FREECOM extension module for BeOS USB mass storage support

This FREECOM extension module (The Extension) is kind of the helper for BeOS USB Storage Module (The Module) that is designed to support external CD/DVD drives connected with FREECOM USB 1.1 Cable. This software is for BeOS/Dano/Zeta operating systems.

Note that this manual contains only FREECOM extension specific information. For general USB Storage Module questions look into the corresponding manual.

Table of Contents

• Installation and using
• Troubleshooting
• Writing a problem report
• Contact and support information
• Credits
• The History

1. Installation and using

1. Contents of distribution archive:

       ReadMe.freecom.html      <--- file you are reading now
       install.sh       <--- installation script
       uninstall.sh     <--- uninstallation script
       freecom              <--- The Extension binary
       device_info.sample  <--- device description sample
   

2. Run ./install.sh to install The Extension on your system. This script do the following:
• copies The Extension binary to /boot/home/config/add-ons/kernel/generic/usb_scsi_extensions/ directory
• add device definition into /boot/home/config/settings/kernel/drivers/usb_scsi file
• ask you to edit settings file. Note that you have to check vendor and product ids for your FREECOM device and edit device settings correspondently! It is not required to reboot your PC after installing The Extension and changing it's definitions.
3. Plug in your FREECOM CD/DVD drive into USB slot, load a media into it and try to open Tracker's "Mount" menu some times. In case if all goes OK - you'll see your CD/DVD volume available for mounting. You can of course use your CD/DVD burning software with this drive.
4. [optional] To uninstall The Module from your system - run uninstall.sh from distribution archive or delete files mentioned in clause 3 of this section manually.

2. Troubleshooting

1. Is my external USB CD/DVD device supported?
   • Only "old" FREECOM USB 1.1 cable connected drives are supported. Obtain your device vendor and product ids as described in ReadMe.html for BeOS USB storage Module, edit the device description in settings file correspondently and try to work with it. Be sure that your FREECOM device is really non-standard and has 255 as class in usb device description. Vendor id for FREECOM is 0x07ab.
2. Cannot mount my CD/DVDs.
   • Please check the following:
     • the binary file /boot/home/config/add-ons/kernel/generic/usb_scsi_extensions/freecom exists on your system;
     • the settings file /boot/home/config/settings/kernel/drivers/usb_scsi exists on your system and contains description for your FREECOM device;
     • check that device description correspond to your real device information;
3. My external USB HDD in FREECOM case doesn't work
   • Only ATAPI devices are supported. ATA protocol doesn't uses SCSI-like commands.
4. Mmmm... another question...
   • Please refer to Troubleshooting section of ReadMe.html for BeOS USB Storage Support Module and contact the developer if you still have a problem.

3. Writing a problem report

4.Contact and support information

1. Use Bug Tracker to put problem reports.
2. Use Forum to ask simple support question, discuss any problems.
3. Use Mailing-list to be informed with latest news, ask questions etc.
4. Also you can contact me personally by e-mail.

5.Credits

I want to say my "Thanks" to:

brave testers...

6. The History

Date:	Version:	What's new:
?? ??April 2005	0.1.0-alpha-1	first public release.