Re: Missing Edgeport USB driver in recent kernels

[Don <jj4@azark.com>]

Ron Johnson wrote:

> On 07/09/08 20:41, Don wrote:
> > I hope someone can shed some light on my situation...assistance will be
> > greatly appreciated.  Nice to see a lot of helpful old timers still on
> > this discussion list -- your help in the past has been appreciated.
> >
> > I recently reinstalled Debian Lenny on my computer (long story, don't
> > ask) and in the process updated the kernel (previously 2.6.18) to
> > 2.6.22.  I discovered last week that my Edgeport/8 USB to RS232 box no
> > longer works under Debian (but still works under Win2k).  Investigating,
> > I found the io_edgeport.ko driver missing from 2.6.22 and even
> > 2.6.25-2-686 on the Debian package web pages.  It apparently appeared
> > last in kernel 2.6.18.
> >
> > Why was this driver left out from the newer kernels?
> >
> > I do find the source files for io_edgeport.c and io_edgeport.h under the
> >  /lib/modules/2.6.22-3-686/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/ directory.
>
> Are you really asking is why it was not compiled in the binary kernel?

Yes, that is one of my questions.  It had been compiled in the binary 
kernel before, but apparently dropped after 2.6.18.  I read at one place 
someone was proposing it was some kind of Debian policy violation.

> What happens if you "# insmod -v io_edgeport"?

kali:/home/don# insmod -v io_edgeport
insmod: can't read '-v': No such file or directory
kali:/home/don# insmod io_edgeport -v
insmod: can't read 'io_edgeport': No such file or directory

> > uname -a output:
> > Linux kali 2.6.22-3-686 #1 SMP Sun Feb 10 20:20:49 UTC 2008 i686 GNU/Linux
> >
> > Is my best bet to try to recompile the kernel to include this driver?
> > Last time I tried that route a few years back, I had nothing but grief
> > -- but I am bracing myself to try again if necessary.  (I *am*
> > adventurous, but really don't have that much time right now for new
> > adventures!)
> >
> > Advice?  Information?
>
> It's still in the 2.6.24 kernel.
>
> $ locate io_edgeport | grep 2.6.24
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.c
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.h
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.o
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/.io_edgeport.o.cmd
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.mod.c
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.mod.o
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.ko
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/.io_edgeport.ko.cmd
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/drivers/usb/serial/.io_edgeport.mod.o.cmd
> /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.24/.tmp_versions/io_edgeport.mod
> /lib/modules/2.6.24rlj_smp/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.ko

kali:/home/don# locate io_edgeport
/usr/src/linux/linux-source-2.6.22/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.c
/usr/src/linux/linux-source-2.6.22/drivers/usb/serial/io_edgeport.h
kali:/home/don#

I note in your "locate" above that you have compiled your own 2.6.24 
kernel and apparently included the subject driver in it.  I do not 
believe the binary Debian 2.6.24 includes it (at least a search on the 
Debian package site does not find it as an included ko file like it 
finds it in 2.6.18).

I think you indirectly answered my question (the 2nd one about 
recompiling a kernel) in the affirmative.  For much of this, I'm 
treading in somewhat unfamiliar waters -- I'm not a linux newbie but yet 
I've not done much in the area of drivers and kernels before.  Guess I 
just want to be reassured by someone knowledgeable in this area that I'm 
on the right path.

Don