http://www.techradar.com/pro/linux March 2020 LXF260 17MAILSERVER
Do you have a
burning Linux-
related issue
that you want to
discuss? Write
to us at Linux
Format, Future
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Ambury, Bath,
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lxf.letters@
futurenet.com.that use Pop_OS, which we’ve seen plenty of happy
people using.Port in a storm
I want to share an experience that can be useful for
others dealing with old peripherals that have no Linux
proprietary drivers available. I have an old scanner, an
HP Scanjet 4890, which I had been using under Linux
with generic drivers for the 4850C model a long time
ago. For some years I stopped using it, but recently I
needed to bring it to life again to scan some old
slides that I love and want to keep digitised (slides,
time and humidity are not best friends, you know).
However, to my surprise, the scanner did not work
well: the resulting images were always completely
black (I tried Simple Scan and Xsane and changed
some parameters but with no success).
Just before giving up, I tried changing the USB
port to connect the scanner (“hummm...maybe a
hardware problem?”).
I chose the only USB 2.0 port available in my
laptop, and... eureka! The scanner was working again
perfectly! As you can imagine, trying again with any
of the USB 3.0 ports reproduced the previous
problem. So when buying a new PC/laptop, it’s better
to ensure it has one USB 2.0 port available if you
have old peripherals that could be still useful in the
future... just in case.
Máximo FragaNeil says...
Well done on finding a solution. I dug around a bit and
found a similar problem being discussed at http://bit.
ly/lxf260scanner. The issue seems to be the xhci_hcdWRITE TO US
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Easy streaming
I really enjoyed the Media Streamers article in LXF257, but I do
think that MiniDLNA is worth a mention as a lightweight
alternative. Personally I got fed up with the Kodi interface and
network reliability problems.
I’ve installed MiniDLNA on a Raspberry Pi 4 running Raspbian
Lite connected by Ethernet to my router. For the client side I use
VLC on Android and Linux, while my PS4 is very happy with its
default media player. I’m not a heavy user, and this has been rock
solid for both music and video streaming.
I know that it requires a little command-line configuration, but
it’s fairly straightforward to set up with as many disks as you want- well worth a try if you have a spare Pi in a drawer.
Thanks for a great magazine, it inspired my department to roll
out Linux Mint to our organisation. We currently have 25% Linux
installations and are hoping to reach 50% in the future. We are
also a Patron to the Linux Mint project, which I think is really
important and an often-forgotten part of FOSS.
Emma Logan
Neil says...
Thanks for the suggestion and kind words. Hopefully we’ll take a look
at your solution so others can give it a try down the line.Problems with your USB 3.0 devices? Check your BIOS settings.You can install Linux on lots of devices, but why would you make life
harder for yourself?CREDIT:Dellkernel module. Oddly, when xHCI pre-boot mode is
enabled, the BIOS routes the USB 3.0 ports to the USB
3 xHCI controller. Disabling this in the BIOS/UEFI can
fix the problem.1116March 2 h6r0Neih0elsy...W March 2020 LXF260 17MAILSERVER
Doyouhavea
burning Linux-
related issue
that you want to
discuss? Write
to us at Linux
Format, Future
Publishing, Quay
House, The
Ambury, Bath,
BA1 1UA or email
lxf.letters@
futurenet.com.thatusePop_OS,whichwe’veseenplentyofhappy
peopleusing.
Portinastorm
Iwanttoshareanexperiencethatcanbeusefulfor
othersdealingwitholdperipheralsthathavenoLinux
proprietarydriversavailable.Ihaveanoldscanner,an
HPScanjet4890,whichIhadbeenusingunderLinux
withgenericdriversforthe4850Cmodelalongtime
ago.ForsomeyearsIstoppedusingit,butrecentlyI
neededtobringittolifeagaintoscansomeold
slidesthatIloveandwanttokeepdigitised(slides,
timeandhumidityarenotbestfriends,youknow).
However,tomysurprise,thescannerdidnotwork
well:theresultingimageswerealwayscompletely
black(ItriedSimpleScanandXsaneandchanged
someparametersbutwithnosuccess).
Justbeforegivingup,ItriedchangingtheUSB
porttoconnectthescanner(“hummm...maybea
hardware problem?”).
I chose the only USB 2.0 port available in my
laptop, and... eureka! The scanner was working again
perfectly! As you can imagine, trying again with any
of the USB 3.0 ports reproduced the previous
problem. So when buying a new PC/laptop, it’s better
to ensure it has one USB 2.0 port available if you
have old peripherals that could be still useful in the
future... just in case.
Máximo Fraga
Neil says...
Well done on finding a solution. I dug around a bit and
found a similar problem being discussed at http://bit.
ly/lxf260scanner. The issue seems to be the xhci_hcd
WRITE TO US
LETTEROFTHEMONTH
Easystreaming
IreallyenjoyedtheMediaStreamersarticleinLXF257, but I do
thinkthatMiniDLNAisworthamentionasalightweight
alternative.PersonallyIgotfedupwiththeKodiinterface and
networkreliabilityproblems.
I’veinstalledMiniDLNAonaRaspberryPi 4 running Raspbian
LiteconnectedbyEthernettomyrouter.Fortheclient side I use
VLConAndroidandLinux,whilemyPS4isveryhappy with its
defaultmediaplayer.I’mnotaheavyuser,andthishas been rock
solidforbothmusicandvideostreaming.
Iknowthatitrequiresalittlecommand-lineconfiguration, but
it’sfairlystraightforwardtosetupwithasmanydisks as you want- wellworthatryifyouhaveasparePiinadrawer.
Thanksforagreatmagazine,itinspiredmydepartment to roll
outLinuxMinttoourorganisation.Wecurrentlyhave 25% Linux
installationsandarehopingtoreach50%inthefuture. We are
alsoaPatrontotheLinuxMintproject,whichIthinkis really
importantandanoften-forgottenpartofFOSS.
EmmaLogan
Neilsays...
Thanksforthesuggestionandkindwords.Hopefullywe’ll take a look
atyoursolutionsootherscangiveitatrydowntheline.Problems with your USB 3.0 devices? Check your BIOS settings.You can install Linux on lots of devices, but why would you make life
harder for yourself?CREDIT:Dellkernel module. Oddly, when xHCI pre-boot mode is
enabled, the BIOS routes the USB 3.0 ports to the USB
3 xHCI controller. Disabling this in the BIOS/UEFI can
fix the problem.