Release notes for tipar
=======================

What's new ?
------------

This driver support the Devfs (Device File System) capability which was
introduced in 2.4 kernels.
It has been submitted to the Linux Kernel Mailing List and should be included
in the mainstream kernel soon...
This module has an official device number now.


Summary
-------

This driver allows you to access a parallel link cable thru a character
device. This avoid to be root for using a such cable. Moreover, this driver
is built on parport, the parallel port abstraction layer. Then, this driver
is (theoritically) independant of the platform.

It can also be used with another device plugged on the same port (such as a 
ZIP drive). I have a 100MB ZIP and it works fine !

This version has been developped from scratch but is fully compatible with the 
'tidev' kernel module. It works for kernel 2.2 or 2.4.
 
To compile this tipar version, you'll need parport, either compiled in 
your kernel, either as a module.
This driver supports the new device hierarchy (devfs) so you may activate it 
in your kernel (currently experimental).

The latest tipar version is available here:
	http://lpg.ticalc.org/prj_tidev/


Before compiling tipar
----------------------

You should know where the kernel headers are located as well as your kernel
version. If you have a 'vanilia' kernel, the path is '/usr/src/linux'.
It may change with some other distributions or packaged kernels.

So, you may have to edit the Makefile for the right location. There are only
1 variables to edit: KDIR := /usr/src/linux for instance. That's all !


Compile tipar
-------------

You need configured kernel sources to compile the tipar driver.  
The driver uses some Makefile magic to compile the modules with your kernel's 
configuration (wrt. module-versions, SMP, ...).  If you already have compiled 
the kernel at least once, you probably don't have do worry about this.  If
not, go to /usr/src/linux and run at least "make (x)config".  Even
better, compile your own kernel, you'll never become a real hacker
else ;-)

Note that you have to turn on parport support (CONFIG_PARPORT_DEV)
in the kernel to get the parport.o module which is required by tipar.
You may also turn on devfs support (CONFIG_DEVFS_FS).
For compiling tipar.o, simply type 'make clean' and next 'make'.


Installing tipar
----------------

Once compiled, you need to install the module: type "make clean; make; make 
install" for this. 
This will copy the module (tipar.o) to the correct modules directory, 
and will creates the special device files in /dev as well as links for
ensuring compatibility with 'tidev' nodes. 

You may then load the module by typing the command "insmod tiser.o" as root 
or by typing 'make load'.
If you did not plug your cable on your calculator, the module should be able to
auto-detect on which port your parallel link is plugged.

You may have to adjust permissions on character devices...

Nodes are assigned as follow (independantly of their hardware address):
/dev/tipar0              first found port
/dev/tipar1              second found port
/dev/tipar2              third found port
...

If you have enabled the automount support, the module can be automagically
loaded by the kernel whenever a program try to use it. For this, simply
add the following line in your /etc/modules.conf or /etc/modutils/arch/i386
(depending on your Linux distribution):

        alias char-major-61             tipar
        alias char-major-62             tiser
	alias char-major-180-225        tiglusb

Until I fix it, you will have to recreate the nodes in /dev/ whenever you
restart your machine. Simply do a 'make devices'.
If you have enabled devfs, you don't have to worry about this.


Options
-------

See module/Insmod-options


Limitations
-----------

You can not load simultaneously more than 1 module between tipar/tiser/tiglusb.

--
Romain Lievin, 2000-2002, <roms@lpg.ticalc.org>



