Linux can communicate with most Palm OS devices, including Palm, Handspring, and Sony Clie. The interface is usually through a serial port or USB.

For USB, the kernel must have the usbserial and visor modules loaded. Most modern distributions include these modules.

Device permissions

For serial port one, make sure you have write access to /dev/ttyS0.

For USB, make sure your have write access to /dev/ttyUSB0 and /dev/ttyUSB1.

If not, grant write access (as root) with a command like:
chmod 666 /dev/ttyUSB*

Pilot-link

The software that handles communications with Palm devices is pilot-link. Make sure it is installed.

J-Pilot

J-pilot is a desktop application similar to the Palm Desktop. Both KDE and Gnome have their own Palm desktop applications, but I much prefer J-pilot.

To configure J-pilot, go to the File / Preferences dialog and enter the interface device name for your Palm:

• For serial -- /dev/ttyS0
• For USB -- /dev/ttyUSB1

Hotsync

To hotsync, press the hotsync button on your Palm device, then click the "Sync!" button in J-pilot. J-pilot will show sync messages in the text area at the bottom of the application window as each conduit is run.

For a USB connection, if you receive error message "pi_bind No such device. Check your serial port and settings. Exiting with status 10", make sure the usbserial and visor kernel modules are loaded. If not, load them with modprobe and try again.

Installing new Palm applications

From the J-Pilot menu, choose File / Install, browse to the location of the new Palm program and select Add. The next hotsync will install the new program on the Palm.