[fprint] Proposition of help for support of VFS495

[Bastien Nocera]

On Sun, 2016-11-27 at 21:14 +0100, Cedric Viou wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> My HP ZBook provides a Validity fingerprint reader that is not yet
> supported by fprintlib:
> Bus 003 Device 003: ID 138a:003f Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS495
> Fingerprint Reader
> 
> I run libfprint 1:0.6.0-git20160719-1-0ppa1~xenial1 with Ubuntu
> 16.04.1 LTS.
> 
> A few weeks ago, I managed to get the VFS495 to work (enrole and
> authenticate) with the following tutorials:
> - https://balintbanyasz.wordpress.com/2015/03/27/get-validity-vfs-495
> -fingerprint-reader-working-in-ubuntu-14-04/
> - http://blog.pasqualefiorillo.it/post/hp-probook-4540s-validity-sens
> ors-driver-su-linux-mintdebian/
> 
> However, I had to get rid of it because it broke the lib dependencies
> on my system and I'm not knowledgeable enough to handle such
> situation.
> 
> I can't write a driver, but I'd be happy to help with testing the
> VFS495 if its support is considered.

As for all the other support, we'd need access to discrete hardware
(not built into a laptop, and not a loaner) and specifications. Failing
that, it will be mostly handled by volunteers who both have the
hardware and the patience to reverse-engineer the protocol used.

Cheers