[gentoo-user] Re: OT: usb diagnostic tool

[James <wireless@tampabay.rr.com>]

Etaoin Shrdlu <shrdlu <at> unlimitedmail.org> writes:


> I need to be sure that the usb port on my laptop is broken, to have it 
> replaced.
> So far, the only evidence I have is a kernel oops during the sysresccd 
> boot, and some strange behaviour when plugging certain devices in 
> Windows (eg, an usb mp3 player stick that turns itself off spontaneously 
> after a few seconds).
> So, I need a serious hardware diagnostic program to thoroughly test the 
> port and the controller, not necessarily running under linux or 
> opensource.
> Could you please give me some suggestions?

Well, depending on your chipset/drivers you use, you may want to 
'use the force, read the source' from a kernel/driver perspective
if all else fails? (sometimes there's a debug mode for hardware).
For starters, poke around:
/usr/portage/dev-libs/libusb

google for 'usb diagnostic'

usbview <is a basic admin tool, maybe not too diag oriented though>

emerge -s usb
will give you a listing of some specific applications for specific
hardware. Maybe one of those applications has some advanced diags
that will allow you to troubleshoot your usb subsystem, by
running diags on a specific usb device?

You may want to also look on the net for a 'usb sniffer' to sniff
your usb data traffic. That will ensure your problem is in your
hardware, and not a firmware upgrade issue to your usb(bios). Also
make sure your problems are related to other usb devices and not just 
a single usb device. That way you have confidence that the usb
subsystem is at fault and not a specific device's hardware/software.

HTH,

James




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