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Welcome to Elo Support

Drivers, Product Info, Technical Answers and more.

How do I install and set up the E673037 Omnikey 5127CK RFID Reader on a Linux System?

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing and setting up the E673037 Omnikey 5127CK RFID Reader on a Linux system

The procedure was performed using a computer running Ubuntu 18.04

image.png

Overview

The HID OMNIKEY 5127CK is a compact CCID-compliant smart card reader board with keyboard wedge functionality, designed for embedding in systems. It is natively supported on Linux via the open-source pcsc-lite and libccid drivers in most cases no proprietary drivers are typically required for basic CCID operation. Ubuntu 18.04 includes compatible versions (pcscd 1.8.23, libccid 1.4.28).

If standard drivers fail (e.g., due to firmware or advanced features), HID provides a PC/SC Driver for Linux 64-bit. This guide covers the standard installation first, followed by troubleshooting and alternatives.

Prerequisites:

  • Administrative (sudo) access.
  • USB connection (the 5127CK connects via USB).
  • Ubuntu 18.04 fully updated.
  • Smart card for testing (optional).

Step-by-Step Installation

Step 1: Update Your System

Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Reboot if prompted: sudo reboot.

Step 2: Install PC/SC Smart Card Packages

Install the middleware and tools:

sudo apt install pcscd libccid pcsc-tools libpcsclite1 libpcsclite-dev -y
  • pcscd: PC/SC daemon.
  • libccid: USB CCID driver (supports HID OMNIKEY readers).
  • pcsc-tools: Testing utilities (e.g., pcsc_scan).

Step 3: Connect the Reader

  • Power off your computer.
  • Physically install/connect the 5127CK reader board via USB (ensure proper embedding/assembly if using as a board).
  • Power on and boot into Ubuntu.

Step 4: Restart PC/SC Daemon

Enable and restart the service:

code
sudo systemctl enable pcscd sudo systemctl restart pcscd sudo systemctl status pcscd

Verify it's active (running).

Step 5: Verify Detection

  1. Check USB recognition:

    lsusb | grep -i hid

    Look for 076B:5127 (HID Global VID:PID for 5127CK).

  2. Check kernel logs:

    dmesg | grep -i ccid

    Expect output like usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=076b, idProduct=5127.

  3. Scan for readers:

    pcsc_scan
    • Insert a smart card.
    • Expected: Lists "HID OMNIKEY 5x27 CK" or similar, with card ATR details.
    • Press Ctrl+C to exit.

If detected, installation is complete! Proceed to usage.

Testing with Applications

  • OpenSC (for PKCS#11/OpenPGP): sudo apt install opensc pcsc-tools. Test: pkcs11-tool --module /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/opensc-pkcs11.so --list-slots.
  • Custom apps: Use PC/SC API (e.g., via libpcsclite-dev).

Keyboard Wedge Mode (Optional)

The 5127CK supports keyboard emulation for PIN entry. This requires configuration:

  1. Install evtest: sudo apt install evtest.
  2. Identify device: ls /dev/input/by-id/.
  3. No additional drivers needed—data appears as keyboard input.

Troubleshooting

Issue Possible Cause Solution
Reader not listed in lsusb USB connection/power issue Check cable, port, dmesg for errors. Try another USB port/hub.
pcsc_scan shows no readers pcscd not running/libccid mismatch Restart pcscd. Update libccid: Add HID PPA if needed (sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ludovic-rousseau/pcsc-tools && sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade libccid).
"Init failed" or Card not responding Firmware/CCID incompatibility (seen on similar 5427CK) Check CCID supported readers. Download HID Linux PC/SC Driver (install per instructions: typically make && sudo make install).
Permissions error User not in pcscd group sudo usermod -a -G pcscd $USER then log out/in.
Conflicts with other readers Multiple devices Edit /etc/libccid_info.plist or use reader.conf.
Ubuntu 18.04 specific EOL repos Manually install latest pcsc-lite from source: See PCSC GitHub.

Advanced: Install HID Proprietary Driver

  1. Download from HID Drivers.
  2. Extract: tar -xzf hid-omnikey-pcsc-linux-*.tar.gz.

  3. Build/install:

    code
    cd hid-omnikey-*/ make sudo make install sudo ldconfig
  4. Restart pcscd and test.

Additional Resources

Still having issues? Provide output from lsusb, dmesg | grep ccid, and pcsc_scan for support.

Please report any broken links by emailing support@elotouch.com and include a link to the knowledge article