[Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking] frinojada:
Howto Sync XDA2 with Linux

I use Gentoo linux ..

Though i have done this on other distros too ,the software u need to use are ipaq usbserial drivers and synce multisync/kitchensync

I've done all of this using XDA2 but i guess it applies to XDA and others too.

all commands are bold and those that begin with # should be executed as root and those that begin with $ should be executed as normal user .

The following is the procedure

First u need to have the usbserial and ipaq built as modules in your kernel.

(please google for details to compile ur kernel)

Then u either need to add a line in ur modules.autoload file or load the module by hand. In gentoo linux the file is located at /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.* depending on ur kernel version I dunno if mandrake has a similar file but it must be there somewhere

so either

#echo "ipaq vendor=0x0bb4 product=0x0a02" >> /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6

(Im using a 2.6 kernel the 0x0bb4 and 0x0a02 are the vendor id and product id which u can find out using usbview these values are the XDA2.This adds it to the autoload file so that u don't have to do this everytime ur system reboots)

or from a command prompt as root issue the following command

hint: do the following anyway or you will need a restart to load the module

#modprobe ipaq vendor=0x0bb4 product=0x0a02

once this is done once u connect ur XDA2 to USB u must be able to see from dmesg that it is connected to some serial port

on my machine its usually

/dev/usb/tts/0

now this is done and next is synce

the synce procedure is as below

$dccm

#synce-serial-config /dev/usb/tts/0

#synce-serial-start

now u have ur xda connected u will be able to see the connection on ur XDA2

now if u use gnome u can just type synce:// in ur nautilus location bar and it will open ur XDA2 and u can copy files to and from it as simple as that there is also a synce-incomputer-install which will install a mobile device in ur computer which will open synce:// for u when clicked .. if u use kde then use the synce-kde plugin which will provide u with all the functionality required and KitchenSync connector will sync your pocket pc with kontact

There is also a synce-install-cab and synce-program-manager that lest u manage the installed programs and also to install new cab files to ur device from your computer and as for the exe's available on the net for installing programs u can use orange to extract the cab files from the executable

Multisync has an Evolution plugin and a synce plugin using which u can create a synchronisation pair to sync ur XDA with Evolution yes it is possible to synchronise most of the stuff im not sure if notes etc can be done but i used to back up all my contacts and appointments using this.

Now it is possible to automate all of this from scripts though i am not that gifted in scripting it could be done. Someone must be working on it as we speak or maybe I will someday :D (wishing)

:x The only thing i haven't been able to figure out is how to do a ROM upgrade .. I can copy files to and from the device i can connect to it in every possible way and im sure i can connect to it in bootloader mode too (I haven't tried this but it must be pretty straightforward) I just need what steps are to be followed exactly and what happens on the device.

Hope this helps ..

Do get in touch if u get stuck somewhere I can help u out.

cheers

frino