USB J-Pac under Linux

[AMIGrAve]

Hi all,

Does someone here have an USB J-Pac under Linux ?
I just plugged everything inside my cab, powered on, and I can get the controls working. So I'm wondering if I really did a good choice by buying an USB J-Pac and not a PS/2 one. I tought that just plugging the USB J-Pac would simulate a normal keyboard, even if that keyboard is limited to a scancode range. Then, I'm asking myself : does an USB keyboard is the same as a PS/2 keyboard ? I mean if I plug a PS2 keyboard I can use it in the bios by example, but if I plug an USB keyboard, could I use the USB keyboard in the bios or will it be available only when the OS load the appropriate drivers ?

[StephenH]

Try enabling the "Legacy USB Support" option in your PCs BIOS.   Also, if there is an option called "USB Function for DOS" as well, enable it.

Some versions of Linux may not boot with USB Keyboard Drivers installed.

[AMIGrAve]

Thanks dude,

As you said, there is an option in the bios called "USB Keyboard support" or something and it is disabled by default on this brand new motherboard ! It's silly ! You need a ps/2 keyboard in order to activate this option so you can use your USB keyboard !!??!! First time is see that ! ;-)

[euclidean]

One easy way to test if things work in linux is to download a version of knoppix.

This is a customised boot-cd of linux using Debain with a KDE desktop.

Think it still uses a 2.4 kernel

[AMIGrAve]

That's what I used. I always use knoppix in order to probe the hardware before installing a clean Debian. But in this case, the BIOS can't even handle the USB "keyboard" even when I activate this option that is ridiculously disabled by default. I don't understand why the BIOS of this motherboard does not accept an USB keyboard so I used a USB PS/2 converter. In other words I bought a USB Jpac instead of a PS/2 Jpac, that was my mistake, I should have tested the motherboard with an USB keyboard before buying.

[euclidean]

You probably have all ready done this, but it may be worth ensuring that you have the latest firmware for your BIOS.  If it is not a BIOS configuration issue, hopefully it does the trick.