Rockbox Technical Forums

Rockbox General => Rockbox General Discussion => Topic started by: zajacattack on November 26, 2007, 05:53:18 PM

Title: New USB Stack
Post by: zajacattack on November 26, 2007, 05:53:18 PM
OK, I would like to know:

(1) How is the new USB stack work going? What has been accomplished? What needs to be accomplished? What are the problems?

(2) Is there any way I could help? If so, how?
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: GodEater on November 27, 2007, 02:53:50 AM
(1) How is the new USB stack work going? What has been accomplished? What needs to be accomplished? What are the problems?

We have charging working (i.e. the device will request 500mA of current now, not just make do with the default 100mA).

We need to make mass storage work properly. Currently Zagor is having trouble making this work with blocks larger than 64kb (if I recall correctly).

Quote
(2) Is there any way I could help? If so, how?
Yes - work on making the mass storage allow larger transfers. Please join IRC for more details :)
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: P.Opus on November 27, 2007, 08:44:04 PM
I have noticed that the new USB stack causes problems with the Sansa crashing the OS when plugging in USB.  

It happens about 50 percent of the time, in which the screen starts to fade to white and lockup.

Is there anything I am doing wrong, or has anyone else experienced this issue with the Sansa E series.

I have noticed an entry in flyspray, but I would like to know if this is a known issue?  

Thanks to all for all their work.  I am so appreciative of all your efforts and hard work.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: scharkalvin on November 28, 2007, 07:41:29 AM
Which targets use the new USB stack (iPods and Sansa)?
I assume the Gigabeat already had USB support built in?
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: GodEater on November 28, 2007, 07:45:11 AM
Currently it's all the portalplayer 502x targets :

iPod 4G, iPod Color/Photo, iPod 5/5.5G, Mini 2G, and Nano 1G
iRiver H10
Sansa e/c 200
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Rincewind on November 28, 2007, 01:11:59 PM
I have noticed that the new USB stack causes problems with the Sansa crashing the OS when plugging in USB.  
It happens about 50 percent of the time, in which the screen starts to fade to white and lockup.
Is there anything I am doing wrong, or has anyone else experienced this issue with the Sansa E series.
I have noticed an entry in flyspray, but I would like to know if this is a known issue?  
Thanks to all for all their work.  I am so appreciative of all your efforts and hard work.

I got this once. I don't know if it is still there, I plugged the sansa in two times since then without it happening.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: TexasRockbox on November 28, 2007, 06:27:40 PM
Hello I have Rockbox r15804-071125 on iPod 5.5g.  Vista is the PC OS.

The new USB stack is welcome and have a couple comments/questions.

1. The iPod now seems to charge without booting into iPod mode.

2. I'm having difficulty getting Vista to recognize the iPod.  I cancel out of the expected "new driver" screen but the iPod drive doesn't appear.  After booting into several modes and inserting the USB cable I finally get it recognized.  It almost appears that I get the iPod recognized by accident.  Once finally recognized file deletes and transfers seem OK.  I've looked at the manual.  Any thoughts about the iPod beng consistently recognized by the OS?

Thanks!
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: cool_walking_ on November 28, 2007, 07:18:47 PM
TexasRockbox, I think this might be due to Vista.  There are a couple of threads of people on Vista having similar problems.  I've had no problems connecting my iPod 5.5G to Linux and Windows XP machines.

EDIT: After googling, it looks like Vista has a few USB Mass Storage problems in general.

Quote
I cancel out of the expected "new driver" screen
What? Why?

EDIT:  Nevermind me everybody, I just got lost in all my tabs and forgot what topic this was.  Thought we were talking about the OF USB connectivity.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: SpiderDave on November 29, 2007, 01:44:35 AM
On the front page it says:
"2007-11-23   New USB stack with limited capability. Currently it only requests full charging power. Ignore driver popups from Windows."
So doesn't that mean we hit cancel at the new hardware wizard?

I'm having the same exact issues as Texas, but I don't use Vista.

Rockbox Version r15845-071129 Nov 29, 2007-11:33:32 A
iPod Mini 2nd gen
Windows XP Pro

Computer recognizes rockbox, but it doesn't show up as a storage device.
Mysteriously starts working after about 4,5 boots.  It does the usual "do not disconnect." thing at that point.

Thanks in advance for your time and RockBox rules  ;D
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: rp on November 29, 2007, 02:13:45 AM
Computer recognizes rockbox, but it doesn't show up as a storage device.
Mysteriously starts working after about 4,5 boots.  It does the usual "do not disconnect." thing at that point.

because the usb-storage protocol is currently not working, there is a bug with the controller, which is currently investigated and the whole usb-storage code isn't fully implemented yet.

so be patient, it will work sooner or later :)
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: GodEater on November 29, 2007, 02:22:51 AM
So just to clarify :

1) By "Ignore driver popups in windows" we do indeed mean click "Cancel". Once the USB stack is working properly you won't see these popups at all, since no driver will be required (other than the USB Mass storage one already present in windows).

2) In order to have your ipod show up as a drive in windows currently, that means you have to have it either in emergency disk mode, or in the original firmware. There are countless threads elsewhere detailing how to enter both those states on the ipod, so I won't repeat them here.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: bascule on November 29, 2007, 04:03:46 AM
1. The iPod now seems to charge without booting into iPod mode.

And for crystal clarity ;) :

This is the currently-working part of the new USB stack functionality (and a very welcome one for us Sansa users!)
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Spanky on November 29, 2007, 04:14:17 AM
I would just like to report that charging works great with my iPod 4G Color in Vista. I do get the popup message but I hit cancel. If you guys need testers for this I would like to volunteer but currently my Vista pc has died. If this is still going when I get a new power supply I can definitely volunteer my 4G.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: LambdaCalculus on November 29, 2007, 08:20:38 AM
Charging works beautifully on my iPod video. I hooked it to my Linux box at home and my PC here at work (Windows XP SP2). Both PCs detect it and allow charging to start.

Soon comes the day when we can say "au revoir" to the Apple firmware! :)
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Spanky on December 03, 2007, 11:45:58 PM
One weird thing. My main computer died so now I am using my spare Windows 2000 Professional machine. When I plug the iPod in while rockbox is running, the "found new device: rockbox player" comes up on my computer but rockbox shows the usb plug image and restarts the iPod in disk mode meanwhile my computer is trying to install the software still. I just find it weird that rockbox restarts the iPod on Windows 2000 and not Vista, unless something changed in the build in the last week that caused this.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Sherv on December 04, 2007, 02:10:57 PM
Charging works beautifully on my iPod video. I hooked it to my Linux box at home and my PC here at work (Windows XP SP2). Both PCs detect it and allow charging to start.

Soon comes the day when we can say "au revoir" to the Apple firmware! :)

That day can't come soon enough :)

So can you tell me what is the display on the screen when your ipod is charging that way? I just got a new 5.5g iPod video and charging it has been a bit confusing to me, seeing as there seem to be many different ways to do so. Thanks man!
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: LambdaCalculus on December 04, 2007, 02:23:23 PM
The battery icon animates on the status bar, but the USB logo doesn't come up. It doesn't attempt to reboot into Disk Mode, either.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Sherv on December 04, 2007, 02:42:01 PM
Ah, ok, then holding menu and plugging the USB cable in seems to do the exact same thing. Thanks!

I really need to get a wall charger, USB charging is awfully slow (coming from an iAudio X5).
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: LambdaCalculus on December 04, 2007, 02:45:23 PM
I really need to get a wall charger, USB charging is awfully slow (coming from an iAudio X5).

Apple sells the chargers for about $30 a pop. I recommend getting one.

Speaking of the iAUDIO X5, Sherv... I'm looking around for one. Do you know anywhere that may still have some left? (PM me; don't respond back on the thread so we don't clutter it. :))
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: GuitarRocker2562 on December 09, 2007, 05:07:23 PM
I really need to get a wall charger, USB charging is awfully slow (coming from an iAudio X5).

Apple sells the chargers for about $30 a pop. I recommend getting one.

Speaking of the iAUDIO X5, Sherv... I'm looking around for one. Do you know anywhere that may still have some left? (PM me; don't respond back on the thread so we don't clutter it. :))

Or if you are like me and owned a 1st, and 3rd Gen. iPod, you already have a charger, its just much bigger and uses firewire.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Serenity on December 12, 2007, 10:17:26 AM
Apple sells the chargers for about $30 a pop. I recommend getting one.

Actually, I saw a Kodak brand USB charger for $10 at the local Target store, and Wal-Mart has a slimline 2-USB charger for $15. Would these work or does the iPod have "special needs"?
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: melancholydm on December 12, 2007, 10:40:57 AM
the plug for the ipod is different... so you need a ipod specific charger
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: GodEater on December 12, 2007, 10:50:39 AM
Not if the charger accepts the end of the iPod cable he doesn't... (i.e. the standard USB plug).
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Multiplex on December 12, 2007, 12:58:06 PM
Not if the charger accepts the end of the iPod cable he doesn't... (i.e. the standard USB plug).
I don't have an iPod so no personal experience but this stuck in my mind for some reason;
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=13322.msg100702#msg100702

It seems that the iPod charger is not so simple...
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: gigman on December 12, 2007, 01:43:14 PM
I really need to get a wall charger, USB charging is awfully slow (coming from an iAudio X5).

Apple sells the chargers for about $30 a pop.

are you kidding me? you could get the same charger for around five at frys
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: TexasRockbox on December 12, 2007, 04:00:51 PM
The "System" -> "Rockbox sytem" screen shows
1. "Charging" when plugged in and charging.
2. "100%" and time remaining when full
3. Just shows a remaining time when not charging

I have the Apple charger.  Probably paid too much but it keeps everything all in the family.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Oppaunke on December 14, 2007, 04:13:39 AM
Since the new USBStack (whatever that is...) is in place, I noticed that uploading music or firmware to my ipod nano is way slower when the rockbox-firmware is active than under apple-firmware. It is not like a USB1.1 to 2.0 comparison  but well noticeable. I don't know whether or not it was that slow before, since I didn't notice the difference then.

I'm also experiencing difficulties connecting the device to my PC in order to let it recognize the ipod at all. It usually takes 4-7 attempts to connect the device until it boots up in disk mode allowing me to access it while charging. But sometimes it suddenly works by the first attempt (as it was the case before the USB Stack-upgrade). I couldn't find out what's special about those cases. I always guessed it could be the cable/connector but now I see it's a comon problem.

More suitable it would be, if connecting the ipod to the PC always makes the device accessible while a mode to "listen-while-charging" should activated by a pressed key (i.e. select) during plugging in.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: cool_walking_ on December 14, 2007, 06:41:45 AM
Oppaunke, the new USB stack (what lets the iPod talk to the PC over a USB cable) is not complete - all it does currently, is request more power for charging. Whenever you were/are transferring files between your iPod and computer, you were/are using the Apple firmware.

The black-and-white screen with "do not disconnect" is Apple's "emergency disk mode" (accessible by rebooting the iPod with menu+select, and then straight away holding play+select). All Rockbox previously did, was reboot itself into this disk mode.  The emergency disk mode is also slower than the normal disk mode in the Apple firmware.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: GodEater on December 14, 2007, 09:03:55 AM
The emergency disk mode is also slower than the normal disk mode in the Apple firmware.

Especially on Nanos. Reboot into the original firmware to get full speed transfer going.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Oppaunke on December 14, 2007, 12:12:37 PM
Thank you, now everything makes sense to me - this means patience is due :-)
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: jamoiholland on January 24, 2008, 08:55:27 AM
Where would we look to see if the USB stack is finished, or wanting user testing? If anyone wants  5G testing let me know!
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: GodEater on January 24, 2008, 09:03:44 AM
The svn revision logs.

And I can tell you it's not moved on since the last time the front page was updated about it - so there's nothing new to test.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Spoonman on June 29, 2008, 05:59:26 AM
hi, did there anything happen according the new usb stack? i am waiting with an update of rockbox until it is working, because my current installation on my nano just works fine for me in all other things so i don't want to mess around with it too much.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Llorean on June 29, 2008, 06:00:45 AM
It'll be in MajorChanges when it's done.
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Spoonman on June 29, 2008, 06:06:53 AM
ok, do you maybe know if development is going forward, or if there is still the same problem with , i think it was size of the transfered data chunks or something...?
Title: Re: New USB Stack
Post by: Llorean on June 29, 2008, 06:59:23 AM
There's a couple problems, i don't know the specifics, but they could be around for a while. Status on problems like this is usually "don't know" for a very long time, until the right idea comes up, then a sudden (relatively) solution.



Fixing Llorean's inability to spell the word "know" again ;)