Novacom not able to connect on Mandriva 2010.0

[danielmader]

Hi, I am desperately trying to install preware (because I *really* want the on-screen keyboard) but I am failing at the novacom hurdle.

My system is a 32bit Linux (Mandriva 2010.0) and I seem to have no problem at converting and installing the novacom package, no matter which version I use:

[root@dionysos /]# alien --to-rpm palm-novacom_1.0.46_i386.deb
Warning: Skipping conversion of scripts in package palm-novacom: postinst prerm
Warning: Use the --scripts parameter to include the scripts.
palm-novacom-1.0.46-2.i386.rpm generated

This also works with palm-novacom_0.3-svn177284-hud9_i386.deb and creates the respective rpm packages in the same folder which I can install without apparent problems.

Also, all requirements of the novacomd server seem to be nicely fulfilled:
[root@dionysos /]$ cd /opt/Palm/novacom/
[root@dionysos novacom]# ldd novacomd
linux-gate.so.1 => (0xffffe000)
libpthread.so.0 => /lib/i686/libpthread.so.0 (0xb7778000)
libusb-0.1.so.4 => /lib/libusb-0.1.so.4 (0xb7772000)
libc.so.6 => /lib/i686/libc.so.6 (0xb7611000)
/lib/ld-linux.so.2 (0xb77ab000)
libusb-1.0.so.0 => /lib/libusb-1.0.so.0 (0xb7603000)
librt.so.1 => /lib/i686/librt.so.1 (0xb75f8000)

Yet, when I try to start the server application, it is unable to connect:
[root@dionysos novacom]# ./novacomd
[2009/12/27 14:24:00] novacomd version novacomd-71 starting...
[2009/12/27 14:24:00] novacomctl socket ready to accept
(now I plug in the Pre in dev mode and choose Charge only)
[2009/12/27 14:24:34] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:34] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:35] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:36] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:36] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:36] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:37] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:37] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:37] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:38] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:38] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:38] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:39] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:39] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:39] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:40] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:40] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:40] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:41] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:41] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:41] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:42] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:42] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:42] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:43] novacom_usb_findandattach_thread:424: usb_handle 0x08bb9c00, bus 001 dev 005
[2009/12/27 14:24:43] novacom_usb_rx_thread:354: error reading packet, retry, rc: -1, errno 9
[2009/12/27 14:24:43] novacom_usb_rx_thread:358: error reading packet, shutting down, rc: -1, errno 9
^C


Due to that, neither PrewareInstaller-0.9.5.jar nor WebOSQuickInstall.jar will work, of course.

Any help is deeply appreciated. Maybe even a way of how to cleanly install preware without having to use novacom.

Thanks in advance,
Daniel

[6tr6tr]

I'm getting the same error and have been unable to solve it. I'm getting it on openSUSE. Does ANYONE have any idea what could be causing this?

[aGaTHoS]

I have the same problem I use a minority source-based 32bit linux distro.

It seems Palm gives support only to ubuntu users, I don't know if it's a kernel feature missing like a usb-serial port driver or what.

If anyone founds the solution please post it.

[Blaize]

You guys can try installing via bootstrap here. Good luck.

EDIT: Just realized some of you don't have enough posts to see links:

http :/ /w ww. webos-internals. org/ wiki/ Application:Preware

Obviously you will want to remove all the extra spaces I added.

[jbg7474]

You might also try the webos-internals channel on freenode irc. rwhitby tends to hang out there a lot. He's likely to know what you need.

Another idea: run a virtual machine with a supported distro?