Getting an PS/2 Alps Glidepoint working in GNU/Linux

If you have an Alps Glidepoint touchpad and you would like to set it up in GNU/Linux, these instructions should help you. I've used it with Debian Stable (Woody) 3.0 with 100% success.

Step 1: Setting up gpm

I like my mouse to work both on the console and in X, so first I set up gpm. After installing gpm, you can use the following settings.

Once this is done, start gpm, like /etc/init.d/gpm start (as root of course). The key here is the repeat_type setting, which causes gpm to repeat all input from the mouse on a named pipe called /dev/gpmdata. This is what X will read for mouse input.

Step 2: Setting up X

At this point, the mouse should be working at the console; you should be able to see the cursor move, copy, paste, etc. If not, go back and figure out why.

Next, you need to set up X to use the /dev/gpmdata pipe for a mouse. The following settings in XFree 4.1.x work.

Restart X and you should be good to go.