HOWTO: Enabling an analog Joystick (+Flightgear)

[evilghost]

After about an hour of searching, I finally was able to get my CH products Flight Sim yoke working under Ubuntu as well as Flightgear. I will attempt to document and clarify the steps I used to get my joystick working with Ubuntu in addition to FlightGear. Should any of the information be incorrect, please feel free to correct me.

This howto assumes you have an analog joystick connected to the gameport/MIDI port of your already functioning sound card.

Perform the following steps in a terminal:

cd /etc/init.d
sudo gedit joystick

Paste the following lines into gedit, and save the file:

#! /bin/sh
# /etc/init.d/joystick
#

# Carry out specific functions when asked to by the system
case "$1" in
  start)
    echo "Enabling Joystick"
    cd /dev
    rm js*
    mknod input/js0 c 13 0
    ln -s input/js0 js0
    modprobe joydev
    modprobe analog
    echo "DONE!"
    ;;
  stop)
    rmmod joydev
    rmmod analog
    echo "DONE!"
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/joystick {start|stop}"
    exit 1
    ;;
esac

exit 0

Now, make the file executable.

sudo chmod 755 joystick

Configure the system to run /etc/init.d/joystick on boot:

sudo update-rc.d joystick defaults

Enable the joystick:

sudo /etc/init.d/joystick start

If you are not using Flightgear, you are done. Your joystick should now work correctly and be enabled. If you are using Flightgear and hope to get the joystick working with Flightgear, please proceed with the below steps:

cd ~
fgjs
[Follow the onscreen directions, assigning the buttons/axies (sp?) as needed.]

Once you have completed the fgjs program and are happy with the configuration, type:

cat fgfsrc.js >> .fgfsrc

Now, load FlightGear and your joystick should work and use the button/axis assignments you specified. If you make a mistake during fgjs or are unhappy with your assignments BEFORE you ran the "cat fgfsrc.js >> .fgfsrc" code simply run the below command again to recreate fgfsrc.js

rm fgfsrc.js
fgjs

I hope this helps someone, if you have problems or find any sections that are incorrect or do not work correctly please be sure to speak up.

[xmastree]

if you have problems or find any sections that are incorrect or do not work correctly please be sure to speak up.

root@ubuntu:/etc/init.d # /etc/init.d/joystick start
Enabling Joystick
rm: cannot remove `js*': No such file or directory
DONE!
root@ubuntu:/etc/init.d #  /etc/init.d/joystick stop
DONE!
root@ubuntu:/etc/init.d #  /etc/init.d/joystick start
Enabling Joystick
mknod: `input/js0': File exists
DONE!
root@ubuntu:/etc/init.d #

Is this a problem? And, how does one actually use the joystick? I was wonding if it's possible to use it for tuxracer.
It's a Thrustmaster FCS MkII

[trigeorgis]

Actually, I have the same error (?)

root@Trigeorgis:/home/george #  /etc/init.d/joystick start
Enabling Joystick
mknod: `input/js0': File exists
DONE!
root@Trigeorgis:/home/george # jstest /dev/js0
jstest: No such device

My joystick although, is very old and I am not sure if it is works

*btw, is a dexxa js.

[tigrez]

I've the same problem. My old joypad Gravis is attached to sound card cmi3878. By default the gameport is disabled, and to enable i need to change and option: "joystick 1". I've searched in the web but I've find nothing to help me... Is a option to add in the alsa.conf? I need to rebuild alsa drivers?
Please HELP ME!!!!

[tigrez]

I've solved my problem. I think is important do add this thing in the howto:
If you have a joystick port attached sound card you must indicate to alsa to activate this port.
$ cd /etc/modprobe.d/
$ sudo nano alsa-base
in this file alsa look the sound card option. Go at the end of the file and add this string:

options snd-xxxx joystick_port=1

where xxxx is the driver of your sound card.

save and restart alsa (or reboot, it's more easy )
Excuse me for my bad english...

[sharke]

you can add the commands to /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh file.
for my analog joystick i added
sudo modprobe ns558
sudo rmmod ns558 (this is required on my stem because doesnt load correctly)
sudo modprobe ns558
Thanks to Happytux for this info.
Regards
sharke

[kanibalv]

i did the steps of the main post and kubuntu recognize a joystick in /dev/js0, but my JS is of 2 axis and 8 buttons, and it show 4 axis and 4 buttons, how can i do for resolv this?


kanibalv
kanibalv@gXail.com ==> X=m

[ljubomir]

i did the steps of the main post and kubuntu recognize a joystick in /dev/js0, but my JS is of 2 axis and 8 buttons, and it show 4 axis and 4 buttons, how can i do for resolv this?

same problem here

[sc0000]

I know the only person who's going to be able to fix this problem is the person who wrote the linux joystick driver 2.0 module, BUT i have a similar problem to everyone.

I have a SB audigy, and have figured out how to get the joystick port to take button presses but it still thinks that i have a 4-axis gamepad. I don't know if autodetection is messed up or what, but i simply need to tell the computer what's plugged into it. a 2 axis, 6 button gamepad.

the module which should take the option for this configuration is "analog"
$ sudo modprobe -v analog js=gamepad8
but that doesn't work and i don't know the real option to use with the module, or what module to use the option with
here's my dmesg:

[42949925.400000] gameport: EMU10K1 is pci0000:02:0b.1/gameport0, io 0xdc58, speed 962kHz
[42949925.440000] input: Analog 4-axis 4-button joystick as /class/input/input6
[42949958.900000] joydump: Unknown parameter `js'

[sc0000]

Well I found the module parameter and added this line to /etc/modprobe.conf

options analog map=gamepad8

Now, js0 still fails to work on a regular basis. Here's what I've been trying

# mknod /dev/input/js0 c 13 0 
# modprobe -v emu10k1-gp
# modprobe -v gameport
# modprobe -v joydev
# modprobe -v analog
# modprobe -v joydump

Everything seems to work but

cat /dev/input/js0

returns
cat: /dev/input/js0: No such device