Coldsync syncing under linux
Mounting a memory stick as a drive under linux
Syncing your clie via vmware

First of, you need to make sure you have the following kernel modules:

usbserial.o
visor.o

Check for them in '/lib/modules/2.x.x/kernel/drivers/usb/' ( where 2.x.x refers to your kernel version)

If you are using Redhat or another "lazy" version of linux, you will have hotplugging set up already (which will load these modules for you. ) I use Debian. So we will assume we have to do everything from scratch ( and learn a thing or two ;-) )

We need check if the modules are loaded. As root, type 'lsmod', you should see something like the following:


 FordPrefect:/home/milmber# lsmod
 Module Size Used by
 vmnet 17920 8
 vmmon 18176 5
 eeprom 3056 0
 w83781d 17072 0
 i2c-amd756 3056 0 (unused)
 visor 10208 1
 usbserial 17024 0 [visor]
 NVdriver 945088 10 (autoclean)
 3c59x 24992 1

As I said, if you are using RedHat or some other distribution, hang on. These distributions use a hotplugging feature to load these modules on demand. Just make sure they are in '/lib/modules/2.x.x/kernel/drivers/usb/'

Next we need to check if you have the proper dev nodes. Check for them under either '/dev/ttyUSBx' or '/dev/usb/ttyUSBxx'.
Check for them in /dev/ and, if they are not there create them ( as root ) with the following: ( This step should be skipped if you have Redhat 7.1 or Suse Debian 8.0 and upwards..)

  'mknod /dev/ttyUSB0 c 188 0'
 'mknod /dev/ttyUSB1 c 188 1'

Check the permissions on your '/dev/ttyUSBx' files and make sure that your defualt user can read them ( otherwise you have to be root every time you want to hotsync..). Mine are set as follows:

 crw-rw-rw- 1 root dip 188, 0 Mar 24 23:47 /dev/ttyUSB0
 crw-rw-rw- 1 root dip 188, 1 Mar 24 23:48 /dev/ttyUSB1

As you can see all users can write to these ports ( which is not really wise from a security point of view ). You "should" only allow user root and group dip to write to these ports. ( You can check whether your user is part of group dip by typing 'groups '. If it is not, add it with 'groupmod')

Next, tail your log by typing 'tail -f /var/log/messages' ( you need to be root...) and put your clie in the usb hotsync cradle and press the hotsync button. You should see something like the following:

 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: hub.c: USB new device connect on bus1/1, assigned device number 23
 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: Manufacturer: Sony Corp.
 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: Product: Palm Handheld
 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: usbserial.c: Sony Clié 4.0 converter detected
 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: visor.c: Sony Clié 4.0: Number of ports: 2
 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: visor.c: Sony Clié 4.0: port 1, is for Generic use and is bound to ttyUSB0
 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: visor.c: Sony Clié 4.0: port 2, is for HotSync use and is bound to ttyUSB1
 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: usbserial.c: Sony Clié 4.0 converter now attached to ttyUSB0 (or usb/tts/0 for devfs)
 Mar 27 22:37:22 FordPrefect kernel: usbserial.c: Sony Clié 4.0 converter now attached to ttyUSB1 (or usb/tts/1 for devfs)

Next we need to download a copy of coldsync. Make sure you have a copy of the latest version and then install.( Following the instructions for installation on the coldsync.org webpage or the INSTALL file inside the tar gzip source file). I use version 2.2.5 right now.

Create the following file in your home directory and call it '.coldsyncrc':

 listen serial {
   protocol: net;
   device: /dev/ttyUSB0;                                --> or /dev/usb/ttyUSB0; depending on your distribution
 }


Note that '/dev/ttyUSB0' points to the usb port you have plugged your clie in to. Next, type 'coldsync -mI'.
you should see something as follows:


 pda {
   snum: "your palm serial number";
   username: "your username will be printed here";
   userid: your userid;
 }


Append these lines to the '.coldsyncrc' file you created. Mine looks like this:

 listen serial {
   protocol: net;
   device: /dev/ttyUSB0;
 }
 pda "Sony Clie" {
   directory: /home/milmber/.palm;
   snum: "your palm serial number";
   username: "your username will be printed here";
   userid: your userid;
 }

Note the line that says 'directory: /home/milmber/.palm' - let this point to your home directory, and create the '.palm' directory. Create further more 'install' and 'backup' directories under the '.palm' directory.

And, now your Clie "should" sync! Note that you have to first press the hotsync button on your clie's cradle and then run 'coldsync'.

Type 'coldsync' and after a while you will see that all of the data on your clie has been backed up to '.palm/backup'. To install files, simply put them in '.palm/install' and sync.

Coldsync FAQ:

- When I try to run coldsync the program segfaults:

This might happen because of a few reasons. Have you created the .palm directory in your home directory? Is it writeable by the user running coldsync? Delete the snum: and userid: lines from the .coldsync file and try again....

- When I try to run coldsync I get the message "warning: no device on /dev/ttyUSB0; sleeping":

This means that coldsync has not seen your Clie at all. Are you pointing it to the right device? Perhaps you are running a newer distribution of linux with devfs and you need to point it to /dev/usb/ttyUSB0? Or you might not have the neccessary permission to access the device. Lastly, are you sure you are pressing the hotsync button on the cradle before you run coldsync? If all else fails, change the protocol setting in the .coldsyncrc file to simple instead of net.

Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost last message repeated 3 times
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: hub.c: port 1, portstatus 103, change 0, 12 Mb/s
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: hub.c: USB new device connect on bus1/1, assigned device number 13
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb.c: kmalloc IF c6511cc0, numif 1
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb.c: new device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb.c: USB device number 13 default language ID 0x409
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: Manufacturer: Sony
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: Product: Sony PEG Mass Storage
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb-storage: act_altsettting is 0
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb-storage: id_index calculated to be: 55
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb-storage: Array length appears to be: 64
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb-storage: USB Mass Storage device detected
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb-storage: Endpoints: In: 0xc33afda8 Out: 0xc33afd94 Int: 0xc33afd80 (Period 1)
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usbdevfs: USBDEVFS_CONTROL failed dev 13 rqt 128 rq 6 len 4 ret -6
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb-storage: Found existing GUID 054c00990000000000000000
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb-storage: Allocating IRQ for CBI transport
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb-storage: usb_submit_urb() returns 0
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: WARNING: USB Mass Storage data integrity not assured
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: USB Mass Storage device found at 13
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb.c: usb-storage driver claimed interface c6511cc0
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb.c: kusbd: /sbin/hotplug add 13
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: usb.c: kusbd policy returned 0xfffffffe
Oct 13 15:30:37 localhost kernel: hub.c: port 2, portstatus 103, change 0, 12 Mb/s
Oct 13 15:30:55 localhost modprobe: modprobe: Can't locate module char-major-6

Recompile your modules and reboot...try to reload them and mount the memory stick. All should work fine now ;-)

6. Syncing with Vmware:

Syncing with vmware using your usb cradle and clie does not work. Or, at least I have not ever heard of anyone getting it working and I sure as hell has never gotten it working. ( I virtually "lived" in the vmware newsgroups up until now trying to solve this...).

Quick Update! While I am writing this I have checked vmware website and seen that a new release (3.2) is avaliable. This should hopefully fix the USB issue..

You can, however, sync to windows inside vmware with a serial cradle/cable. First, you will need some extra hardware:

 - A serial sync cable avaliable from either Brando ( They delivered from Hong Kong to me in the UK within 3 days...), or Expansys.

 - A serial cradle, aka Sony part no PEGA-SC500. This cradle is only avaliable in the US. They don't sell it in Europe and I will be damned if I know why....You can get it from the sonystyle website or from compusa...

Once you have your hardware, check that you have the following settings:



Also check that your settings inside windows are fine too...





Note that windows has to support USB, so WinNT and Win95 won't work...
Also note that serial syncing is slower than USB and you should not try to copy mp3 to your clie this way..
I suggest you do that by mounting you memory stick and copying your mp3's to '/Palm/Programs/msaudio/' on the memory stick.
Once you are set, check the permissions on '/dev/ttySx' and make sure that you can read and write to them:

 crw-rw-rw- 1 root root 4, 64 Mar 27 08:44 /dev/ttyS0
 crw-rw-rw- 1 root root 4, 65 Jan 2 2000 /dev/ttyS1
 crw-rw-rw- 1 root root 4, 66 Jan 2 2000 /dev/ttyS2
 crw-rw-rw- 1 root root 4, 67 Jan 2 2000 /dev/ttyS3

Note the same security warning as in the usb section above...

And, once you run the hotsync app inside your clie, your should see your clie syncing!




If you have any comments, or tips that I did not think of please email me...and if you manage to USB sync your clie with Windows in Vmware let me know!! ( I will add a howto here...)


    milmber