[wplug] USB Smart Card Reader

[Benjamin Slavin]

I purchased a PNY smart card reader a few months ago, and it's been
somewhat annoying since the day I got it. Perhaps someone can help me
figure out how to get around the problem I'm having.

First, some background...
Gentoo Linux running 2.6-test8 (same problem in 2.4.22)

/proc/bus/usb/devices lists the device as:
 8<--------------------SNIP----------
 T:  Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=03 Port=03 Cnt=01 Dev#=  4 Spd=12  MxCh= 0
 D:  Ver= 1.10 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS= 8 #Cfgs=  1
 P:  Vendor=3538 ProdID=0001 Rev= 2.05
 S:  Manufacturer=PQI
 S:  Product=Travel Flash
 S:  SerialNumber=4710765066451
 C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=100mA
 I:  If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 2 Cls=08(stor.) Sub=06 Prot=50
Driver=usb-storage
 E:  Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
 E:  Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS=  64 Ivl=0ms
 8<--------------------SNIP----------

/mnt/fstab has the following listing for the device:
 8<--------------------SNIP----------
 /dev/sda1	/mnt/smartcard	vfat	user,noauto	0 0
 8<--------------------SNIP----------

The problem:
If the system has been rebooted without a card in the reader, an attempt
to mount /mnt/smartcard fails (claiming an error with /dev/sda1).
I can su to root and the same problem occurs UNTIL I attempt to mount
/dev/sda somewhere. At that point, it says it doesn't know what file
system to use, but allows me to mount /mnt/smartcard (/dev/sda1) at that
point, and until the system is rebooted.

(I think it's clear what I'm saying there... if not, let me know)

Anyway, I'd like to be able to mount the smart card without having to su
to root so that I can have the system setup for other people to use.

Thanks much,
  --Ben