Be very careful with USB scanners. They not only have to
be supported by the USB sub system (which as far as I remember
was a problem with the USB drivers from SuSE 6.3), in
addion to this SANE has to provide support for the particular
scanner as well.
There are two things that can go wrong: The scanner manufacturer
does not provide information about how the device uses the USB
bus. This means that the USB kernel driver can not be modified
so that the scanner in question can be recognized.
The other problem is that the scanner manufacturer has to
provide information about the command set the scanner uses.
I can only speak for EPSON scanners, so if you need information
about any other scanners, please check the "Supported Scanners"
page at www.mostang.com/sane and click on the links in the
table.
As far as EPSON is concerned: They have published both parts.
I know how to talk to the scanner via USB and I also know
which commands the scanners understand. At this time the
Perfection 636U, 1200U, 1200Photo and 610 are supported.
If you are considering an EPSON scanner, I think you should
go with the USB version. They are cheaper and you find them
pretty much everywhere.
I mentioned that the SuSE version you are using does not
have support for USB scanners. If you can compile a kernel
it is no big problem to get the latest version of the USB
subsystem and do it yourself. If you think you need some
assistence, please send me a private email (You would not
be the first one whom I walk through the kernel build
process via email).
Karl Heinz
"S.P.Sheriff" <fsanta@arrakis.es> said:
> Hi everyone
>
> Am trying desperately to come to terms with SANE, kernels and
modules. As I
> see it I have the choice between a SCSI scanner and a USB one for
Linux.
> The latter seem freely available whilst the former have to be
ordered
> through a specialist dealer (here in Spain at least). Does SANE
recognise
> both in the same way or is the way that they are set up different?
> Apparently, my kernel (SuSE 6.3 from the box) has support for USB
> backported from the 2.3 kernel. Does this mean that I can plug in a
> supported USB scanner and have SANE recognise it as a device?
>
> Any help however small much appreciated.
>
> THanks from Steve at FeF, Spain.
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Mar 15 2000 - 11:31:14 PST