Add support to Alienware 15 R1

[theGeekyLad]

System Information

• Distribution name: Arch Linux
• Distribution version: 5.0.11
• Python3 version: 3.7.3
• akbl version: 2019.01.13
• Computer model: Alienware 15 Early 2015 (R1)
• Daemon status: False

Bug Description

• Running command akbl gives a GTK dialog-box showing the error The GUI can not start because the daemon is off.
• Running akbl --start-daemon gives the following error,

ERROR from `/usr/lib/python3.7/AKBL/Engine/Controller.py` on method `__init__`:
The computer is not supported.

Log Dumps

[tgl@thegeekylad ~]$ lsusb
...
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 187c:0528 Alienware Corporation
...
[tgl@thegeekylad ~]$ 

[tgl@thegeekylad ~]$ sudo lsusb -D /dev/bus/usb/002/002
Device: ID 187c:0528 Alienware Corporation 
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               0.02
  bDeviceClass            0 
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x187c Alienware Corporation
  idProduct          0x0528 
  bcdDevice            0.00
  iManufacturer           1 Alienware
  iProduct                2 AW1517
  iSerial                 3 16.0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength       0x0029
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower                0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.01
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength      56
          Report Descriptor: (length is 56)
            Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x00 0xff ] 65280
                            (null)
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            (null)
            Item(Main  ): Collection, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Application
            Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x0c ] 12
                            Consumer
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x06 ] 6
                            (null)
            Item(Main  ): Collection, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Logical
            Item(Local ): Usage Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0
                            Unassigned
            Item(Local ): Usage Maximum, data= [ 0x66 ] 102
                            Still
            Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0
            Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
            Item(Global): Report ID, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
            Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x08 ] 8
            Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8
            Item(Main  ): Input, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State No_Null_Position Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Main  ): End Collection, data=none
            Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x14 ] 20
                            Alphanumeric Display
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x2b ] 43
                            Character Report
            Item(Main  ): Collection, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Logical
            Item(Local ): Usage Minimum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Alphanumeric Display
            Item(Local ): Usage Maximum, data= [ 0x66 ] 102
                            (null)
            Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0
            Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
            Item(Global): Report ID, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
            Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x08 ] 8
            Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x2c ] 44
                            Display Data
            Item(Main  ): Output, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State No_Null_Position Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Main  ): End Collection, data=none
            Item(Main  ): End Collection, data=none
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x000a  1x 10 bytes
        bInterval              10
can't get debug descriptor: Resource temporarily unavailable
Device Status:     0x0000
  (Bus Powered)
[tgl@thegeekylad ~]$ 

Thanks in advance!

[rsm-gh]

Hello @theGeekyLad , that seems strange since the Alienware 15 R1 exist in the configuration files. I'm gonna need that you post me the output of the installation process.

~rsm

[rsm-gh]

@theGeekyLad by the way, before launching the installation please install the latest version of akbl, the one that you are using is a little bit outdated

[theGeekyLad]

Thanks for the prompt reply! I'm out of station for a few days now without my rig so let me get back and test it out with the latest version.

Thanks again!

[e-leclercq]

Hi @theGeekyLad and @rsm-gh, I tried to recreate this issue with my Alienware 15R1. When I attempt to start the daemon via the command sudo akbl --start-daemon, the process hangs in the terminal without ending and unlike your case, no output is given (even when I stop the process). However, when I reboot and run akbl, without the start daemon flag, it works just fine. So I think there might be some issue starting the daemon with that command, but not necessarily the support for the 15R1.

I am using Manjaro 4.19.45, Python 3.7.3, AKBL 2019.04.14, and tested on an AW 15R1.

[rsm-gh]

Hi @e-leclercq , I moved your question here.

[theGeekyLad]

Thanks a million @e-leclercq and @rsm-gh! I arrived late here though all I did was clone the repo again and follow the installation steps. It all works now!