How to transfer files to/from DSL via irda

Forum: DSL Tips and Tricks
Topic: How to transfer files to/from DSL via irda
started by: Juanito

Posted by Juanito on Feb. 23 2007,12:51

This is part 3 of the DSL irda how-to. In order to proceed from here, you will need to have irda up and running on your DSL machine as described in part 1 - see post "How to start irda & check it works"

In order to transfer files to/from your mobile phone over an irda connection, you need to first make sure that the irda mode on the phone is set to "pc-connect" and not "modem" or similar. Apparently, although the irda link can be used for dial-up and file transfers, it needs to be told which to expect.

Now we need to load the various OBEX packages from Debian stable:

# apt-get install obexftp
# apt-get install obexserver
# apt-get install openobex-apps

According to Google, there are several ways to transfer files but I could not get all of them to work:

1. Using the obex test application

To send a file from your phone to DSL machine.

# obex_test
Using IrDA transport
OBEX Interactive test client/server.
> s [now enter the "send file over irda" command on your phone]
connect_server()
Server request finished!
server_done() Command (00) has now finished
Made some progress...
Made some progress...
...
Made some progress...
put_server()
put_server() Found name
put_server() Skipped header c3
put_server() Skipped header 42
put_server() Skipped header 44
put_server() Found body
Filename = missionimpossible.mid
Wrote /tmp/missionimpossible.mid (38538 bytes)
Server request finished!
server_done() Command (02) has now finished
We got a disconnect-request
Server request finished!
Disconnect done!
>
<ctrl-c>

To send a file from your DSL machine to the phone. The file appears in the "beamed" folder on my phone.

# obex_test
Using IrDA transport
OBEX Interactive test client/server.
> c
Connect OK!
Version: 0x10. Flags: 0x00
> p Events Events
PUT file (local, remote)> name=Events, size=119
Going to send 119 bytes
PUT successful!
>
<ctrl-c>

2. Using the irobex_palm3 application - even though this is not the model of my phone:

# irobex_palm3 Events
Send and receive files to Palm3

name=Events, size=119

PUT successful

# irobex_palm3
Send and receive files to Palm3
Waiting for files

......................................HEADER_LENGTH = 38538
put_done() Skipped header 42
put_done() Skipped header 44
Filename = missionimpossible.mid
Wrote /tmp/missionimpossible.mid (38538 bytes)

3. Using the obexftp application

Note that I was unable to get this to work:

That's it - have fun (and I'm still working on mounting the phone as an obexfs).

Posted by curaga on Feb. 28 2007,17:13

And here's how to beam files to another dsl lappy or a win95 lappy:

First install those obexapps. And irda 2.0 and irxfer in win95 if you're doing that.
Then check if your irda connection is working and they recognize each other.

Then, on the receiving machine (if Linux) do "irxfer" and it'll start waiting for files. On win95 do nothing.

On the sending (Linux machine) type "irxfer file" and it'll beam the file to the other one. In win95 start irxfer and select the file and push send.