hardware hack Comedi driver/kernel module for Armbian

[pi967]

Hello,

 

I don't know where to start, but I am looking to use Velleman VM140 USB IO-board with Armbian Linux. I tried first on NanoPi R1 that I have succesfully installed Armbian Linux. 

Linux I have installed is Armbian Buster for NanoPi R1.

root@nanopi-r1:/etc# uname -r
5.7.15-sunxi

I read somewhere there is kernel support for K8061 (the usb chip on the board if I understood correctly, looks to be a pic  with USB).

dmesg after attaching USB cable to R1:

 

[960949.202099] usb 6-1: new full-speed USB device number 2 using ohci-platform
[960949.435136] usb 6-1: New USB device found, idVendor=10cf, idProduct=8061, bcdDevice= 0.00
[960949.435160] usb 6-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[960949.435175] usb 6-1: Product: K8061 USB Interface Board
[960949.435188] usb 6-1: Manufacturer: Velleman-kit

 

It looks like kernel recognises what is attached to it.

 

No device appears in the /dev filesystem on Armbian.

 

Another Linux machine running ubuntu 20.04LTS on Atom CPU dmesg after attaching the same VM140:

 

[1625465.062860] usb 1-1: new full-speed USB device number 10 using xhci_hcd
[1625465.217190] usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=10cf, idProduct=8061, bcdDevice= 0.00
[1625465.217196] usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
[1625465.217199] usb 1-1: Product: K8061 USB Interface Board
[1625465.217202] usb 1-1: Manufacturer: Velleman-kit
[1625465.262491] comedi: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
[1625465.262617] comedi: module verification failed: signature and/or required key missing - tainting kernel
[1625465.265181] comedi: version 0.7.76 - http://www.comedi.org
[1625465.266168] comedi_usb: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
[1625465.275029] vmk80xx: module is from the staging directory, the quality is unknown, you have been warned.
[1625465.276014] comedi comedi0: driver 'vmk80xx' has successfully auto-configured 'K8061 (VM140)'.
[1625465.276167] usbcore: registered new interface driver vmk80xx

 

And from /dev filesystem I can find from that system  /dev/comedi0 device after attaching the board.

 

From  this ubuntu 20.04LTS I can find the kernel module at /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/staging/comedi

 

In armbian such module does not exist.

/lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/staging/ folder is present,but no comedi sub folder exists.

 

 

Can anyone help me to know what I need to do and also is this the correct forum to ask such questions?

Is it possible that I could find the comedi module to be isntalled or do I have to compile it from source (if I knwo how to, sooner or later I guess I could).

 

I am also planning to use VM140 on Armbian and NanoPi M4.

It seems to have different CPU, looks to be Rockchip RK3399.

Will that be very much different?

 

Petri

[Werner]

So in short in upstream the kernel module is there but in Armbian it is not.

Either it is not available for ARM or (and I am pretty sure about that) it is just not enabled in the equivalent Armbian kernel config. Bringing these configs closer to upstream is still WIP and a lot of work (and therefore nobody wants to do it ).

 

The fastest way for you at the moment to get it running is to build your own kernel package using the build script available here: https://github.com/armbian/build

Checkout the documentation how to get started: https://docs.armbian.com/

 

It is not that complicated as it sounds. To break it down real quick: clone repo, run ./compile.sh, select your board and that you want to adjust the kernel config. Select the mentioned module and let it build.

Install the generated kernel package (and I recommend to install the headers, dtb and u-boot too) with dpkg -i.

Reboot and check if it is working now.

[pi967]

Thanks Werner,

 

I actually work with and around Linux systems last 16 years and counting, but there so many things that I still learn and any specific subject like this is always a little challenge. I will give it a try with your advice.

 

I am building my beasement lighting system with A LOT of light sources is a 85m2 space. Since I am old and blind I need that light. And ofcource I could not just control the lights with simple switches. Instead I used a PLC so far, but now want to get seriaous and start using Linux and get all the marvellous features available with my favourite OS.

 

In my local electronic component shop they had a couple of VM140 USB IO boards and we think tey look very cool an 80s style boards so we decided to use one to control lights and read light switches.

 

 

Petri