I've installed sane-backends-1.0.18 on a Slackware 10.2 system with kernel 2.6.14.4 and libusb 0.1.12. Also, I've installed the udev rules that are part of the sane backends, just as explained in README.linux:
cp sane-backends-1.0.18/tools/udev/libsane.rules \ /etc/udev/rules.d/50-libsane.rules Now, when run as root, "scanimage -L" outputs: device `snapscan:libusb:001:002' is a EPSON EPSON Scanner flatbed scanner When run as an ordinary user, however, "scanimage -L" outputs: No scanners were identified. If you were expecting something different, check that the scanner is plugged in, turned on and detected by the sane-find-scanner tool (if appropriate). Please read the documentation which came with this software (README, FAQ, manpages). The reason seems to be quite simple: - The sane udev rules update the permissions of the file "/dev/usbdev1.3". - Sane accesses "/proc/bus/usb/001/002". When I update the permissions of "/proc/bus/usb/001/002" manually, then "scanimage -L" also works for the ordinary user. It seems that something is missing from README.linux. But what? How do I make the scanner accessible to ordinary users? Why does sane access a device node in /proc/ - isn't that pervert? I forgot: The scanner is an Epson Perfection 3490 Photo. -- Felix E. Klee
