[ltp] trackpoint kernel driver

Richard linux-thinkpad@linux-thinkpad.org
Tue, 23 Aug 2005 03:48:16 +0100 (BST)


Dear Stephen,

Thanks very much for your help,

>> However, there is just a kernel patch, as opposed to any way to build a
>> new kernel module. Recompiling the entire kernel takes many many hours on
>> this (a22) machine. So, is there any way to build the trackpoint module to
>> work with the kernel which I already have? (It's kernel 2.6.12-8mdk from
>> Mandriva 2006 Beta 2).
>
> The answer is that 'it depends.' If your kernel has the PS/2 mouse
> driver configured as a module then you can just patch the kernel
> sources that match your running kernel and make the psmouse module
> only. However, if your mouse driver is built in to the kernel then you
> will have to recompile.
>
> You can check for this by grep psmouse /proc/modules
>

Unfortunately, it's not a module, so I will have to recompile on another 
machine, However, one of the reasons I am testing is to try to beta test 
Mandriva 2006. I could file a bug on this, suggesting that Mandriva should 
support the trackpoint by default. Is there any reason (eg stability or 
conflicts) why your driver shouldn't be included in the distro's kernel? 
Or is it just that it has been overlooked, and should be included by 
default?

Regards,

Richard


P.S. Am I correct in my understanding that your driver works to set the 
sensitivity of the older type psaux trackpoints, as well as the newer 
synaptics ones? Also, will it work with an ultranav USB keyboard 
containing trackpoint+touchpad?