Last modified: Jun. 13, 2009

Contents
1 - Summary
2 - Kernel options
3 - Dependencies
4 - Gtkpod installation
5 - Plug in iPod
6 - Mount iPod
7 - Using gtkpod
8 - Unmount iPod


1 - Summary

This guide will show how to use an iPod in FreeBSD. It explains how to access
the music on an iPod using gtkpod and then play it using xmms. I have an Apple
iPod nano (1st generation - xA005). This has been tested in FreeBSD 7.1.


2 - Kernel options

You will need to have the following options in your kernel.
  device          scbus                   # SCSI bus (required for SCSI)
  device          da                      # Direct Access (disks)
  device          pass                    # Passthrough device (direct SCSI access)
  device          uhci                    # UHCI PCI->USB interface
  device          ohci                    # OHCI PCI->USB interface
  device          ehci                    # EHCI PCI->USB interface (USB 2.0)
  device          usb                     # USB Bus (required)
  device          umass                   # Disks/Mass storage - Requires scbus and da
If you didn't already have them in your kernel you will need to reboot before
using the iPod.


3 - Dependencies

The xmms dependency will need to be installed. Install the packages from a
FreeBSD FTP mirror server.
# su - root
# setenv PACKAGESITE ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/$arch/packages-$rel-release/All/
# pkg_add -r xmms-*.tbz
# logout


4 - Gtkpod installation

Install the gtkpod package from an FreeBSD FTP mirror server.
# su - root
# setenv PACKAGESITE ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/ports/$arch/packages-$rel-release/All/
# pkg_add -r gtkpod-*.tbz
# logout


5 - Plug in iPod

Log in with a normal user account. Plug in the iPod into the computer and
check to make sure it was detected properly.
# dmesg | tail -n 6
umass0: Apple iPod, class 0/0, rev 2.00/0.02, addr 2 on uhub3
da0 at umass-sim0 bus 0 target 0 lun 0
da0: Apple iPod 1.62 Removable Direct Access SCSI-0 device 
da0: 40.000MB/s transfers
da0: 3906MB (7999488 512 byte sectors: 255H 63S/T 497C)
GEOM_LABEL: Label for provider da0s2 is msdosfs/IPOD.


6 - Mount iPod

Mount the FAT32 partition with read/write access on the iPod.
# sudo mount_msdosfs /dev/da0s2 /ipod
Password:


7 - Using gtkpod

You can find out the model number of the iPod by viewing the following file.
In this case I have an Apple iPod nano (1st generation - xA005).
# cat /ipod/iPod_Control/Device/SysInfo
ModelNumStr: xA005

Run gtkpod. Go the the Edit menu and select Edit Repository/iPod Options. Add
a new repository for the iPod.
# gtkpod &



Go to the Edit menu and select Edit Preferences. Set xmms to play MP3's under
the Tools tab.



Click on the icon that says Load iPod(s) in the far left-hand corner and then
click on IPOD and expand the menu.



You can right-click on files and either play them or put them in a queue to
play. When finished close gtkpod.


8 - Unmount iPod

Unmount the iPod.
# sudo umount /ipod
Password: