HardwareSupportComponentsCardReaders

Introduction

This page describes the status of support for card readers in Linux.

A card reader is a device for accessing the data on a memory card such as a CompactFlash, secure digital or Multimedia Card. Most card readers also offer write capability. Card readers can be categorized by the type and quantity of card slots:

  • Single card reader (e.g. access 1 SD card)
  • Multi card reader (e.g. access 9 card types in 1 device)
  • Series card reader (e.g. access 4 SD cards)

Support for card readers in Linux is not comprehensive and few manufacturers provide Linux drivers that match the quality of the available Windows drivers. One website promoting better support for Card Readers in Linux is the interestingly named Movement for the Use of Smart Cards in a Linux Environment M.U.S.C.L.E.. There you will find in formation on many of the available drivers for card readers and Driver Developer Kits for hardware manufacturers and users who want to write drivers.

Configuration

The first step in making the card reader work is always finding the manufacturer and model, then a suitable driver. A good way of doing this is to use the Debian GNU/Linux device driver check page. Open a terminal and paste the following code:

  • $ lspci -n

Copy the results into the textfield found on the Debian GNU/Linux device driver check page and click to proceed. You should see hardware vendor information listed and for any recognised devices will be the name of the supporting driver. Devices not known show "no information". Remember to help the Device Driver check page by giving them some system information.

If you are fortunate enough to have a driver listed you can search the internet for more information, ask for ["ubuntu/about-ubuntu/C/help.html" help] and then list your results in the table below.

You may find some help at the following sites:

HardwareSupport/Components/Card Reader

The table below lists peoples experiences of using Card Readers with Ubuntu. Please add your own experiences for others to learn from.

Card Reader

Make

Model

Chipset/Driver

Auto detected?

Works?

Ubuntu Version

Comments

Last Updated

Texas Instruments

Unknown device 8039

unknown

No

No

6.10

Manual configuration works. See bug# 53923

2006-12-18 DuncanLithgow

Sandisk

Image Mate

-

Yes

Yes

6.06

Mounting is a little odd

7-25-2006

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Texas Instruments

According to lspci -vvvv:Unknown device 803b or unknown device 0036 (=5in1)

tifm_7xx1 tifm_core and tifm_sd

No

Yes

6.10 (Edgy), 7.04 Feisty, recompile drivers, 07.10 Gutsy works

Modules tifm_7xx1 tifm_core and tifm_sd need to be added to /etc/modules to work on next boot, to use without rebooting, modprobe those modules home

2007-11-28

Texas Instruments

Unknown device 803c

tifm_core and tifm_sd

No

Yes

6.10 (Edgy)

Put in /etc/modules or modprobe: tifm_core and tifm_sd

2006-Dec-25

Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments PCI6411, PCI6421, PCI6611, PCI6621, PCI7411, PCI7421, PCI7611, PCI7621 Secure Digital (SD) Controller

tifm_sd

No

Yes

6.10 (Edgy)

Found in laptop HPNX6120 - (Report at LaptopTestingTeam/HPNX6120). Put in /etc/modules or modprobe: tifm_sd. Manual mounting needed.

2007-Jan-6

CategoryHardware

HardwareSupportComponentsCardReaders (last edited 2008-08-06 16:21:23 by localhost)