Need help trying to patch a driver

Sat Nov 24 03:41:33 UTC 2007

On Fri, 2007-11-23 at 21:59 -0500, John Toliver wrote:
> 
> On Fri, 2007-11-23 at 18:41 -0500, John Dangler wrote:
> > On Fri, 2007-11-23 at 12:21 -0500, John Toliver wrote:
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: John Dangler <jdangler at terremark.com>
> > > Reply-To: Ubuntu user technical support, not for general
> discussions
> > > <ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > > To: Ubuntu user technical support, not for general discussions
> > > <ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com>
> > > Subject: Re: Need help trying to patch a driver
> > > Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:33:10 -0500
> > >
> > > On Fri, 2007-11-23 at 10:49 -0500, John Toliver wrote:
> > > > This is the first I am hearing of being able to do this.  My T23
> has
> > > > has
> > > > a problem with trackpoint drift for a while and I googled a fix
> in
> > > the
> > > > form of a "driver patch"  clicking on the link to me to a
> document
> > > > with
> > > > code in it that is all.  I know I need to do something with the
> code
> > > > but
> > > > I haven't a clue how to "patch" a driver.  I have googled the
> > > subject
> > > > and all I get are hits on pages of other driver patches
> available
> > > but
> > > > not a howto on how to actually patch your driver.
> > >
> > > I'd be interested to see the link.
> > >
> > > > My question is:
> > > >
> > > > 1. is it possible to backup the driver you are going to patch
> and if
> > > > so
> > > > how?  Is this as simple as a file copy?
> > > Device drivers (I am assuming that this is what you are referring
> to)
> > > are (usually) a mix of 'C' and Assembler code which provide
> interface
> > > instructions between the OS and the particular device.  They
> should be
> > > able to be copied.
> > >
> > > > 2. How do you actually patch a driver?
> > > Usually, 'patching' a driver would mean replacing the existing
> code
> > > with
> > > the updated code, since most people don't write this level of
> code.
> > > If
> > > the code you found is meant to be inserted into, or a replacement
> for
> > > certain parts of a particular driver, you'll need the source code
> for
> > > it
> > > (which is presumably available with the linux source).
> > >
> > > > 3. Once the deed is done, how do you restore it if your system
> check
> > > > out
> > > > for a night cap?
> > > Since we're speaking of a relatively minor annoyance here, if the
> > > pointing devices simply go 'south' after the patch is applied and
> the
> > > system is restarted, going into a text terminal and moving the
> > > original
> > > back should suffice.
> > >
> > > Caution: If the device driver is one that is built into the
> kernel,
> > > this
> > > would mean re-compiling the kernel.
> > >
> > > > Please correct me if I'm approaching this wrongly.
> > > >
> > > > Thank you in advance.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > ubuntu-users mailing list
> > > > ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> > > > Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> > > > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
> > > >
> > >
> > > I'd be interested to see the link
> > >         jt- here it is:
> > >
> http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Patch_to_enable_advanced_trackpoint_configuration#Drift_Correction
> >
> > The note on this page says -
> > since 2.6.14-rc5 the patch is included in the mainline kernel
> > This leads me to believe that this patch is already included in the
> > currently running kernel.
> > In Gutsy, my current kernel is _Linux Nebo 2.6.22-14-generic_
> > >
> > > Usually, 'patching' a driver would mean replacing the existing
> code
> > > with
> > > the updated code, since most people don't write this level of
> code.
> > > If
> > > the code you found is meant to be inserted into, or a replacement
> for
> > > certain parts of a particular driver, you'll need the source code
> for
> > > it
> > > (which is presumably available with the linux source).
> > >
> > >         jt-here is what I think is the assembler and C you are
> talking
> > > about: http://paste.ubuntu-nl.org/45576/  Now is this source code?
> > The code looks to be 'C' code (although the code appears to be a
> header
> > file for inclusion in a 'C' program.
> > >
> > > Caution: If the device driver is one that is built into the
> kernel,
> > > this
> > > would mean re-compiling the kernel.
> > >
> > >         jt-how would I determine if the driver I'm using is a part
> of
> > > the kernel or if it's separate?
> > Since the code on this page is mentioned as being a part of the
> kernel,
> > I would assume it is built-in.  If it is a module which is loaded
> > outside the kernel, there would be a .ko file which would have to be
> > either loaded at startup via rc, or it would be modprobe+d when you
> want
> > to load it.
> > >       
> > > jt-Does a method (other than speaking assembler or C exist to
> > > determine if
> > > this was malware before I tried to add this to my system?
> > Not knowing all of the intricacies of what the default Ubu kernel
> should
> > or should not interface with, you probably wouldn't know on the
> surface.
> > That is a subject left to more knowledgeable minds than mine at the
> > moment.
> > >       
> > >       
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > ubuntu-users mailing list
> > > ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> > > Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> > > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
> > >
> > >
> 
> Thanks for you help.  I'm not going to recompile my kernel to
> alleviate
> trackpoint drift.  I'm OK on the command line but I'l wait a while
> before I go there :-)  I appreciate it though.  Are you a programmer?
I've done a fair bit of 'C' and some Assembler in my time.  I've done a
bit of device driver writing as well, although its been a while.
I've done a lot of application and database design work over the last 12
or 15 years, though.
> 
> 
> --
> ubuntu-users mailing list
> ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> Modify settings or unsubscribe at:
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
> 
> 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: smime.p7s
Type: application/x-pkcs7-signature
Size: 2151 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-users/attachments/20071123/8abd4cb8/attachment-0001.bin>