1360_Mouse_Support

NEXTSTEP for Intel Processors

Title: Mouse Support
Entry Number: 1360
Last Updated: <<Date June 17, 1997>>

Product Vendor:
Logitech
6505 Kaiser Drive
Fremont, CA 94555
USA

Main Phone: +1 (510) 795 8500
Bulletin Board System: +1 (510) 795 0408
Toll-Free Faxback System: +1 (800) 245 0000
Main Fax Number: +1 (510) 792 8901
Developer Support E-mail Address: developer_support@logitech.com

Keywords: Mouse, bus, serial, PS2, pointer

Usage Commentary:
NEXTSTEP supports:

All PS/2 mice

Most Logitech-compatible bus mice (see Known Problems)

Many serial mice (see following note)

Serial Mouse Support
NEXTSTEP supports three of the four basic types of serial mice: Microsoft-compatible type M, Logitech type V, and Logitech type W serial mice. (The fourth, unsupported, type is the Logitech type C programmable serial mouse.) For details on the various types of serial mice, see the Logitech Mouse Technical Reference & Programmer's Guide.

Setup and Installation:
PS/2 Compatible Mouse Setup and Installation
PS/2 compatible mice require no special setup. Simply plug the mouse into your computer--NEXTSTEP automatically recognizes its presence during software installation.

Logitech Compatible Bus Mouse Setup and Installation
Set the jumper JMP1 to IRQ 5 before installing the Logitech Bus Mouse interface card. Then NEXTSTEP can recognize the presence of the device automatically.

Serial Mouse Setup and Installation
Use the hardware or software tools provided with your system to configure the first serial port to IRQ 4, port 0x3f8, and the second serial port to IRQ 3, port 0x2f8. Plug the mouse into the first serial port. See NeXTanswer number 1208, "Serial Port Connectivity," for additional information on using serial ports with NEXTSTEP.

Known Problems:

Overheating may cause the Logitech Bus Mouse card to send an abnormally high number of interrupts to your computer which will cause noticeable performance degradation. Your computer's load average (uptime) will be very high, yet no process will be taking up CPU time in the process table (enter ps -aux in a Terminal window). Proper ventilation will correct this problem. Turning your computer off and letting it cool down for a while should also cause the symptoms to disappear temporarily.

Logitec bus mice with model number M-SR14 are known not to work on some systems. If you encounter this problem, contact your vendor for a replacement mouse. M-SF14 mice (among others) are known to work.

NEXTSTEP does not currently ship any drivers for alternate pointing devices, such as touch screens, tablets, or pens. However, it is possible to write loadable Driver Kit^TM drivers for these devices.

NEXTSTEP does not support the Microsoft Bus Mouse because the specifications to the mouse are proprietary. Microsoft will not give them out or publish them.

NEXTSTEP ignores the middle button on three-button mice.

A bug in NEXTSTEP Release 3.2 prevents Configure.app from saving the port selection correctly for the serial mouse driver. While the default setting of COM A works correctly, if you try to configure NEXTSTEP to look for a serial mouse at COM B, this change will not be saved. If you absolutely need to use the mouse on COM B, a workaround is to manually edit the file usr/Devices/SerialMouse.config/Instance0.table. Change the line
"COM Port" = "0";
to read
"COM Port" = "1";
When you reboot your machine, the serial mouse driver will look for the mouse at COM B.

	All PS/2 mice
	Most Logitech-compatible bus mice (see Known Problems)
	Many serial mice (see following note)

	Overheating may cause the Logitech Bus Mouse card to send an abnormally high number of interrupts to your computer which will cause noticeable performance degradation. Your computer's load average (uptime) will be very high, yet no process will be taking up CPU time in the process table (enter ps -aux in a Terminal window). Proper ventilation will correct this problem. Turning your computer off and letting it cool down for a while should also cause the symptoms to disappear temporarily.

	Logitec bus mice with model number M-SR14 are known not to work on some systems. If you encounter this problem, contact your vendor for a replacement mouse. M-SF14 mice (among others) are known to work.

	NEXTSTEP does not currently ship any drivers for alternate pointing devices, such as touch screens, tablets, or pens. However, it is possible to write loadable Driver Kit^TM drivers for these devices.

	NEXTSTEP does not support the Microsoft Bus Mouse because the specifications to the mouse are proprietary. Microsoft will not give them out or publish them.

	NEXTSTEP ignores the middle button on three-button mice.

	A bug in NEXTSTEP Release 3.2 prevents Configure.app from saving the port selection correctly for the serial mouse driver. While the default setting of COM A works correctly, if you try to configure NEXTSTEP to look for a serial mouse at COM B, this change will not be saved. If you absolutely need to use the mouse on COM B, a workaround is to manually edit the file usr/Devices/SerialMouse.config/Instance0.table. Change the line "COM Port" = "0"; to read "COM Port" = "1"; When you reboot your machine, the serial mouse driver will look for the mouse at COM B.