Linux Infrared HOWTO

Werner Heuser

Linux Mobile Edition Edition

Version 3.8

TuxMobil

Berlin

Copyright 2000-2011 Werner Heuser

$Date: 2011-10-31 15:06:07 $

The Infrared-HOWTO provides an introduction to Linux and infrared devices and how to use the softwareprovided by the Linux/IrDA project. This package uses IrDA(TM) compliant standards. IrDA(TM) is anindustrial standard for infrared wireless communication, and most laptops made after January 1996 areequipped with an IrDA(TM) compliant infrared transceiver. Infrared ports let you communicate with printers,modems, fax machines, LANs, and other laptops or PDAs. Speed ranges from 2400bps to 4Mbps.

The Linux/IrDA stack supports IrLAP, IrLMP, IrIAS, IrIAP, IrLPT, IrCOMM, IrOBEX, and IrLAN. Severalof the protocols are implemented as both clients and servers. There is also support for multiple IrLAPconnections, via several IrDA(TM) devices at once. The Linux/IrDA project started at the end of 1997 andexperienced some major rewrites since then. Please don't expect every feature working straight yet. As far as Iknow Linux/IrDA is the only open source IrDA implementation available.

Remote Control (RC) via infrared is the aim of the Linux Infrared Remote Control - LIRC project, and alsodescribed in this HOWTO.

Copyright (c) 2000-2011 Werner Heuser. For all chapters permission is granted to copy, distribute and/ormodify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any laterversion published by the Free Software Foundation; with the Invariant Sections being "Preface" and "Credits",with the Front-Cover Texts being "Linux Infrared HOWTO", and with the Back-Cover Texts being thesection "About the Document and the Author". A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNUFree Documentation License".

mailto:wehe[AT]tuxmobil.org

Table of ContentsPreface..................................................................................................................................................................1

1. About the Document............................................................................................................................12. Status of the Document........................................................................................................................13. About the Author.................................................................................................................................1

I. IrDA..................................................................................................................................................................2

Chapter 1. About the Linux/IrDA Project.......................................................................................................41.1. Project History..................................................................................................................................41.2. Code History.....................................................................................................................................4

Chapter 2. Getting Started.................................................................................................................................52.1. Software............................................................................................................................................5

2.1.1. IrDA-Utils...............................................................................................................................52.1.2. openobex.................................................................................................................................72.1.3. e-squirt.....................................................................................................................................82.1.4. IrNET for Linux-IrDA.............................................................................................................82.1.5. Java - IrDA Interface...............................................................................................................8

2.2. Kernel................................................................................................................................................82.2.1. Preface.....................................................................................................................................82.2.2. General Parameters..................................................................................................................82.2.3. IrDA Specific Parameters........................................................................................................92.2.4. Current Kernel Patches..........................................................................................................13

2.3. Kernel Module Options...................................................................................................................132.4. Configuration..................................................................................................................................15

2.4.1. Device Numbers....................................................................................................................152.4.2. Device Arrangement..............................................................................................................152.4.3. /etc/modules.conf..................................................................................................................152.4.4. /etc/irda..................................................................................................................................162.4.5. BIOS Configuration..............................................................................................................162.4.6. Serial Port..............................................................................................................................162.4.7. Resource Conflicts: IRQ, IO.................................................................................................172.4.8. Starting IrDA.........................................................................................................................17

Chapter 3. Specific Connections and IrDA - Protocols.................................................................................183.1. Starting the IrDA Stack...................................................................................................................18

3.1.1. Standard InfraRed - SIR........................................................................................................183.1.2. Fast InfraRed - FIR................................................................................................................193.1.3. Dongle Connection - Infrared Adapters for the Serial Port...................................................193.1.4. Dongle Connection - Infrared Adapters for the USB Port....................................................203.1.5. Dongle Connection - Infrared Motherboard Adapter............................................................20

3.2. Printer Connection..........................................................................................................................203.3. LAN Connection - IrLAN...............................................................................................................213.4. HP NetBeamer Connection.............................................................................................................213.5. Palm III Connection - IrCOMM.....................................................................................................213.6. Linux Terminal on Palm (Handspring Visor) via IR......................................................................223.7. Psion 5 Connection.........................................................................................................................223.8. Connecting from Linux to WinCE 2.11..........................................................................................23

Linux Infrared HOWTO

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Table of ContentsChapter 3. Specific Connections and IrDA - Protocols

3.9. Connecting from Linux to WinCE 3.0 (aka PocketPC)..................................................................253.10. Cellular Phone Connection...........................................................................................................27

3.10.1. Generic Instructions............................................................................................................273.10.2. OBEX Connection...............................................................................................................303.10.3. Specific Mobile Phones.......................................................................................................303.10.4. German e-plus.....................................................................................................................33

3.11. Digital Camera Connection...........................................................................................................343.12. Microsoft-Windows and Linux/IrDA...........................................................................................35

3.12.1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................353.12.2. Connection between Linux/IrDA and MS-Windows95 IrDA(TM)....................................363.12.3. Communication between MS-Windows98 and Linux........................................................363.12.4. Communication between MS-Windows2000/XP and Linux..............................................36

3.13. Linux