicz
 +
*Klaus Kurzmann
 +
*Mohammad Abu-Garbeyyeh
 +
*Mugur Enache
 +
*Sarah Newman
 +
*Sonny Jim
 +
*Tom Tanner
 +
 
 +
Most information is taken from [http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=65232 this thread] created by MohammadAG
 +
 
 +
[[category:N900_Hardware]]

Latest revision as of 23:41, 8 January 2012

This page is for those working on the implementation of friendly USB host mode.

See also the garage project.

Contents

[edit] Status

USB Host mode has reached beta status, and is working reliably with manual speed switching.

Proper host mode would only require the normal cable, and a commonly available adapter. (USB A-A adaptor) Or maybe you like to get a fitting all-in-one small adapter, or make one fit (N8 OTG adapter rework). Huge rigid adapters are STRONGLY DEPRECATED, regarding the notorious problems with USB receptacle coming off the PCB.

A pre-alpha of hostmode was released on the 23rd of September, here: http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=824298

This release is unreliable, and an implementation of proper host mode is likely to be much more stable.

A beta release, based on Paul's completely rewritten patches (see h-e-n's garage repository) was released on the 7th of November, and is the closest release yet to proper hostmode, http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=65232

There are several parts to getting USB host mode working for normal users.

Some of these are quite easy, many are not.

  • Kernel modifications to make USB host work properly [done, thanks to Paul]
  • USB modules for supporting hardware. This is fairly simple for most hardware - some hardware modules will not compile cleanly on ARM, and binary drivers that allow you to use windows drivers with some stuff will never work.

For most drivers, if a particular driver does not work, it's generally a bug in the driver that should be fixed by that drivers maintainer.

This is in progress. All of the hardware required to make a BME clone is understood.

  • Usermode software.
    • The current software will not do the right thing if the user plugs in almost all devices - even if hostmode worked. To make a mouse work, you might want to enable a pointer for example.

[edit] Ideas for hostmode user-software

When an external power supply is found, the following should be done in sequence.

  • If the supply is a charger (D+,D- short, detected by the 1707a), fast charge.
  • Attempt to enumerate as a device, if this succeeds (including handling of suspended busses), then enumerate and charge as a device, respecting the enumerated current.
  • If both enumeration as a device and charger detection have failed, we may be plugged into a hub or device with reverse power. Attempt to enumerate connected devices (=hostmode. Will not work due to [probably hardware] limitations in hostmode, which block speed selection after VBUS got applied). Charge at user-defined maximum current. For example - may be a 500mA power supply also supplying the hub and a keyboard = 2 unit loads - max draw = 300mA. Anyway see http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?p=921203#post921203 for actually powering N900 from external supply during hostmode. Implementation of this feature to h-e-n GUI still pending.

[edit] Installation

Install hostmode-gui from -devel, kernel-power will be installed if no other compatible kernel is present.

apt-get install hostmode-gui

[Update]

"The most recent h-e-n pkg itself should come without any kernel now (just the GUI), however, it does depend on kernel-feature-usbhost, so any kernel providing that works, if no kernel is installed, kernel-power will be installed, and - as mentioned in a previous post - h-e-n doesn't plan to ship any dedicated hostmode kernels anymore. The GUI will check if a compatible API is present (as per /proc/driver/musb_hdrc), and will notify to user if problems are detected (with hostmode support in whatever is the currently installed kernel).

Of course a mere update of h-e-n pkg won't magically switch from h-e-n hostmode kernel to power kernel. You have to care for that yourself."

[edit] Usage

A help window is available and will guide you through the steps needed. The mount button currently executes a script that reads /proc/partitions and mounts all devices there on /media/<partition_number>. The script will also modprobe ntfs and isofs (if /dev/sr0 is present), it will also create a temporary symlink (/dev/dvd) so mplayer works without any modifications (a package with DVD support compiled is needed) Disabling tracker by adding /media/<partition_name> to tracker-cfg's non watch configuration is HIGHLY recommended, use tracker-cfg UI.

[edit] Devices

You can plug-in almost anything into a usb port of the n900. However, many devices require a special driver in order to work. The custom kernel already provides basic drivers for devices such as:

  • USB Storage(cd-roms, flash drives, hdd, etc)
  • USB HID(Keyboards, mice, joysticks, touchpads, etc)

[edit] Demos

[edit] Hostmode development team:

Project Admins:

  • Joerg Reisenweber
  • Paul Fertser

Developers:

  • Chitrang Srivastava
  • Dave na
  • Hagen Meyer
  • Ian Stirling
  • Jacek Milewicz
  • Klaus Kurzmann
  • Mohammad Abu-Garbeyyeh
  • Mugur Enache
  • Sarah Newman
  • Sonny Jim
  • Tom Tanner

Most information is taken from this thread created by MohammadAG

Retrieved from "http://wiki.maemo.org/N900_Hardware_USB_Host"