HP smart card reader (EL347AA) on Ubuntu

[Torbjørn Moen]

Hi.

I've tried installing EL347AA (SCR 243) on Ubuntu Gutsy, but I seem to fail. I've installed the drivers from the SCM web page, but even with the module loaded the device isn't recognized.

Running lspcmcia shows the device, but no drivers are loaded.

SCM is a OEM supplier only and does not support end-users so that's a dead end. HP offers no support (or drivers) for this device, but they claim that the 2510 is certified with SuSe. Anyone got any clues?

My laptop is the 2510p.

Thanks.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

HP drivers only work with specific distributions of Linux. If your distro is not on the list it is probably useless to try the install.

If HP says the device works with Suse maybe thats the distribution you should use. I say that in spite of my great affection for Ubuntu.

SEP

[Torbjørn Moen]

Hi.

HP doesn't have any drivers for SuSe and the drivers are not included in SuSe.

SCM has drivers for the SCR 243 for both 2.4 and 2.6 kernels, but these drivers doesn't recognize the device. Most likely because HP has put their own firmware on the device so it is identified as HP PC CARD SMART CARD READER or something like that.

[Torbjørn Moen]

Just an update. I got tired of trying and bought an unbranded SCR 243. Plugged it in, and the driver immediately recognized the SCR 243.

This just proves my theory that HP has put its own firmware on the device preventing it from being usable with the SCM driver..... Do I have any chance of getting HP to release a driver? My laptop is certified for SuSe and the smart card reader is an option (and my laptop was delivered with the reader).

[Alex Samad]

maybe the driver doesn't know about the vendor/product id of the hp card?

[Torbjørn Moen]

That is what I believe. Don't have the HP reader here so I could check it, but I do believe that was my conclusion too

[gabor laszlo]

Hi,

What is the output of lspcmci -v?

Product Name:
Identification: manf_id:
etc...

G

[Torbjørn Moen]

HP-Branded:

Socket 0 Device 0: [-- no driver --] (bus ID: 0.0)
Configuration: state: on
Product Name: HP PC Card Smart Card Reader
Identification: manf_id: 0xffff card_id: 0x0001
prod_id(1): "HP" (0x53cb94f9)
prod_id(2): "PC Card Smart Card Reader" (0xbfdf89a5)
prod_id(3): --- (---)
prod_id(4): --- (---)


SCM OEM un-branded:

Socket 0 Device 0: [scr24x_cs] (bus ID: 0.0)
Configuration: state: on
Product Name: SCR243 PCMCIA Smart Card Reader
Identification: manf_id: 0xffff card_id: 0x0001
prod_id(1): "SCR243 PCMCIA" (0x2054e8de)
prod_id(2): "Smart Card Reader" (0xf5a90d5d)
prod_id(3): --- (---)
prod_id(4): --- (---)

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom again,

Clearly the OS sees the hardware.

But the original driver problem I pointed out in December still exists.

If HP did not write a driver for the OS its either write the driver yourself or choose a supported OS.

SEP

[Torbjørn Moen]

Dear Mr. Steven E. Protter.

If you've been reading what I've been saying. I have tried using SuSe, but the card reader is not automaticly detected and there is not driver supplied by HP.

Why should I write a driver for a device modified by HP for a OS supported by HP? I've bought a product for HP that they stated as an option to a Linux-supported laptop.

I would also be very surpriced if a driver written for SuSe wouldn't work for Ubuntu. SCM managed to do it for the same card reader, why shouldn't HP? They just need to add the product id to the driver source which isn't publicly available.

[Micky_1 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

you can use the original driver from SCM with a simple modification.
Download the driver from SCM.
Extract the files, and find the file scr241_main.c
Search for the lines containing
PCMCIA_DEVICE_PROD_ID1("SCR243 PCMCIA",0x2054e8de),
PCMCIA_DEVICE_PROD_ID1("SCR24x PCMCIA",0x54a33665),
and add the line
PCMCIA_DEVICE_PROD_ID1("HP", 0x53cb94f9),

then use the script install to install the driver...everything should work now.

Background:
The driver from SCM detects the card by identifying the PROD_ID1 (see "pccardctl info"), but this strings has been changed by HP from "SCR243 PCMCIA" to simply "HP".....
So the driver from SCM just ignores this card, because this particular PROD_ID is not defined in the driver..

Regards
Michael

[Torbjørn Moen]

Thank you! That did the trick!