Need help trying to patch a driver

Sat Nov 24 04:24:55 UTC 2007

On Fri, 2007-11-23 at 22:16 -0500, John Dangler wrote:
> 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
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> > 
> >
I come from a windows background.  I would be what you call a "power
user" in windows.  I have done enough with the most of the windows OS's
that Linux so fare doesn't seem so foreign.  I reached the point where I
wished I could program so that I could create what I couldn't seem to
find to do what I needed.  I knew I was eventually going to live windows
software but I was so heavily invested in it.  I'd slowly moved to using
mostly cross platform apps, then one day, I through a (Feisty) CD in the
drive for fun, and I haven't had the need to boot my windows
installation since.  I think the amount of customizing you can do with
linux is a breath of fresh air.  I don't know yet if I will stay with
ubuntu, but at the moment, I certainly haven't seen too many reasons not
to.  I think if I learned to write some code, I could fill in the gaps
for myself, in ubuntu.

Thanks for your help again...
now I'm off to do some reading for the night.