Logitech Isn't Yet Fully Supporting Linux

Written by Michael Larabel in Hardware on 20 June 2014 at 04:10 AM EDT. 19 Comments
HARDWARE
While more computer peripheral companies are paying attention to Linux -- especially gaming device related manufacturers -- in the age of Linux-based Steam Machines and SteamOS, not all are completely on-board quite yet. Logitech has shown some signs of Linux interest and support in the past, but they aren't yet committing to providing Linux support for all of their products.

Logitech last year began showing "Linux compatible" devices albeit very few of them, acknowledged they are monitoring Valve's Linux pursuits, etc. However, most of the Logitech Linux support that there is today has been done independently by Logitech device owners carrying out USB reverse engineering, etc, for better supporting the gaming keyboards and mice under the free software stack.


A Phoronix reader, David Gumberg, recently wrote into Logitech asking about Linux support for the Logitech K70 keyboard. The Logitech K70 is a wireless, solar-powered keyboard. There's also LEDs on the keyboard for controlling different color patterns. David asked Logitech about Linux support for this keyboard -- the basic input support works via the Linux kernel's HID drivers, but he was after the RGB LED control support under Linux.

Logitech responded to his inquiry that they don't intend to support the K70 under Linux, but to instead use Windows to configure the LED controls and since the settings are stored on the device, they can then be toggled under Linux.
Hi David

Thanks for getting in touch. Sadly, there are no plans at present to port the K70 RGB's software over to Linux.

However, the lighting patterns, once designed in Windows, are saved in the keyboard's on-board memory, which is OS independent. You'll just need to configure the lighting in Windows.

Hope that helps

Thanks

Harry Butler
PR Specialist - Northern Europe

At least Logitech's response isn't quite as bad as Gigabyte's recommendation to use Windows outright when encountering the ASPM problem on a Gigabyte motherboard under Linux.

Outside of Logitech, there's many Linux users that have come up with several different open-source utilities for supporting Logitech under Linux. For most of these apps the hardware support is limited to the few keyboards/mice that the developer owns, but it isn't too hard reverse-engineering a USB keyboard for others to help out and contribute.

In terms of other Linux-friendly gaming peripheral vendors, Roccat is highly recommended for Linux gamers and they have been supporting Linux for years with upstream drivers. We're also still waiting on Razer's Linux play to commence. Expect more out of these gaming peripheral vendors once SteamOS and Steam Machines are actually shipping, likely in 2015.
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Michael Larabel

Michael Larabel is the principal author of Phoronix.com and founded the site in 2004 with a focus on enriching the Linux hardware experience. Michael has written more than 20,000 articles covering the state of Linux hardware support, Linux performance, graphics drivers, and other topics. Michael is also the lead developer of the Phoronix Test Suite, Phoromatic, and OpenBenchmarking.org automated benchmarking software. He can be followed via Twitter, LinkedIn, or contacted via MichaelLarabel.com.

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