Set up Linux permissions
On Linux, a normal user account is not allowed to send configuration commands to a mouse or keyboard. Gearwise ships a udev rule that grants that access to the person logged in at the computer. This page shows how to install it and how to check that it works.
What the rule does
A udev rule is a small text file that tells Linux who may use a device when it is plugged in. The Gearwise rule, 70-gearwise.rules, does two things:
- It lets the logged-in user open the configuration interface (
/dev/hidraw*) of Logitech, Razer, Corsair and SteelSeries devices, over USB and Bluetooth. - It lets the logged-in user open
/dev/uinput, which Gearwise uses to play macros as key presses and mouse clicks.
You do not need to join a group, and you do not run Gearwise as root.
Do you need to do anything?
| How you installed | What to do |
|---|---|
PPA or .deb | Nothing. The package installs the rule. Unplug the device and plug it in again. |
| Tarball | Run the script once, as shown below. |
Install the rule from the tarball
Open a terminal in the folder where you extracted Gearwise.
Run the script. It asks for your password because it writes to
/etc/udev/rules.d/:bashsudo ./install-udev-rules.shThe script copies the rule, reloads udev and applies the rule to devices that are already plugged in. You can run it again at any time.
Unplug the device and plug it in again. If Gearwise still cannot open it, log out and back in.
Check that it worked
Start Gearwise. Your device appears under Devices in the sidebar and its tabs open without a warning.
If access is still refused, Gearwise shows a banner at the top that begins with the number of devices that could not be opened, followed by Install the udev rules, then reconnect the device:. Select Copy command to copy the command it suggests. The same command is under Settings, in the Permissions section.
Good to know
The command shown inside the app is written for a copy of the source code. If you use the tarball, run sudo ./install-udev-rules.sh from the extracted folder instead.
Script options
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
./install-udev-rules.sh | Installs or updates the rule and reloads udev. |
./install-udev-rules.sh --uninstall | Removes the rule and reloads udev. |
./install-udev-rules.sh --no-reload | Copies the rule only, without reloading udev. |
./install-udev-rules.sh --help | Prints a short usage text. |
Limits to know about
- The rule gives access to the person sitting at the computer. A session over SSH does not get it.
- If macros do not play and
/dev/uinputis missing, load the kernel module withsudo modprobe uinput.