der_nanno
Faster!
Those who know me on private or professional basis, do know that I am not a huge fan of Microsoft Windows. I like my software just how I like my women... err... Anyway, I am an OpenSource guy, whereever and whenever I can. Unfortunately the Ignitech software so far has only been available under windows.
So far. 8)
Here's a quick how-to, in order to avoid installing windows or running a virtual machine with Windows on it or as in my case, use an incredibly old Asus netbook (eeePC1001 or so), which is not even capable of running a full blown virtualization. The little box called Minimus, is running LUbuntu 18.04 with LXDE as a window manager and in order to run the ignitech software, we'll need just that and wine.
So first install wine by opening a terminal window and typing sudo apt install wine-stable
After downloading the corresponding software, in the case of Yamaha XVs this is the TCI-p4-version, we have to link that EXE-File by rightclicking it and defining a custom command (so it gets started with wine, when we click the file). So choose custom command line wine %f and in the lower box as custom application name wine. (The latter will ensure that the change is permanent.)
Guess what that was all it took to make the application start up. Unfortunately, it won't be able to find the ignition box.
That's down to the fact, that we're lacking reading-rights on the corresponding ports. Luckily the group dialout does. So by typing sudo <username> dialout, where <username> is (you guessed it) your linux user, you add that user to the group dialout.
Lastly we have to tweak wine a bit, so we actually find our usb-cable as COM1. By starting wine regedit from a terminal, we can now make sure that even after reboots COM1 will be mapped to our serial device /dev/ttyUSB0, which is our USB2serial converter. Now if the program that pops up reminds you a lot of the old windows registry editor, you're right. And that's exactly what we'll do: Create a new string under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wine\Ports named COM1 and has the value of /dev/ttyUSB0 - you first have to add the string, then double-click it and add the device as shown in the pictures.
Now we're done. Turn on the ignition on your bike, plug that laptop in and there you go - one Ignitech running beautifully under Linux.
...and as we didn't alter any bit of the software, we're totally legal, because all we're doing is NOT running the software under Windows.
Now, as I also use a Mac for my uni-work, I am also working on a Mac OS X version, but it suffers from slight "bloateritis", i.e. the same app that is about 10MB under Linux is now a "slightly stout" 590MB under OS X, as it is packaged with tons of libraries...
More on the genisis of the whole idea and that this is the stuff that happens, when manflu has me in its death-grip, can (as usual) be found on the blog: https://greasygreg.blogspot.com/2018/11/workshop-life-running-ignitech-software.html
So far. 8)
Here's a quick how-to, in order to avoid installing windows or running a virtual machine with Windows on it or as in my case, use an incredibly old Asus netbook (eeePC1001 or so), which is not even capable of running a full blown virtualization. The little box called Minimus, is running LUbuntu 18.04 with LXDE as a window manager and in order to run the ignitech software, we'll need just that and wine.
So first install wine by opening a terminal window and typing sudo apt install wine-stable
After downloading the corresponding software, in the case of Yamaha XVs this is the TCI-p4-version, we have to link that EXE-File by rightclicking it and defining a custom command (so it gets started with wine, when we click the file). So choose custom command line wine %f and in the lower box as custom application name wine. (The latter will ensure that the change is permanent.)
Guess what that was all it took to make the application start up. Unfortunately, it won't be able to find the ignition box.
That's down to the fact, that we're lacking reading-rights on the corresponding ports. Luckily the group dialout does. So by typing sudo <username> dialout, where <username> is (you guessed it) your linux user, you add that user to the group dialout.
Lastly we have to tweak wine a bit, so we actually find our usb-cable as COM1. By starting wine regedit from a terminal, we can now make sure that even after reboots COM1 will be mapped to our serial device /dev/ttyUSB0, which is our USB2serial converter. Now if the program that pops up reminds you a lot of the old windows registry editor, you're right. And that's exactly what we'll do: Create a new string under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wine\Ports named COM1 and has the value of /dev/ttyUSB0 - you first have to add the string, then double-click it and add the device as shown in the pictures.
Now we're done. Turn on the ignition on your bike, plug that laptop in and there you go - one Ignitech running beautifully under Linux.
...and as we didn't alter any bit of the software, we're totally legal, because all we're doing is NOT running the software under Windows.
Now, as I also use a Mac for my uni-work, I am also working on a Mac OS X version, but it suffers from slight "bloateritis", i.e. the same app that is about 10MB under Linux is now a "slightly stout" 590MB under OS X, as it is packaged with tons of libraries...
More on the genisis of the whole idea and that this is the stuff that happens, when manflu has me in its death-grip, can (as usual) be found on the blog: https://greasygreg.blogspot.com/2018/11/workshop-life-running-ignitech-software.html
