Linux support for the AuthenTec AES2810

@edentauthentec hardware linux NaBloPoMo Open Source thinkpad ubuntu · 7 comments · 400 words · Viewed ~4,800 times.

Every so often I find a device which - inexplicably - doesn't include Linux support.

I've been very impressed with how well Ubuntu runs on the Lenovo ThinkPad X200. Everything worked out of the box - with the exception of the fingerprint reader (AuthenTec AES2810).

Now, I know that fingerprint readers can easily be defeated by jelly-babies, but it annoys me when something doesn't work.

The manufacturer of the fingerprint reader has a great developer community, so I contacted them. Here's their response:

Linux support for AES devices is not yet available. But based on the increasing number of requests we are currently considering to release the technical specification to the Linux community to be able to integrate selected AES sensor devices to the Open Source projects. We still need to finalize the related discussions with our legal team regarding NDA requirement for the particular developers and clarify all remaining concerns. I will make a note to let you know once we come to a conclusion and will be ready to move forward. Another plan is to extend our BSAPI SDK (currently supporting our TC devices under Windows/Linux/Mac) with AES devices support. The BSAPI is available for free download in it's Lite version.

However, it's not all good news:

since it is hard to predict how exactly and when we will decide to provide the support at the end I would suggest to be careful when blogging about it to avoid false expectations in the community.

I realise that Linux is currently a niche OS - but lack of open software support is a serious omission from any hardware manufacturer. I learned this to my cost when Creative stopped supporting the Hollywood DXR3 card - it was a cracking bit of hardware, but Creative decided that they didn't care about pissing off customers who had Windows XP.

If a hardware manufacturer won't allow you to use their hardware with any software you choose - guess what; it's not your hardware. You may have thought you bought it from them, but you didn't. You are only renting it until they decide they no longer want to support you.

7 thoughts on “Linux support for the AuthenTec AES2810”

2011-11-12 13:33

Andrew Hickey says:

Very true. I have a desktop computer (which I bought for £5, so I'm not too bothered) which works fine - except that the video card sometimes freezes, and there's no open driver for that (now-obsolete) card. Of course, Windows 8's requirement for UEFI could mean that no-one ever gets to own their own hardware - or install GNU/Linux - ever again...
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2011-11-20 12:13

Josef Hajas says:

Personally I have this fingerprint reader (Lenovo T400) for some time now (about 2 years). As I am fan of this technology I tried few times to reverse engineer its windows drivers. Problem is, that communication between OS and device is encrypted. Protocol itself is know, but to write driver for this reader, you must know how to encrypt/decrypt messages. Unfortunately as windows drivers are massive, it is work for multiple weeks 🙁 Meanwhile I use at least BIOS level power on fingerprint check - I have to pass it always when I turn on computer. BTW jelly-bears attach is always cited, but majority of new devices (and I believe AES2810 isn't exception) have support for detecting if the finger if life (heat, electric charge etc.).
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1. 2011-11-20 12:27
  
  Terence Eden says:
  
  Thanks for the info.
  Reply
2011-12-02 18:04

kurt says:

http://support.authentec.com/KnowledgeBase/KBview/tabid/843/ArticleId/300/Linux-Support-for-AuthenTec-Sensors.aspx
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2012-07-02 10:39

Terence Eden says:

I've just received the specifications from Authentec! Will see if I can share them, then write a new blog post.
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2013-02-06 10:28

Kamil says:

AES2810 is now supported with latest libfprint-0.5.X
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1. 2017-03-08 18:31
  
  shahryar says:
  
  do you have any information about why libfprint 0.5 is not include in debian wheezy repository.? my aes2810 works under jessie which has the libfprint .0.5 but under wheezy it does not work even after adding libfprint 0.5 to wheezy from jessie repository...
  Reply