General purpose mouse - ArchWiki

# General purpose mouse

From ArchWiki

GPM, short for General Purpose Mouse, is a daemon that provides mouse support for Linux virtual consoles.

## Installation

Install the gpm package. For touchpad support on a laptop you may also need to install xf86-input-synaptics.

## Configuration

The `-m` parameter precedes the declaration of the mouse to be used. The `-t` parameter precedes the type of mouse. To get a list of available types for the `-t` option, run `gpm` with `-t help`.

    # gpm -m /dev/input/mice -t help

The gpm package needs to be started with a few parameters. These parameters can be added in the file `/etc/conf.d/gpm`, or used when running gpm directly. As of 2016, the `gpm.service` file for systemd includes the parameters for a USB mice. Obviously, it should be edited if there is another mice type, and the file is used.

- For PS/2 mice, replace the existing line with:

    GPM_ARGS="-m /dev/psaux -t ps2"

- Whereas USB mice should use:

    GPM_ARGS="-m /dev/input/mice -t imps2"

- And IBM Trackpoints need:

    GPM_ARGS="-m /dev/input/mice -t ps2"

Note: If the mouse has only 2 buttons, pass `-2` to `GPM_ARGS` and second button will perform the paste function.

Once a suitable configuration has been found, start and enable the `gpm.service`.

For more information see gpm(8).

## See also

- Gentoo:GPM

Categories:

- Linux console
- Mice