- G N O K K I -
(C) Hugh Blemings, hugh@vsb.com.au 1999
Last update 16 February 1999 Version 0.2.1
- Introduction -
This is version 0.2.1 of gnokii, a Linux/Unix tool suite and (eventually)
modem/fax driver for Nokia mobile phones, released under the GPL.
The code supplied is still relatively new and hence has had limited
testing. Bugs where know are detailed in the file BUGS... Play around
with it, hack at it and see what you discover but please do so in the
knowledge that it comes with no warranty or guarantee - you use
it at your own risk.
The resulting executable allows you to read/write phonebook entries,
dump SMS messages from the phone and enter a monitor mode to look
at the protocol and any unknown messages that may occur. The latter
are printed in hexadecimal form and are provided to help with
understanding of the protocol.
The code for reading/writing phonebook entries has had limited testing
but the read code is believed to be solid. It has been observed
that the write code occassionally fails to write a location for
reasons as yet unknown. The format of the input to the
write option is relatively unforgiving and does only very
basic parsing.
Routines for retrieving SMS messages have been tested and appear
to be bug free. The 3810 used for testing appears to ignore the
memory type field however.
- Installation -
Review fbus.h, make sure that the FBUS_DEVICE define points
to the right serial port. You'll need r/w permissions on this
port.
Type make, all should build from there, it's pretty simple code
so you shouldn't have any problems. Note that you need pthread
libraries, they are standard on most modern Linux distributions.
If you get EAGAIN or EINVAL undeclared, try adding;
#include "/usr/include/asm/errno.h"
...in fbus.c
- Known Bugs -
Review the file BUGS in the first instance.
Not really a bug but the command that asks the handset what
the maximum permissible length of phone book names and numbers
is not yet known so the value is limited to 10 characters for
names and 30 for numbers. This works OK with the Optus SIM
but may be limiting for other localities.
If you are using gnokii, particuarly in these early days,
it is worth joining the mailing list as bugs will be reported
there first! Alternatively review the BUGS file on the web site.
- How to help -
You can assist the development process and by making note of any
messages that occur and seeing if you can work out what they mean.
Suggestions on changes to the code are welcome but don't spend too much
time in this area as it is still a work in progress.
- Protocol Details -
The protocol used between the handset and the PC has been worked out
by a mixture of trial and error, monitoring the data that goes between
the 3810 and its Windows 95 software and a few snippets of information
found on the 'net relating to older Nokia models. Feedback from
people who played with the first release of gnokii was invaluable.
More of the protocol has been investigated than is presently included
in the software, including the messages used to send SMS messages and
to a lesser degree do actual data/fax connections. However, they are not yet
fully understood and hence have been left out of the included code for now.
- To Do -
A lot. Ultimately I envisage a kernel driver that is loaded as required
that talks to the handset via the real serial port on one side in the
phone's protocl. The other side appears as a fairly basic serial port
that can understand AT commands and otherwise appear like a modem.
The current gnokii command line tool will be expanded to allow the phone
to be monitored, SMS messages to be sent etc. etc. Whether
this operates directly to the serial port or via the driver is unknown,
the latter approach would nessitate making up AT commands I expect.
It is anticipated that SMS send functionality will be available in
the next release (0.2.2ish2ish) as most of this protocol is now understood.
Discussion (on the list is suggested) about the form the tools might
take is useful and encouraged.
- References -
The web site for this project (basic though it is) is at;
There is a similar project underway for the 6110/5110 range of handsets,
discussions are underway to see about merging the two efforts.
The serial programming howto was valuable in cobbling together
serial code for both monitoring and the tools themselves. This
is the Australian mirror, there will be one nearby to you too :)
- Handsets/Networks tested -
3110/Sonera (Finland)
3810/Telstra (Australia)
3810/Optus [Actually Hutchison] (Australia)
8110/Proximus (Belgium)
8110/D2 Privat (Germany)
8110i/MTN (South Africa)
- Credits -
Thankyou to, in no particular order...
* Everyone on the linux-nokia mailing list for their interest
and input into the project.
* Francois Dessart, Brendan O'Dea, Tony Lindstrom, Steffan Henke
and Cobus Van Eeden for dumps (and in some cases interpretation!)
of unknown messages, bug reports and prompt feedback of being
able to build new releases.
* Martin Hamilton for looking after the mailing list.
* Lucy for making pizza and putting up with me dissappearing to
work on this :)
- Release Notes -
19990216 Version 0.2.1
Fixed bug that caused phone book entries containing spaces to be
mangled. Added retrieve SMS message function.
19990213 Version 0.2.0
First version that looks more like the finished product - supports
command line options etc.
19990126 Version 0.1.0
Initial release of monitoring tool - first rough incarnation of
gnokii - what will ultimately be the monitoring and programming tool.