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On Fri, 19 Sep 1997, Jont Allen wrote: > David Mentré wrote: > > Jont Allen <jba@research.att.com> writes: > > > > > There is no support at the moment for IrDA with Linux, however > > > > I've heard (on linux-kernel mailing list maybe) that the IrDA port > > works for data transfert like a modem port (need to use a transfert > > file program like kermit). In fact, it should be possible because a > > COMn: port is assigned with the Win95 ThinkPad panel. > > > > And therefore, it _should_ work with a printer. I have no problems using my TP701's IR port with other IR devices as a null modem connection under Linux. I fire up minicom and it doesn't know the difference between the IR port and the modem port. As I understand it, IrDA is just an error detection/correction protocol for IR connections. If you have two IR devices, they can talk to each other just fine without IrDA. They'll see each other as serial ports and it'll be like a null-modem cable connection (vulnerable to noise). This is fine for file transfers (since protocols like zmodem have their own error detection and correction), but might not be enough for sending data to a printer (where a single bit error can cause the printer to spit out 30 pages of postscript garbage). -- John H. Kim kim@mak.com