Bluetooth with GNOME overview

[Devport]

A bluetooth guide with a focus on GNOME integration

Possibilities :

1. send / receive files ( gnome-bluetooth )
   
2. browse phone filesystem ( gnome-vfs-obexftp )
   
3. use mobile phone as remote to control desktop / mouse pointer ( bluez-gnome )
   
4. browse the web on your phone using your computer`s broadband connection ( bluez-utils )
   
5. sync evolution to mobile phone ( opensync )
   

Implementation ( other ways possible ) :

1. send / receive files
   - emerge gnome-bluetooth ( tested with version 0.9.1 )
   - run gnome-obex-server to be able to receive files via bluetooth
   - use gnome-obex-send to send files via bluetooth via command line
   - emerge nautilus-actions ( ebuild available via sunrise overlay ) and add an action :
   - command "gnome-obex-send -d 00:00:00:00:00:00" ( change MAC address to address of mobile phone )
   - parameter "%M"
   ( alternativly emerge nautilus-sendto with USEFLAG bluetooth - which doesnt work sometimes )
   
   
2. browse phone filesystem
   - emerge gnome-vfs-obexftp ( tested with version 0.4 )
   - browse "obex:///" with nautilus
   
   
3. use mobile phone as remote to control desktop / mouse pointer
   - edit /etc/conf.d/bluetooth ( change ) :
   

   Code:

   HIDD_ENABLE=true

   
   

   Code:

   HIDD_OPTIONS="--connect 00:00:00:00:00:00"

   
   ( change MAC address to address of mobile phone )
   - Restart bluetooth service
   

   Code:

   /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart

   
   
   ( thx to gerardo )
   
   
4. browse the web on your phone using your computer`s broadband connection
   
   WARNING : During setting this up it may be that you start a data connection on your phone by accident which will cost quite some money. To avoid this delete all internet / data profiles on the phone / disable all other ways to surf the web than bluetooth - see https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-p-5152045.html#5152045 for details
   
   - For this guide I will use some easy defaults ( e.g. auto-authorisation ) which can be changed by advanced users
   
   - First of all we enable NAT - kernel 2.6.x has this built in AFAIK
   - This guide assumes that you dont use a firewall yet and that the device which connects to the internet is eth0
   

   Code:

   emerge iptables rc-update add iptables default /etc/init.d/iptables start iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE /etc/init.d/iptables save echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

   - /etc/sysctl.conf ( change ) :
   

   Code:

   # Disables packet forwarding net.ipv4.ip_forward = 1

   
   - emerge bluez-utils ( tested with version 2.25-r1 - newer versions dont work ! )
   - /etc/bluetooth/pin ( create ) :
   

   Code:

   1234

   
   - /etc/bluetooth/hcid.conf ( change ) :
   

   Code:

   security auto;

   
   - /etc/conf.d/bluetooth ( change ) :
   

   Code:

   # Start pand (allowed values are "true" and "false") PAND_ENABLE=true # Arguments to pand PAND_OPTIONS="--listen --role NAP /etc/bluetooth/pan/dev-up"

   
   - /etc/bluetooth/pan/dev-up ( create ) :
   

   Code:

   #!/bin/sh ifconfig bnep0 10.0.0.1 /etc/init.d/dhcpd restart

   
   -

   Code:

   chmod 755 /etc/bluetooth/pan/dev-up

   
   - Restart bluetooth service
   

   Code:

   /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart

   
   - emerge dhcp
   - /etc/conf.d/dhcpd ( change ) :
   

   Code:

   DHCPD_IFACE="bnep0"

   
   - /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf ( create - change your-routers-ip-or-name to the ip / name of your router / cable modem or use an ip of /etc/resolv.conf )
   

   Code:

   # dhcpd.conf # # option definitions common to all supported networks... option domain-name-servers your-routers-ip-or-name; # Use this to enble / disable dynamic dns updates globally. ddns-update-style interim; subnet 10.0.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {    range 10.0.0.10 10.0.0.20;    option routers 10.0.0.1; }

   
   - Add the computer to your mobile phones bluetooth devices ( using above pin [1234] ).
   - Now you should be able to browse the web on the phone over bluetooth connection
   
   
   If it doesnt work you can check that
   
   
   1. when you connect the phone over bluetooth a bnep0 interface should turn up ( ifconfig bnep0 )
      
   2. when you connect the phone over bluetooth the bnep0 interface should have the correct ip ( ifconfig bnep0 -> 10.0.0.1 )
      
   3. when you connect the phone over bluetooth the dhcp server should be running ( /etc/init.d/dhcpd status )
      
   4. NAT should be enabled :
      

      Code:

      > cat /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward 1 > iptables -t nat -L | grep MASQUERADE MASQUERADE  all  --  anywhere             anywhere

   
   
5. sync evolution to mobile phone
   
   WARNING : Synchronisation will change data in evolution and on your mobile phone. To avoid data loss backup any important data ( ~/.evolution and data on the mobile phone ). On my phone synchronisation lead to duplicate entries in the phone so be cautios.
   
   - Unmask opensync
   

   Code:

   <app-pda/msynctool-9999 <app-pda/libopensync-9999 <app-pda/libopensync-plugin-evolution2-9999 <app-pda/libopensync-plugin-file-9999 <app-pda/libopensync-plugin-syncml-9999 <app-pda/libopensync-plugin-vformat-9999

   
   - Keyword opensync ( replace ~amd64 with ~yourarch, e.g. ~x86 )
   

   Code:

   app-pda/msynctool ~amd64 app-pda/libopensync ~amd64 app-pda/libopensync-plugin-evolution2 ~amd64 app-pda/libopensync-plugin-file ~amd64 app-pda/libopensync-plugin-syncml ~amd64 app-pda/libopensync-plugin-vformat ~amd64  dev-util/cmake ~amd64   dev-libs/xmlrpc-c ~amd64 app-pda/libsyncml ~amd64

   
   - emerge opensync ( tested with version 0.36 )
   

   Code:

   emerge -av msynctool libopensync-plugin-syncml

   
   - setup opensync
   

   Code:

   msynctool --addgroup evolution-mobilephone msynctool --addmember evolution-mobilephone evo2-sync msynctool --addmember evolution-mobilephone syncml-obex-client

   
   - The following actions have to be done by the evolution user
   - configure evolution sync target
   

   Code:

   msynctool --configure evolution-mobilephone 1

   
   ( Generally nothing has to be changed here )
   
   - configure syncml sync target
   

   Code:

   msynctool --configure evolution-mobilephone 2

   
   change it to look like this
   

   Code:

   <?xml version="1.0"?> <config>   <!-- sets the connection type to use. -->   <!-- please note that actually OBEX over network is not supported -->   <!-- 1 means obex over serial cable -->   <!-- 2 means obex over bluetooth    -->   <!-- 3 means obex over IRDA         -->   <!-- 4 means obex over network      -->   <!-- 5 means obex over usb          -->   <type>2</type>     <!-- (Only for bluetooth) The bluetooth address if the bluetooth mode is selected.        `hciconfig scan` to search bluetooth devices.  -->   <bluetooth_address>00:00:00:00:00:00</bluetooth_address>     <!-- (Only for bluetooth) The bluetooth channel to use.        `sdptool browse $MAC` to search for the correct channel -->   <bluetooth_channel>1</bluetooth_channel>     <!-- (Only for USB) The usb interface number of the SYNCML-SYNC target. use syncml-obex-client -u (you will need access to the USB raw device) to find it. -->   <interface>0</interface>     <!-- The string that the plugin will use to identify itself. Some devices need a special string here. -->   <identifier></identifier>     <!-- The syncml version to use: 0 for 1.0, 1 for 1.1 and 2 for 1.2 -->   <version>1</version>     <!-- if the plugin should use wbxml -->   <wbxml>1</wbxml>     <!-- The username to use. Leave empty to not require a username -->   <username></username>     <!-- the password for the username -->   <password></password>     <!-- If wbxml is enabled, defines wether the wbxml should use string tables -->   <usestringtable>0</usestringtable>     <!-- Never send ADD command, but send REPLACE (not needed normally) -->   <onlyreplace>0</onlyreplace>   <!-- Workaround around for mobile phones which only use local timestamps and _no_ UTC timestamps! -->   <onlyLocaltime>0</onlyLocaltime>     <!-- Sets the maximum allowed size in bytes of incoming messages (some device need this option set). Example: 10000 -->   <recvLimit>0</recvLimit>     <maxObjSize>0</maxObjSize>   <!-- XXX: Currently you need to write this by your own.        Later it's planned to create such entries on the fly during        the discovery() call. Example database field:   -->    <database>      <name>contacts</name>      <objtype>contact</objtype>      <objformat>vcard21</objformat>   </database> <!--    <database>      <name>agenda</name>      <objtype>event</objtype>      <objformat>vevent10</objformat>   </database> --> <!--    <database>      <name>notes</name>      <objtype>note</objtype>      <objformat>vjournal</objformat>   </database> --> <!--    <database>      <name>tasks</name>      <objtype>todo</objtype>      <objformat>vtodo10</objformat>   </database> --> </config>

   
   Note : There are many details that have to be correct here. Make sure to use the right MAC address and channel. The database names vary among different mobile phones, see http://en.opensuse.org/OpenSync/SyncML-OBEX-Client to get an idea. Its also important to use the correct objformat versions - e.g. on my mobile phone ( SE K800i ) vevent20 fails but vevent10 works. You may want to try out which databases work for you and which not by uncommenting / changing the respictive database entries.
   
   - let opensync detect the data to be synced ( do this whenever you change the database entries )
   

   Code:

   msynctool --discover evolution-mobilephone

   
   - sync data
   

   Code:

   mysynctool --sync evolution-mobilephone

   
   

Planned sections :

• Sync mobile phone data, e.g a music library
  
• Use mobile phone as remote control to specfic apps ( lirc replacement ) - anyremote
  
• Use bluetooth headphones ( http://bluetooth-alsa.sourceforge.net/ - not in portage )
  
• ....

Changelog
27.04.2008
- Removed bluez-utils-3.x sections since it doesn`t support PAN
- Added gerardo`s guide to enable HID
- Added section to sync evolution to mobile phone

[muczy]

Remote control:
anyremote (nokias doesn't have remote control function like sony ericsson)

File transfer:
I would like to know how can i set up a constant obextftp daemon? I don't like gnome-obex-server...

[zietbukuel]

I'd really liked to know how to do this:

Connect the mobile phone to the web over bluetooth

Anybody can tell me? thanks.

[Devport]

[Devport]

I think it will take some days till I write the ip_forwarding howto. Until then you can use ethernet bridging.

Please refer to

http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/bluetooth-guide.xml -> for general setup
http://bluez.sourceforge.net/contrib/HOWTO-PAN -> for ethernet bridging ( skip the other sections )

Make sure you use bluez-utils-2.25-r1 - newer versions work different and arent ready yet as it seems.

[Devport]

I got it working and I`ll post an updated howto in a few days ( need to figure out the best / nicest way and will try to get it to work with a more recent ~arch version of bluez-utils ). Dont start to struggle with bridging now as ip_forwarding is way easier.

In the meantime anyone who wants to get it working may want to look here :

http://www.hackenberger.at/blog/gentoo-guides/how-to-set-up-a-linux-box-as-a-bluetooth-server/

[zietbukuel]

Thanks a lot Devport!!!! This is what I've been looking for AGES without a easy way to do!! thanks again, I'll be waiting for your HOWTO

ps. I'm following this thread...

[Devport]

The step by step guide is ready now and I hope that it helps someone despite all the pitfalls.

[zietbukuel]

[Devport]

Then replace all 10.0.0.x numbers in the howto with 192.168.0.x numbers. Dont forget to set the routers ip in dhcp configuration.

Yeah - as I see you did it right ( but dont forget 208.67.222.222 should be the router`s IP 10.0.0.138 ).

[zietbukuel]

You forgot something:

[zietbukuel]

[Devport]

[zietbukuel]

Yes it does work with my SonyEricsson W610. Thank you very much for the howto.

[zietbukuel]

To use your cellphone or mouse or whatever to control your desktop or app, do this:

Edit /etc/conf.d/bluetooth and change:

[Devport]

Nice howto - my small remote control passage is related to ~arch bluez-utils, but due to PAN only being possible with the old bluez-utils your way fits better.

If you agree I will add your part / replace my part in the guide and add an author list with your name.

[zietbukuel]

[PaulW21781]

I have one problem with nautilus-sendto...

I've merged it in with the bluetooth flag set, yet when I right-click files and select Send To, all thats listed is Evolution...

Everything else works fine, and I can manually send stuff using the console, its just the send to option which is missing...

any ideas?? I'm on ~amd64

[zietbukuel]

[Devport]

Added a section about how to sync evolution to a mobile phone - this is very rough so please report any bugs back.

[Anon5710]

I am trying to get pan networking enabled. Internet on my phone trough laptops broad band !

But for some reeson dhcp fails to restart
the error log

[Devport]

Did you do the step :

- /etc/conf.d/dhcpd ( change ) :
Code:
DHCPD_IFACE="bnep0"

?

[Anon5710]

alright, by redoing everything again.
I am fasing an other error at this moment.

[Devport]

Now you have defined the correct interface. What you are doing now is you try to start the dhcp server without the interface being up. dhcpd will start correctly only when there is an active connection ...

Check what the guide says (!) :

when you connect the phone over bluetooth a bnep0 interface should turn up ( ifconfig bnep0 )
when you connect the phone over bluetooth the bnep0 interface should have the correct ip ( ifconfig bnep0 -> 10.0.0.1 )

If both is the case the dhcp server will startup just fine. Otherwise you first need to fix your bluetooth connection to get the bnep0 interface.

[Peach]

did anyone tried devel version of gnome-bluetooth? am I the only that can't find gnome-obex-send in this version???
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