Using the Perstel DR201 under Linux

Requirements

• Linux kernel 2.4 or later with support for the usb-storage driver.
  • If you are unsure what kernel version you are using, type the command uname -r at a terminal prompt.
  • If you use your distribution's 'minimal' kernel, or have compiled your own kernel, it may not include the usb-storage driver. This product requires the usb-storage driver.
  • This device is currently not supported under the 2.6 kernel series.

Installation

• Create a "mount point" where the files on the device will appear.
  • When logged in as the system administrator (the root user, in a terminal window, type mkdir /dr201
• Plug the player into a USB port, ensuring that it is set to music play mode.
• Check that the usb-storage driver has been loaded.
  • Use the command /sbin/lsmod and look for a line containing usb-storage.
• Now 'mount' the device, to map the files on the device to the mount point.
  • Use the command mount -t msdos /dev/sda1 /perstel
  • If you have used another USB mass storage device previously, the DR201 may not appear as /dev/sda1. The second mass storage device plugged in is called /dev/sdb1, the third /dev/sdc1 and so on. If you are unsure which device the DR201 was mapped to, the dmesg command may detail this.
  • Use of the vfat instead of the msdos filesystem is not recommended. Use of it may cause your DR201 to malfunction.
• You can now edit the files in /perstel. Any changes you make to this directory will be saved to your DR201.
  • cp example.mp3 /perstel will upload the file example.mp3 to the device.
  • rm /perstel/example.mp3 will remove the file example.mp3 from the device.
  • cp /perstel/example.mp3 ~ will copy the file example.mp3 from the device to your home directory.
  • df -h /perstel will detail the space used and available on the DR201.
• Before unplugging your DR201, it must be 'unmounted'. This finalizes any changes you have made and prepares the device for removal.
  • Use the command umount /mnt/perstel
  • The command may take up to ten minutes to complete, whilst the files are syncronized. This is normal.
  • Removing the DR201 without unmounting, or before unmounting has completed, can cause the device to lose data or malfunction.
• Once the unmounting command has completed and the terminal printed another command prompt, the DR201 can be safely unplugged.

Repair

If an error occurs whilst uploading and downloading files to the DR201, the device can be left in an inconsistent state, and possibly malfunction as a result. If this occurs, you can try to repair or reformat the DR201's internal memory.

• To repair the DR201's memory
• With the device in music play mode, plug it into the PC.
• While logged in as root, use the following command in a terminal window: fsck.msdos -r
• The command will ask you to confirm repairing of any errors it finds.
• When the command has completed, the device may be unplugged.
• If the device's memory cannot be repaired, it may be possible to reformat
  • Reformatting the DR201 erases any files that are stored on it
  • With the device in music play mode, plug it into the PC.
  • While logged in as root, use the following command in a terminal window: mkfs.msdos /dev/sda1 (if you use other USB mass storage devices, please see the details on device names above).
  • When the command has completed, the device may be safely unplugged.

Troubleshooting

• When I plug the device in, lsmod does not list a loaded usb-storage driver.
  • Ensure that the driver for your computer's USB is loaded. This is usually listed by lsmod, and on most computers are called uhci, ohci or ehci.
  • Make sure the driver database is up to date. At a root terminal prompt, use the command depmod -A
• I receive the error mount: /dev/sda1 is not a valid block device
  • The device has not been mapped to the first device name. You can use the dmesg command to find out what device name the DR201 has been allocated - for example:

    SCSI device sdc: 129024 512-byte hdwr sectors (66 MB)
    sdc: test WP failed, assume Write Enabled
     sdc: sdc1
    

    means that the device has been allocated /dev/sdc1.
• When unmounting the DR201, I receive the error umount: /perstel: device is busy
  • Make sure you have none of the files in the /perstel directory open, and that no terminal windows are in that directory, and then try again. This error means that the directory or a file within it is still in use.