This document is intended for those who are testing a non-packaged new driver, supplied as just a zip file of the kernel extension itself. For the purposes of this document, we will assume that the zip file is named 'TechnoTrendDVB_v0.6.7.kext.zip'

Preparation for the first test

  1. Make sure you are logged in to your Mac as an Admin user.
  2. Make sure that you have installed the latest MMInputFamily and Drivers package.
  3. Download the test driver zip file and put it on your Desktop. (e.g. zip file called TechnoTrendDVB_v0.6.7.kext.zip)
  4. Expand the zip file, to leave a .kext file, still on your Desktop. (e.g. kext called TechnoTrendDVB.kext)
  5. Check to make sure that a similarly named kernel extension is not already in your /System/Library/Extensions folder. If there is one there, then remove it now (put it in the Trash) and restart. You will likely have to do this after installing the drivers package, when the driver under development is for another model of an already supported device.

Running a test

  1. If you have not rebooted since the last driver you tested, then do so.
  2. Launch the Terminal utility, found in /Applications/Utilities/.
  3. Type 
    tail -f /var/log/system.log
    to watch the test output as it occurs.
  4. Open a new Terminal window. This will be your main command window for the commands below.
  5. Type 
    sudo cp -R Desktop/TechnoTrendDVB.kext /tmp/
    to copy the kext to the staging area with the correct owner. You will be asked for your password the first time you do this.
  6. Type 
    sudo kextload /tmp/TechnoTrendDVB.kext
    to load the extension.
OK, that's it for the generic instructions. Generally if you have not crashed by that time then you should run iTele, select your tuner from the Inputs window, click the Scan button, and scan for signals in your location. Make sure you have an antenna plugged into the device of course! Generally it will be obvious what to do here.

Reporting test results

  1. Watch what happens in the system log output window. Save it and send it to me.
  2. If the screen becomes darkened and a message appears in 4 languages telling you to restart, then that is a 'kernel panic', which is a really hard crash. After you have followed the instructions to restart, send me the file /Library/Logs/panic.log which contains details on the crash.

Good luck!
{P^/

Note: See also the document on testing using tunetest if I ask you to do that.