[Error] How to fix USB connectivity?

[secretmango]

Describe the bug
The container has no access to /dev/bus/usb which doesnt make sense from Distroboxes unisolated approach.

To Reproduce
Try to use ADB in a Distrobox with an Android phone. There is a permission error, even though the device is detected.

Expected behavior
Full permission over all ports as wished.

Logs
Run the commands with --verbose and post the log here as a file upload
Attach also the output of podman logs or docker logs, possibly with --latest flag

Desktop (please complete the following information):

distrobox-1.4.2.1-2.fc38.noarch
podman-4.5.0-1.fc38.x86_64

--- Software ---
OS: Fedora Linux 38.20230521.0 (Kinoite)
KDE Plasma: 5.27.5
KDE Frameworks: 5.106.0
Qt: 5.15.9
Kernel: 6.2.15-300.fc38.x86_64
Compositor: wayland

--- Hardware ---
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 3500U w/ Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx
RAM: 13.5 GB
GPU: AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics
Video memory: 2048MB
Thinkpad T495, no TLP e.g. installed, ports working normally with ADB on host

[oniboni]

I had a similar problem with serial devices, maybe my approach is adaptable?

1. Add an udev rule to allow your user r/w-permissions (maybe you do not have to do this if dialout has the same GID on host and guest 🤔 ):

echo "# let serial devices be owned by the distrobox user\nKERNEL==\"ttyACM[0-9]*\", OWNER=\"$USER\"\n" | sudo dd of=/etc/udev/rules.d/42-distrobox.rules

2. Find out the major number for the device you want to use inside the box:

ls -l /dev/ttyACM0
crw-rw---- 1   <user> dialout 166, 0 Jun 15 16:14 /dev/ttyACM0
                             #^^^ - this one :)

3. Allow the cgroup appropriate rights to these device types:
   a. distrobox create -i <image> -n <name> --additional-flags "--device-cgroup-rule='c 166:* rmw'"
   b. or via distrobox.ini: container_manager_additional_flags="--device-cgroup-rule='c 166:* rmw'" if you are using assemble

I guess you have to look for a /dev/ttyS0 device.

[89luca89]

You need to use a rootful distrobox for this
Please refer to the documentation

[bam80]

@89luca89 you mean here?
https://distrobox.it/useful_tips/#run-the-container-with-real-root

Is anything else needed?

[bam80]

You need to use a rootful distrobox for this

Could we emphasize it in the docs as it's not obvious?

I looked at the docs but didn't find clear answer.
USB access is claimed in the Readme, without any conditions.

[mabequinho]

ADB worked well(adb shell) on MicroOS and Tumbleweed container.