Using the PlayStation 3 controller in Bluetooth mode with Linux

linux-2.6.21 or later .  Earlier kernels do not support Bluetooth HID devices in "Report Protocol" mode.

patch-hidd-3.9-pabr3 or patch-hidd-3.19-pabr3 .  This patch causes the Linux Bluetooth HIDP daemon (hidd) to send a special command to the SIXAXIS when it connects. Sony already published a similar patch for enabling reporting in USB mode.

sixpair.c.  (Only required if the SIXAXIS is to be used with a non-PS3 Bluetooth master.) The SIXAXIS apparently does not support the standard Bluetooth pairing procedure; instead, pairing is done over USB, which is arguably simpler and more secure. This command-line utility searches USB buses for SIXAXIS controllers and tells them to connect to a new Bluetooth master.

Ensure /etc/bluetooth/hcid.conf contains:

iscan disable;
pscan enable;
#auth enable;                                        
#encrypt enable;                                     

Enable Bluetooth:

# service bluetooth restart

If the host is not the PS3, pairing is required:

Restart the HIDP daemon with suitable options:

# service hidd stop
# hidd --server --nocheck -n

(Note: --nocheck is only required for the first connection.)

Optionally run hcidump in another shell, for troubleshooting and comparison with this successful trace:

# hcidump -t -V -x

Press the PS button on the SIXAXIS.

hidd should report:

# hidd --server --nocheck -n
hidd[8332]: Bluetooth HID daemon
hidd[8332]: New HID device 00:19:C1:xx:xx:xx (Sony Computer Entertainment Wireless Controller)

/var/log/messages should report:

input: Sony Computer Entertainment Wireless Controller as /class/input/inputX

Check that the SIXAXIS is recognized as a joystick:

# modprobe joydev
# jstest /dev/js0      # or jstest /dev/input/js0

jstest should report buttons being pressed and sticks being moved.

After testing, restore the security settings in /etc/bluetooth/hcid.conf:

auth enable;                                        
encrypt enable;                                     

and apply them with:

# service bluetooth restart

Same patches as in Section 3.1, “ Requirements ”.

A kernel with CONFIG_HIDRAW enabled.

patch-bluetooth-hidraw-pabr1. Adds hidraw support to hidp.ko for use in Bluetooth mode. Not required in USB mode.

Connect the device with a USB cable and press PS. dmesg should report:

input,hidraw1: USB HID v1.11 Joystick [Sony PLAYSTATION(R)3 Controller] on usb-xxxx:xx:xx.x-x

and /dev/hidraw1 (or another minor number) should be created automatically.

In Bluetooth mode, a /dev/hidrawX device is created as well, but dmesg does not report its minor number.

Raw input reports can be read from /dev/hidraw1:

# hexdump -v -e '48/1 "%02x " "\n"' < /dev/hidraw1   # For kernels <  2.6.26
# hexdump -v -e '49/1 "%02x " "\n"' < /dev/hidraw1   # For kernels >= 2.6.26
00 00 00 00 00 74 7b 7c 7c 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  \
00 00 00 00 02 ee 10 00 00 00 00 02 b2 77 01 81 02 05 01 ed 01 a4 00 02

sixhidtest.c decodes inertial measurements:

# wget http://www.pabr.org/sixlinux/sixhidtest.c
# gcc -o sixhidtest sixhidtest.c
# ./sixhidtest < /dev/hidraw1
ax= 517 ay= 493 az= 420

xsixhidtest.c graphically displays speed, position and orientation derived from accelerometer measurements. High-pass filtering is used to control integration drift; this works well for fast periodic signals, e.g. circular motion. In this simple example, no attempt is made to track simultaneous translations and rotations, nor rotations around the vertical axis.

# wget http://www.pabr.org/sixlinux/xsixhidtest.c
# gcc -o xsixhidtest xsixhidtest.c -lX11 -lm
# ./xsixhidtest < /dev/hidraw1