Like many (most? all?) USB pilots, the Sony clie requires that you use the linux kernel module `visor'. Once this is done, the freaky part is that the devices are only created when you hit the hotsync button. (For devices which have no cradle, you have to tap the icon on the centre of the screen to simulate a hotsync button). AFTER you have done this, two files come to exist in /dev. Of these, /dev/ttyUSB1 is your friend.
I use this shell script to take backups --
#!/bin/sh modprobe visor echo Punch hotsync now sleep 10 ~/pilot-link/bin/pilot-xfer -p /dev/pilot --update .
where I'm assuming that within 10 seconds, the icon has been punched, and the device files have been created. /dev/pilot is just a symlink to /dev/ttyUSB1. If within 10 seconds, the files aren't around, pilot-xfer will just break.
The above script needs to be root, since it's doing a modprobe. Alternatively, you ensure the kernel module is in place, and then the script can run in user space.
Warning. There is a really irritating thing: Debian::testing is currently on pilot-link 0.9.5.0-8. You need a more recent version for all this to work. (It took me many months to figure this out). I am now using the current version, which is 0.11.3 and it works well. It is in Debian::unstable, but I just downloaded the sources and recompiled. Well, when installing files into the device, it reliably segfaults, but apart from that everything works.
Back up to These are a few of my favourite toys (my devices page)
Ajay Shah
ajayshah at mayin dot org