[TRACKING] Fingerprint scanner compatibility with linux (ubuntu, fedora, etc)

[Water261]

@dkc

So this is my first time using linux. Im using PopOS and was relived to see this guide was specifically for it but after installing some of the packages I noticed that I have to go in and edit files.

My terminal commands knowledge especially on Linux is very basic and Im not willing to go down a stack overflow rabbit hole just to get the fingerprint scanner to work. So I tried the script and that didn’t work either.

Somebody please tell me there is an easier way to get this damn thing to work. Im willing to install some shit using the terminal and that’s about as far as Im willing to go to get this to work.

Maybe theres another distro that this just works out of the box?

If you’re only willing to install packages then you won’t get the fingerprint sensor working, as from the Ubuntu 21.04 thread:

@nrp

Ubuntu 21.04 support for the Framework Laptop is mostly functional, except for the fingerprint reader due to an older version of libfprint.

Ubuntu 21.10 may have libfprint >1.92.0 but I’m unable to check. Otherwise Fedora 34 Respin or Fedora 35 (When it releases later this month) will work fine.

[dkc]

@Water261 ok thanks for clarifying. The scanner not working isn’t a deal breaker for me right now, Im sure someone will eventually figure out how to make it easier in the next few weeks/months. Im not even sure if Im set on using Linux anyway and might just end up going back to Windows.

[Bradley_Bratten]

So question, following a earlier guide I got it to work but it only works for log on, reported I could also use the scanner for sudo authentication as well? How do I enable this if possible?

[Carlos_Fernandez_San]

@dkc I can send you my generated .deb files if you want them, so you just need to install them (I just followed the guides and corrected a few minor problems along hte way).

Of course that means you’re trusting an stranger on the internet But if you’re willing to do that (not that we check everything we download anyway), it can save you some headache.

Note though that generally speaking - brand new hardware + linux always means some tinkering required if you want everything to work well. But I’m sure you know that already.

[dkc]

@Carlos_Fernandez_San Yeah that would be very helpful, thank you!

[Henry_Luengas]

@dkc

Yeah that would be very helpful, thank you!

Here’s a script that just downloads the deb files and installs them, honestly idk why I didn’t do that in the first place:
libfprint_v1.94.1_install_v2.sh

Run with:
bash ./libfprint_v1.94.1_install_v2.sh

As before, this is very insecure and you shouldn’t trust random strangers on the internet. So if you want to do it yourself, all the steps are in this post above.

[Carlos_Fernandez_San]

@dkc Here you go

GitHub - cfsmp3/linux_framework_laptop: Notes, scripts and random files to...

[SeaMonkey]

@Henry_Luengas Thanks so much for the guide! I am using Linux Mint 20.2 with Cinnamon. A couple of notes for anyone else doing the same:

sudo apt build-dep doesn’t work, but the build process will tell you which dependencies are missing. Manually install them with sudo apt install. debhelper-compat does not exist because it is provided by debhelper. After you’ve installed all the other dependencies, as well as making the other necessary modifications in the guide, append -d to the build command to force it to ignore the lack of debhelper-compat.

apt-source --download-only fprintd fails to locate a source package. Use curl -O http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/f/fprintd/fprintd_1.90.9-1.debian.tar.xz instead.

The Cinnamon user configuration doesn’t have fingerprint configuration in the GUI, but you can configure it from the CLI.
fprintd-enroll -f right-thumb (or right/left index,middle,ring,little finger). Note that it will take many passes to complete, so don’t worry when you see a lot of remove-and-retry messages.
Then
sudo pam-auth-update and ensure that the Fingerprint option is selected.

[Adrian_Sanabria]

[TRACKING] Fingerprint scanner compatibility with linux (ubuntu, fedora, etc)

@Adrian_Sanabria did you need to do anything to get fingerprint working with 1password? I have it working for sudo and login, but 1password hasn’t noticed the fingerprint reader. And if not, how did you install 1password? I installed via the ubuntu app store, and I was wondering if a different method might get me a newer version or something like that.

No, @Alfonso_Lopez I don’t recall having to do anything extra to get fingerprint login working for sudo or for 1Password. I believe I downloaded directly from 1password.com: Best Password Manager for Linux | 1Password

[DylanCM]

I’m also having the “can’t enroll in Linux anymore after doing the ‘windows fix’” issue.

These were the steps I took:

1. Installed Manjaro and enrolled right-index
2. Reinstalled Manjaro and wasn’t able to enroll right-index again, but other fingers worked
3. Installed Win10 and removed the WinBioDatabase (via Fingerprint enrollment)
4. Installed dual boot Manjaro and started getting the errors noted above when trying to enroll for any finger

I’ve reinstalled windows all on it’s own and fingerprint enrollment/use works just fine. I’ve reinstalled just Manjaro and the errors persist. I’ve run the python script and gotten the errors mentioned above. I’ve pulled the script apart and tried various other methods on the FPrint device. I’ve tried from a live USB.

I’m at the point where I’ve been trying to find a datasheet for the Goodix fingerprint scanner to see if I can take it apart and wipe it’s memory somehow. Unfortunately, something I read somewhere implied that the firmware is stored in the same place… so that might just brick the chip.

It seems pretty likely that this is a gap in libfprint/fprintd since Win10 continues to function fine. Unfortunately I don’t have the time to dig into that code and figure out how it differs from the Win driver.

[Atul_Ingle]

@DylanCM Ditto. I’ve given up on this and just waiting for a major update to libfprint that hopefully fixes this issue. I’m also considering buying a new fingerprint reader once the Framework marketplace opens.

[Henry_Luengas]

Sorry to hear you guys can’t get your fingerprint readers working. In case anybody else comes here wondering what python script you are refering to, it deletes fingerprints held in the device’s memory but that weren’t registered on the current OS.

Here is a version I modified to require root privaleges, and only list the fingerprints if not given a -d flag:
libfprint_delete_device_prints.py

To list the prints run:
sudo python3 libfprint_delete_device_prints.py

To delete them all run:
sudo python3 libfprint_delete_device_prints.py -d

[Jeremy_Schneider]

Thank you! This helped me! It seemed to also delete a fingerprint that I had registered in my current OS installation, but I was able to re-register my right index finger fingerprint after running sudo libfprint_delete_device_prints.py -d, which I hadn’t been able to do before running your script. Thank you again.

[2disbetter]

@Henry_Luengas

Here is a version I modified to require root privaleges, and only list the fingerprints if not given a -d flag:

I can’t get this to run. It is complaining about not being able to find stuff

/home/committed88/Downloads/libfprint_delete_device_prints.py: 3: from: not found
/home/committed88/Downloads/libfprint_delete_device_prints.py: 6: from: not found
/home/committed88/Downloads/libfprint_delete_device_prints.py: 7: from: not found
/home/committed88/Downloads/libfprint_delete_device_prints.py: 10: Syntax error: word unexpected (expecting ")")

Thoughts?

[DylanCM]

Looks like it’s missing the

#!/usr/bin/python3

at the top of the file.

Try running it directly with python

$> python3 libfprint_delete_device_prints.py

[Henry_Luengas]

@DylanCM

Try running it directly with python

Yes that’s correct, I accidentally left python out of the command. You’ll need sudo as well:
sudo python3 libfprint_delete_device_prints.py

[2disbetter]

Thanks, even though I’m a software guy, I admittedly have not messed with Python in the slightest.

Now the output I’m getting is:

<gi.FpiDeviceGoodixMoc object at 0x7f043672a280 (FpiDeviceGoodixMoc at 0x1ada0a0)>
goodixmoc
UID342C7CF8_XXXX_MOC_B0
libusb: error [udev_hotplug_event] ignoring udev action change
libusb: error [udev_hotplug_event] ignoring udev action change
libusb: error [udev_hotplug_event] ignoring udev action change
libusb: error [udev_hotplug_event] ignoring udev action change

(process:117261): libfprint-ERROR **: 17:44:35.342: parse fingerlist error
Trace/breakpoint trap

I’ve been having issues getting the fingerprint reader to work under Ubuntu 21.04 with Windows installed as well and using the fingerprint reader.

My guess is that this has something to do with it as well.

[Ethan_Spoelstra]

@2disbetter did you verify that you had the latest libfprint installed for your distro? You can get some of the package versions with sudo dpkg --get-selections | grep fprint.

[2disbetter]

what I compiled was 1.92 so I guess one of the recent updates bumped it up.

Anyway, should I try to roll the versions back?

If so, would someone be able to give me a hand with that? I’m pretty familiar with Linux but have never had a need to do any of this.

[Shdenison]

I got the fingerprint sensor to work on Ubuntu 21.04, but the sensor itself is very hot to the touch. Anyone else experiencing this?