How to enable force feedback in kernel 2.6.34 - 64 bit?

Question

The wheel is Logitech driving force DFGT. The platform:

linux-dopx:/home/anisha/ # cat /etc/issue && uname -a 
Welcome to openSUSE 11.3 "Teal" - Kernel \r (\l).
Linux linux-dopx 2.6.34-12-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2010-06-29 02:39:08 +0200 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

To check the force feedback I did:

linux-dopx:/home/anisha/ # fftest /dev/input/event4
Force feedback test program.
HOLD FIRMLY YOUR WHEEL OR JOYSTICK TO PREVENT DAMAGES

Device /dev/input/event4 opened
Axes query:
Effects:
Number of simultaneous effects: 0
Upload effects[0]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[1]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[2]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[3]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[4]: Function not implemented
Upload effects[5]: Function not implemented
Enter effect number, -1 to exit

fftest failed with Function not implemented message.
The wheel is being detected through event4 and js0 files in /dev/input/

# cat /proc/bus/input/devices
shows:
I: Bus=0003 Vendor=046d Product=c29a Version=0111
N: Name="Driving Force GT"
P: Phys=usb-0000:00:1d.3-1/input0
S: Sysfs=/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.3/usb5/5-1/5-1:1.0/input/input7
U: Uniq=
H: Handlers=event4 js0
B: EV=1b
B: KEY=1f0000 0 0 0 0 0 0 ffff00000000 0 0 0 0
B: ABS=30007
B: MSC=10

How to counter this? No, I am not running any game. I just wanted to apply these effects to my wheel.

I even tried modprobe hid-logitech and modprobe hid, they didn't help.

Please help.

Answer 1

• I replaced the label LOGITECH_FF with LOGIWHEELS_FF in the file /usr/src/linux-2.6.34-12/drivers/hid/Kconfig.
• Set default y as shown below:

config LOGIWHEELS_FF  
    bool "Logitech force feedback support"  
    depends on HID_LOGITECH  
    default y  
    select INPUT_FF_MEMLESS  
    help  
      Say Y here if you have one of these devices:  
      -Logitech WingMan Cordless RumblePad  
      -Logitech WingMan Cordless RumblePad 2  
      -Logitech WingMan Force 3D  
      -Logitech Formula Force EX  
      -Logitech WingMan Formula Force GP  
      -Logitech MOMO Force wheel  

      and if you want to enable force feedback for them.
      Note: if you say N here, this device will still be supported, but without
        force feedback

The fftest worked with constant force as shown below.

linux-dopx:/home/anisha/ # fftest /dev/input/event4
Force feedback test program.
HOLD FIRMLY YOUR WHEEL OR JOYSTICK TO PREVENT DAMAGES

Device /dev/input/event4 opened
Axes query: 
Effects: Constant 
Number of simultaneous effects: 16
Upload effects[0]: Invalid argument
Upload effects[2]: Invalid argument
Upload effects[3]: Invalid argument
Upload effects[4]: Invalid argument
Upload effects[5]: Invalid argument
Enter effect number, -1 to exit
1
Now Playing: Constant Force
Enter effect number, -1 to exit

Thanks to: Simon from linux-input mailing list.
http://www.spinics.net/lists/linux-input/msg19084.html

Answer 2

Some users have reported that testing /dev/input/eventX, and after /dev/input/js0 was the key for them.

An other has tried every possible /dev/input/eventX and finally found a working one.

But it's quite possible that this joystick is not well supported by Linux. On vdrift wiki, they show how to make a quick patch in order to get a G25 works. Since your Suse Kernel has recognized its name, you should not need to do that. You can also take a look at your dmesg and see if Force Feedback is activated in Suse Kernel, like it's now the case in Ubuntu