6 ms·

Goodix Fingerprint Drivers for Linux (Or at Least Debian)

84 points by tcsenpai 2y ago

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
Retr0id 2y ago
I assume these packages/libs have been pulled from a laptop shipped by Dell? At a superficial glance, it looks like it's based on libfprint, which is LGPL licensed. I wonder if you'd be able to ask Dell for the sources? https://github.com/tcsenpai/goodix-debian-linux-drivers-fingerprint-by-dell/tree/main/bare_so_files https://github.com/tcsenpai/goodix-debian-linux-drivers-fing... https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/libfprint/libfprint/-/blob/master/COPYING?ref_type=heads https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/libfprint/libfprint/-/blob/ma...
- quocanh 2y ago
  How does copyleft license work in this case? Aren't they legally required to open-source their sources and publish it publicly or can they hide that behind a request system?
  - clcaev 2y ago
    Unlike the full GPL, the LGPL doesn't require applications of the library be licensed under the same. It would apply only to improvements to the library itself.
    - fweimer 2y ago
      If you ship the library, the requirements for the library itself are very similar to the GPL. The difference you describe mostly applies to system libraries (those libraries that are not distributed alongside applications).
  - oaiey 2y ago
    IMHO a request system is sufficient. Remember GPL comes from a time where Internet was not granted and magazines with floppy disks were a thing.
  - thegrim33 2y ago
    No, the main requirement is that they link to libfprint dynamically or provide object files such that effectively you can replace libfprint with a different version of libfprint of your choosing, but there's no requirement to open source the work that makes use of libfprint.
- oaiey 2y ago
  Goodix fingerprint is used in Framework Laptop. This might come from that corner.
  - kelnos 2y ago
    The fingerprint sensors in the Framework laptops already have open source drivers. This is for the sensors used in some older but still recent laptops from other manufacturers. I have a Dell XPS 13 from 2018 with an unsupported Goodix fingerprint sensor; I expect this would work with that.
    - sharpshadow 2y ago
      Yes exactly it’s also the driver for my 2018 Dell XPS 15 and I think it was the last one missing for full linux support.
  - tcsenpai 2y ago
    Actually, I have a Lenovo IdeaPad3 Slim and I had no idea of the Framework thing. Might be worth looking deeper for more devices support!
- sp1rit 2y ago
  No, this needs libfprint-tod[0], which is built do dlopen non-free reader libraries from manufacturers. [0]:https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/3v1n0/libfprint/ https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/3v1n0/libfprint/
- tcsenpai 2y ago
  Some packages were collected from a very painful night of research and gathering, with a good amount of filtering out for bad / incompatible modules. I don't even remember how I managed to find an obscure reddit post ( I think) with the other ones. I packaged the .deb manually ( If i recall correctly ) and mashed up a bunch of methods until things finally worked in a stable way. Unfortunately nobody ever replied me about the sources (no support whatsoever tbh). I own a Lenovo IdeaPad3 Slim which has one of the goodix fingerprint sensors and that's why I began this quest indeed
  - vwoolf 2y ago
    Thanks for the effort.
wazoox 2y ago
Ah too bad, mine (27c6:55b4) isn't supported...
- molticrystal 2y ago
  Unless you already did, you could try loading the module manually and see what happens. Then do a pull request to the archive to add your device to the udev rule if it works.
- tcsenpai 2y ago
  I'd suggest trying the modules nevertheless. I couldn't get many devices to test, so I just stated what I am sure is compatible. If by any chance it works, it would be very nice if you could PR the compatibility info :) ps. the only "working" report here might help you https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:27c6-55b4 https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:27c6-55b4 EDIT: https://gist.github.com/d-k-bo/15e53eab53e2845e97746f5f8661b224 https://gist.github.com/d-k-bo/15e53eab53e2845e97746f5f8661b... might be useful!
- TheWeirdDev 2y ago
  My experimental driver is based on the reversed engineered windows drivers and might work for you: https://github.com/TheWeirdDev/libfprint https://github.com/TheWeirdDev/libfprint
jakjak123 2y ago
Hmm, isnt there some upstream support for goodix fingerprint readers in linux?
- kelnos 2y ago
  Not all of them. There are a few Goodix chipsets with no open source drivers.
- tcsenpai 2y ago
  Unfortunately, not for the models I listed (according to https://linux-hardware.org https://linux-hardware.org). Would be way better, I agree. This is just sharing a night of painful research :)
- TheWeirdDev 2y ago
  Only (MOC) Match-On-Chip devices are supported. Other ones will match on host and need a different driver.
NewJazz 2y ago
Unfortunately in the US, the police can coerce you into unlocking your electronic devices using biometric authentication methods. So I could care less if there is a fingerprint reader on my laptop.
- tcsenpai 2y ago
  Well is still way faster than typing a reasonable secure password but I mean, if someone cares these are the drivers lol
- gerdesj 2y ago
  Use someone else's finger. Only an amateur uses their own!
  - DeathArrow 2y ago
    Where do you keep someone else's finger?
    - gerdesj 2y ago
      On their hands. If you need more than ten, just get another person. This scheme scales linearly.
      - tcsenpai 2y ago
        lookup resin finger on youtube (tbh on invidious) and hack the world
    - karma_pharmer 2y ago
      up your... nose, of course.
- jjeaff 2y ago
  I have also seen a recent case where they forced someone to give up their password. So I'm not sure you are safe either way.
tcsenpai 2y ago
For reference: https://github.com/aymanbagabas/goodix_fp_dump https://github.com/aymanbagabas/goodix_fp_dump This repo contains many useful info and experiments. Usually fiddling around works for goodix devices, but I haven't any other device to test yet.
Slava_Propanei 2y ago
[dead]
thomholwerda 2y ago
If you're not running Debian/something Debian-based, do you just dump the .so files in the listed directories and hope for the best? Or is there something more you should do to get these to work on, say, Fedora? The fingerprint reader on my Dell XPS 13 9370 is the only thing Linux never supported because Goodix.
bluecatswim 2y ago
I have a Lenovo ThinkBook with the 27c6:550a for which I used https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libfprint-2-tod1-goodix https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libfprint-2-tod1-goodix which worked for me. They downloaded the driver from Lenovo's support page. How are these drivers different?
worthless-trash 2y ago
Can someone do a clean room reverse engineering effort from these ?

84 points by tcsenpai 2y ago

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

I assume these packages/libs have been pulled from a laptop shipped by Dell? At a superficial glance, it looks like it's based on libfprint, which is LGPL licensed. I wonder if you'd be able to ask Dell for the sources? https://github.com/tcsenpai/goodix-debian-linux-drivers-fingerprint-by-dell/tree/main/bare_so_files https://github.com/tcsenpai/goodix-debian-linux-drivers-fing... https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/libfprint/libfprint/-/blob/master/COPYING?ref_type=heads https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/libfprint/libfprint/-/blob/ma...

quocanh 2y ago
How does copyleft license work in this case? Aren't they legally required to open-source their sources and publish it publicly or can they hide that behind a request system?
- clcaev 2y ago
  Unlike the full GPL, the LGPL doesn't require applications of the library be licensed under the same. It would apply only to improvements to the library itself.
  - fweimer 2y ago
    If you ship the library, the requirements for the library itself are very similar to the GPL. The difference you describe mostly applies to system libraries (those libraries that are not distributed alongside applications).
- oaiey 2y ago
  IMHO a request system is sufficient. Remember GPL comes from a time where Internet was not granted and magazines with floppy disks were a thing.
- thegrim33 2y ago
  No, the main requirement is that they link to libfprint dynamically or provide object files such that effectively you can replace libfprint with a different version of libfprint of your choosing, but there's no requirement to open source the work that makes use of libfprint.
oaiey 2y ago
Goodix fingerprint is used in Framework Laptop. This might come from that corner.
- kelnos 2y ago
  The fingerprint sensors in the Framework laptops already have open source drivers. This is for the sensors used in some older but still recent laptops from other manufacturers. I have a Dell XPS 13 from 2018 with an unsupported Goodix fingerprint sensor; I expect this would work with that.
  - sharpshadow 2y ago
    Yes exactly it’s also the driver for my 2018 Dell XPS 15 and I think it was the last one missing for full linux support.
- tcsenpai 2y ago
  Actually, I have a Lenovo IdeaPad3 Slim and I had no idea of the Framework thing. Might be worth looking deeper for more devices support!
sp1rit 2y ago
No, this needs libfprint-tod[0], which is built do dlopen non-free reader libraries from manufacturers. [0]:https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/3v1n0/libfprint/ https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/3v1n0/libfprint/
tcsenpai 2y ago
Some packages were collected from a very painful night of research and gathering, with a good amount of filtering out for bad / incompatible modules. I don't even remember how I managed to find an obscure reddit post ( I think) with the other ones. I packaged the .deb manually ( If i recall correctly ) and mashed up a bunch of methods until things finally worked in a stable way. Unfortunately nobody ever replied me about the sources (no support whatsoever tbh). I own a Lenovo IdeaPad3 Slim which has one of the goodix fingerprint sensors and that's why I began this quest indeed
- vwoolf 2y ago
  Thanks for the effort.

wazoox 2y ago

Ah too bad, mine (27c6:55b4) isn't supported...

molticrystal 2y ago
Unless you already did, you could try loading the module manually and see what happens. Then do a pull request to the archive to add your device to the udev rule if it works.
tcsenpai 2y ago
I'd suggest trying the modules nevertheless. I couldn't get many devices to test, so I just stated what I am sure is compatible. If by any chance it works, it would be very nice if you could PR the compatibility info :) ps. the only "working" report here might help you https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:27c6-55b4 https://linux-hardware.org/?id=usb:27c6-55b4 EDIT: https://gist.github.com/d-k-bo/15e53eab53e2845e97746f5f8661b224 https://gist.github.com/d-k-bo/15e53eab53e2845e97746f5f8661b... might be useful!
TheWeirdDev 2y ago
My experimental driver is based on the reversed engineered windows drivers and might work for you: https://github.com/TheWeirdDev/libfprint https://github.com/TheWeirdDev/libfprint

jakjak123 2y ago

Hmm, isnt there some upstream support for goodix fingerprint readers in linux?

kelnos 2y ago
Not all of them. There are a few Goodix chipsets with no open source drivers.
tcsenpai 2y ago
Unfortunately, not for the models I listed (according to https://linux-hardware.org https://linux-hardware.org). Would be way better, I agree. This is just sharing a night of painful research :)
TheWeirdDev 2y ago
Only (MOC) Match-On-Chip devices are supported. Other ones will match on host and need a different driver.

NewJazz 2y ago

Unfortunately in the US, the police can coerce you into unlocking your electronic devices using biometric authentication methods. So I could care less if there is a fingerprint reader on my laptop.

tcsenpai 2y ago
Well is still way faster than typing a reasonable secure password but I mean, if someone cares these are the drivers lol
gerdesj 2y ago
Use someone else's finger. Only an amateur uses their own!
- DeathArrow 2y ago
  Where do you keep someone else's finger?
  - gerdesj 2y ago
    On their hands. If you need more than ten, just get another person. This scheme scales linearly.
    - tcsenpai 2y ago
      lookup resin finger on youtube (tbh on invidious) and hack the world
  - karma_pharmer 2y ago
    up your... nose, of course.
jjeaff 2y ago
I have also seen a recent case where they forced someone to give up their password. So I'm not sure you are safe either way.

tcsenpai 2y ago

For reference: https://github.com/aymanbagabas/goodix_fp_dump https://github.com/aymanbagabas/goodix_fp_dump This repo contains many useful info and experiments. Usually fiddling around works for goodix devices, but I haven't any other device to test yet.

Slava_Propanei 2y ago

[dead]

thomholwerda 2y ago

If you're not running Debian/something Debian-based, do you just dump the .so files in the listed directories and hope for the best? Or is there something more you should do to get these to work on, say, Fedora? The fingerprint reader on my Dell XPS 13 9370 is the only thing Linux never supported because Goodix.

bluecatswim 2y ago

I have a Lenovo ThinkBook with the 27c6:550a for which I used https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libfprint-2-tod1-goodix https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/libfprint-2-tod1-goodix which worked for me. They downloaded the driver from Lenovo's support page. How are these drivers different?

worthless-trash 2y ago

Can someone do a clean room reverse engineering effort from these ?