add uinput module to kernel

[tckosvic]

I am trying to implement copy/paste from host openSUSE to guest Gentoo VM. I have installed spice-vdagent on the host and the guest. vdagent will not start on the Gentoo guest as error messages say "uinput" kernel module is needed to start vdagent.

Cannot find detailed instructions needed to install uinput either as builtin to kernel or as a separate accessible module.

Any advice?

[Hu]

Per a search of the Linux kernel source:

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linux.git$ git grep uinput '*Kconfig*'
drivers/input/misc/Kconfig:517:   subsystem accessible under char device 10:223 - /dev/input/uinput.
drivers/input/misc/Kconfig:520:   module will be called uinput.

That file looks promising. Its contents show:

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config INPUT_UINPUT
	tristate "User level driver support"
	help
	  Say Y here if you want to support user level drivers for input
	  subsystem accessible under char device 10:223 - /dev/input/uinput.

	  To compile this driver as a module, choose M here: the
	  module will be called uinput.

From that, I suggest you enable INPUT_UINPUT in your Gentoo kernel configuration, rebuild, reboot, and retry.

[tckosvic]

As a novice with configuring kernels, how do I enable INPUT_UINPUT in my Gentoo kernel configuration. Do I use "make menuconfig"? Where in kernel structure do I find INPUT_UINPUT enable option?

thanks, tom kosvic

[Hu]

Yes, make menuconfig. Then, press / to start a search by Kconfig symbol. Write INPUT_UINPUT, then hit Enter to submit the search. You will get some number of matches, probably only one since this is a fairly specific search. Press the number key corresponding to your desired match, which probably means pressing 1. This will jump you to that option. Enable it via Y or M, as usual. Save and exit. Rebuild the kernel.

[logrusx]

As a novice with configuring kernels, how do I enable INPUT_UINPUT in my Gentoo kernel configuration. Do I use "make menuconfig"? Where in kernel structure do I find INPUT_UINPUT enable option?

thanks, tom kosvic

Many people think this is common sense and don't mention it to novices but there's no reason to believe so, that's why I'll explicitly say it:

There are several steps in configuring the kernel. It' not just setting the configuration you want.

First, download the sources and then the configuration itself, but also there's the build and install. I think the Kernel/Upgrade wiki page can be a good starting point. For questions not addressed there you have the forums as well as IRC.

Good luck!

Best Regards,
Georgi

[tckosvic]

great info. vdagent now starting. copy/paste to gentoo vm now working.

I compile new kernels. What make kernel config option, e.g., make olddefconfig do I use to keep this change in-place in the future.

thanks, tom kosvic

[logrusx]

great info. vdagent now starting. copy/paste to gentoo vm now working.

I compile new kernels. What make kernel config option, e.g., make olddefconfig do I use to keep this change in-place in the future.

thanks, tom kosvic

make olddefconfig will combine your existing configuration with default options for new configuration. No user input necessary. You can also use oldconfig if you want to interactively configure the new options.

Don't forget to preserve your .config's. By default portage won't delete them form /usr/src, even when unmerging old kernel sources but you should be careful not to lose them too.

Best Regards,
Georgi

[pietinger]

great info. vdagent now starting. copy/paste to gentoo vm now working.

I compile new kernels. What make kernel config option, e.g., make olddefconfig do I use to keep this change in-place in the future.

thanks, tom kosvic

Maybe read this (and then the whole article):
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/User:Pieti ... fig.22_.3F

You surely have found it already:

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Device Drivers --->
      Input device support  --->
            [*]   Miscellaneous devices  --->
                  [*]   User level driver support

This module was also necessary for a bluetooth device and therefore I added it in the wiki article for it:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Bluetooth#Kernel