Using Third-Party Keybords with HP9000 Workstations

Introduction

PS/2 keyboards can support several different scan-sets. HP-UX does not use the same scan set as typical PC operating systems. Not all PS/2 keyboards will work with HP-UX because of this. Although it's not explicitly stated, the information in ps2(7) seems to imply that it's scancode set 3 that's used by HP-UX.

According to Andries Brouwer's note on keyboard scancodes some keyboards do not implement this scancode set at all, and some keyboards have a defective implementation. So, before buying a PS/2 keyboard for use with an HP9000 one should make sure that it actually works...

If you absolutely need a keyboard that doesn't support scancode set 3, here's an (untested) idea from Chuck Slivkoff:

I was just thinking that using one of the other devices available from P.I. Engineering (i.e., the PS/2 ``splitter''), it might be possible that keyboards which don't support scanset 3 could work. It would depend on the level of intelligence in the adapter. The USB->PS/2 adapter simulates that PS/2 keyboard/mouse, regardless of whether or not they are attached.

Newer HP9000 workstations use USB keyboards and mice instead of PS/2 ones. Unfortunately, not all USB keyboards are usable, either. Also, early firmware versions of USB-equipped machines had many problems with non-HP devices. I think it might therefore be worthwhile to have a list of working ``interesting'' PS/2 and USB keyboards and mice.

Note that the X server does not support hot-plugging for PS/2 and USB devices. To change devices, log in without X; it might be necessary to run ioscan afterwards. The safest way is, of course, to only swap devices when the machine is powered off.

Legend

I'm trying to classify the devices as follows:

Fully Compatible: This device is reported to be fully compatible with HP9000 workstations. (There may be some restrictions, though.)
Partially Compatible: This device is reported to be mostly compatible, i.e. some functions (detailed in the Notes column) may not work.
Not Compatible: This device is reported to be incompatible with HP9000 workstations.

Keyboards

Keyboard	Conn.	Reported by	Notes
emachines model 7800R	PS/2	Thomas Francis, Jr.	-
Fujitsu Siemens KB PC E	PS/2	Michael Piotrowski	The Kinesis Maxim seems to be the same keyboard
Kinesis Contoured	PS/2	Michael Piotrowski	-
Unicomp Model M4-1, p/n 98U0150	PS/2	Chuck Slivkoff	This keyboard has an integrated Trackpoint mouse pointer (a rubber stick between the G, H and B keys, similar to those found on some laptops), but it only provides 2 buttons. Button-chording (using B1+B3 to get B2) does not work.
Logitech Cordless	PS/2	Martin Leek	-
Microsoft Natural (original version)	PS/2	Thomas Francis, Jr.	-
Microsoft Natural Elite	USB	Uli Betzler	-
Cherry G83-6000	USB	Thomas Köll	Tested model: G83-6105 LUN DE (i.e., USB hubless version, German layout)

PS/2-to-USB adapters

A PS/2-to-USB adapter lets you connect PS/2 input devices to a USB port, as found on newer HP9000 workstations. Not all of these adapters work with HP9000s. However, a working adapter might allow you to use PS/2 devices not compatible with PS/2-equipped workstations. For example, the PC PS/2 version of the Contour Design Perfit Mouse didn't work on a 715/100, but it worked on a B1000 with the Y-mouse adapter. (This particular example is only relevant when you already have the PC PS/2 version. If you're buying a Perfit Mouse explicitly for an HP9000, there are both HP-compatible PS/2 [RSHP-x-x] and USB [UPG-x-x] versions available.)

Adapter	Reported by	Notes
UC-100KM by ATEN	Michael Piotrowski	This adapter caused serious lockups with earlier firmware, but it works with version 5.0 on a B1000. There are some problems with ``international'' keys (the extra keys not found on US keyboards): The key right to the left Shift key (typically labeled `<` isn't recognized at all, while the the key left to the Return key in the home row (labeled `#` on a German keyboard) is mapped to the code of the key above the Return key on a US keyboard (labeled `\`), which is unassigned in the default European keymaps, because it doesn't normally exist on European keyboards.
Y-mouse Keyboard & Mouse Adapter for USB by P.I. Engineering	Michael Piotrowski	Y-Mouse version 1.4 or later required. Configurable (see manual). Very helpful tech support.
USB-PS/2 Adapter, model no. F5U119 by Belkin	Michael Piotrowski	Configurable.

Notes on adapters

Recent firmware and USB driver patches must be loaded on the workstation in order for it to work correctly.

At least on my B1000 with firmware version 5.0, when using the soft-power switch, the machines sometimes powers off before the shutdown has completed. This occurs with both the Aten and the Belkin adapters; I don't have a Y-Mouse here.

All adapters listed above simulate 2 USB devices, regardless of whether both are attached or not. Since by default the X server uses the first mouse, this means that if you want to use a PS/2 keyboard with a USB mouse, you have to do one of the following:

Either Modify /etc/X11/X0devices,
Or plug the mouse into the first USB port, and the adapter into the second, so that ioscan shows something like this (the exact paths depend on your hardware):
```
10/0/14/2                usb             Built-in USB Interface
10/0/14/2.1                 usbhub       USB Root Hub
10/0/14/2.1.2                  usbhid    USB HID Mouse(0)
10/0/14/2.1.3                  usbhid    USB HID Kbd(1) Mouse(2)
    
```
(Mouse(0) is the actually connected USB mouse, while Mouse(2) is the "phantom" mouse generated by the adapter.)

Both the Y-Mouse and the Belkin adapters are configurable in a very similar way; one might suspect that it's actually the same hardware inside. The Y-Mouse documentation lists most of the possible commands. The Belkin documentation is a bit sparse, but the manual for another Belkin adapter, the F5U118 USB-ADB lists the commands.

Both adapters are shipped with the the Scroll Lock key configured as Macintosh Power key. To change this, hold down Esc and press y (z on a German keyboard). A good place to do this is in a shell running cat > /dev/null.

What else?

The above is only a rough outline. If you have experiences with these or other keyboards, updates or corrections, or if you have other comments, please don't hesitate to send me a message.

Of course, neither I nor anybody else mentioned on this page can give you any guarantee that any of the devices listed above as ``compatible'' actually works with your system. Since products are often revised, it may also be that later versions of products listed as ``incompatible'' my work now.