Wired Xbox 360 controller with xboxdrv

[Dugan]

The XBox360 USB Gamepad Driver for Linux (xboxdrv) has recently been released. I considered it the best way to get an wired Xbox 360 controller working. It works very well and won't break with new kernel versions.

1. Get Ready
   
   Go to its homepage. Download it and have a look at the README. Now emerge the dependencies:
   

   Code:

   emerge scons boost

   
   
   
2. Kernel Configuration
   
   You need a uinput module and no xpad module. The following applies to gentoo-sources-2.6.24-r4, and assumes that the 360 controller is the only stick or pad you have that requires a special module (other than hiddev and joydev).
   
   

   Code:

   Device Drivers --->   Input device support --->     [*] Joystick interface     [ ] Joysticks/Gamepads  --->     [*] Miscellaneous Devices -->       [M] User level driver support

   
   
   
3. uinput permissions
   
   Create a uinput group and add users to it as appropriate. Anyone who wants to run xboxdrv needs to be part of this group.
   

   Code:

   groupadd uinput gpasswd -a username uinput

   
   
   
4. Build It
   
   Build the driver according to the instructions in its README (i.e. go to its directory and type "scons"). This creates an executable file called xboxdrv.
   
   
5. Use It
   
   
   

   1. Code:

      modprobe joydev uinput

      
      
   2. Plug in the 360 controller
      
   3. Start xboxdrv in one of two ways:
      
      
      
      • Normally
        
        

        Code:

        ./xboxdrv

        
        This works with ZSnes and Project 64 (under Wine, with the N-Rage Direct Input plugin).
        
        
      • To use with Gens
        
        Gens requires special options:
        

        Code:

        ./xboxdrv --dpad-as-button --deadzone 8000

Your 360 controller now has a device node at /dev/input/js0.