SANE: External Backends (Drivers)


The following table summarizes the backends/drivers that have not yet been included in the SANE distribution, and the hardware or software they support.

This is only a summary! Please consult the manpages and the author-supplied webpages for more detailed (and usually important) information concerning each backend.

If you have new information or corrections, please file a bug report with as many details as possible. Also please tell us if your scanner isn't mentioned in this list at all.

For an explanation of the tables, see the legend.

There are tables for scanners, still cameras, video cameras, APIs, and meta backends.

Scanners

Backends: brother, epkowa, genesys, hp4200, hpoj, hp_rts88xx, lhii, primax, scanwit, viceo

Backend: brother

Link(s): http://solutions.brother.com/Library/sol/printer/linux/sane_drivers.html, http://home.arcor.de/matthus/20041104.html
Comment: Supports only USB models. External backend made by brother. As this software contains non-free parts, it can't be included into SANE. Several reports about this backend tell us that it doesn't seem to work at least in older versions. The second link has some more information about this backend. Please tell us if your scanner works with that backend.

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Brother DCP-1000 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
DCP-1400 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
DCP-8020 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
DCP-8025D USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX1815C USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX1820C USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX1920CN USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX-2850 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX-2900 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX-3800 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX-4100 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX-4750e USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
FAX-5750e USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC3220C USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC3320CN USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC3420C USB good Is reported to work well with the bother backend.
MFC3820CN USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-4800 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-6800 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-8220 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-8420 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-8500 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-8820D USB good Is reported to work well with backend version 0.0.12 (which is not yet on the brother website).
MFC-9030 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9070 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9160 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9180 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9660 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9700 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9760 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9800 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9860 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.
MFC-9880 USB untested Nobody has reported any success with any scanner supported by this backend. If the backend works for you, please tell us.

Backend: epkowa (1.5.2)

Link(s): http://www.epkowa.co.jp/english/linux_e/lsd_e.html
Comment: This backend is not included in the sane-backends distribution because it uses code that is not open-source.

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Epson Expression 1600 SCSI USB IEEE-1394 complete  
Expression 1640XL SCSI USB IEEE-1394 complete  
Expression 1680 SCSI USB IEEE-1394 complete  
GT-10000 SCSI IEEE-1394 complete  
GT-10000+ SCSI IEEE-1394 complete  
GT-30000 SCSI IEEE-1394 complete  
Perfection 610 USB complete  
Perfection 640U USB complete  
Perfection 1200S SCSI complete  
Perfection 1200U USB complete  
Perfection 1200U PHOTO USB complete  
Perfection 1240U USB complete  
Perfection 1250 USB complete  
Perfection 1250 PHOTO USB complete  
Perfection 1260 USB complete  
Perfection 1260 PHOTO USB basic The transparency unit doesn't work currently.
Perfection 1640SU SCSI USB complete  
Perfection 1640SU PHOTO SCSI USB complete  
Perfection 1650 USB complete  
Perfection 1650 PHOTO USB complete  
Perfection 1660 PHOTO USB complete  
Perfection 1670 USB unsupported Is not and will not be supported by the epkowa backend. Use the SnapScan backend instead.
Perfection 2400 PHOTO USB complete  
Perfection 2450 PHOTO USB complete  
Perfection 3200 PHOTO USB IEEE-1394 complete  
Perfection 3170 PHOTO USB complete  

Backend: genesys

Link(s): http://www.meier-geinitz.de/sane/genesys-backend/
Comment: This backend does not exist yet!

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Avision iVina FB1600 USB unsupported Same as UMAX Astra 4500.
iVina FB1800 USB unsupported Same as UMAX Astra 4700.
Canon CanoScan LiDE 35 USB unsupported Same as LiDE 50.
CanoScan LiDE 50 USB unsupported  
CanoScan LiDE 80 USB unsupported  
Genius ColorPage HR6X Slim USB unsupported  
ColorPage HR7X USB unsupported  
ColorPage HR8 USB unsupported  
Hewlett-Packard ScanJet 2300c USB unsupported  
ScanJet 2400c USB unsupported  
ScanJet 3670c USB unsupported  
ScanJet 3690c USB unsupported possible support by this backend not confirmed
ScanJet 4500C USB unsupported Maybe GL841_HP, but not confirmed. Landscape scanner. Same as 5500C, but without ADF. Same ID as 5550c.
ScanJet 4570C USB unsupported Maybe GL841_HP, but not confirmed. See link for details.
ScanJet 5500C USB unsupported Maybe GL841_HP, but not confirmed. See link for details.
ScanJet 5530C Photosmart USB unsupported Maybe GL841_HP, but not confirmed. See link for details.
ScanJet 5550C USB unsupported Maybe GL841_HP, but not confirmed. Same as 4570C, but with ADF. See link for details.
Medion/Lifetec/Tevion/Cytron MD 5345 USB unsupported  
MD 6228 USB unsupported  
MD 6471 USB unsupported  
Plustek OpticFilm 7200 USB unsupported  
OpticPro S12 USB unsupported  
OpticPro ST12 USB unsupported  
OpticPro ST16 USB unsupported  
OpticPro S24 USB unsupported  
OpticPro ST24 USB unsupported  
OpticPro S28 USB unsupported  
OpticPro ST28 USB unsupported  
OpticPro ST48 USB unsupported  
Primax Slim-Line 1200 USB unsupported  
UMAX Astra 4500 USB unsupported Avision iVina FB1600 clone
Astra 4700 USB unsupported Avision iVina FB1800 clone
Visioneer Onetouch 7100 USB unsupported  

Backend: hp4200

Link(s): http://hp4200-backend.sourceforge.net
Comment: Patches for newer versions of SANE are available from http://www.zago.net/sane/#hp4200. This backend is not yet included because nobody who owns such a scanner wants to maintain it.

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Hewlett-Packard ScanJet 4200c USB minimal 8bpp, 150/300/600 dpi only, and scanned image needs postprocessing

Backend: hpoj

Link(s): http://hpoj.sourceforge.net/
Comment: This backend isn't included because the authors of hpoj want to keep the backend together with the rest of the hpoj project. See the hpoj website for the latest releases.

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Hewlett-Packard Most HP OfficeJet, LaserJet, and PSC (Printer/Scanner/Copier) multi-function peripherals Parport(ECP) USB JetDirect good Distributed with the HP OfficeJet Linux driver (hpoj)

Backend: hp_rts88xx

Link(s): http://hp44x0backend.sourceforge.net

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Hewlett-Packard HP4400C USB basic grayscale 300DPI only
HP4470C USB basic grayscale 300DPI only, XPA/bed mode
HP3500C USB unsupported Doesn't work yet but support by the hp_rts88x backend is planned.
HP3530C USB unsupported Doesn't work yet but support by the hp_rts88x backend is planned.
HP3570C USB unsupported Doesn't work yet but support by the hp_rts88x backend is planned.

Backend: lhii

Link(s): http://www.sane-project.org/backends/lhii/lhii-v0.2.tgz
Comment: This backend is for old handscanners with proprietary adapter cards. You also need a kernel driver. You may find such drivers at that page: http://www.willamowius.de/scanner.html .

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Mustek CG-6000 Proprietary untested Old handscanner. Hasn't been tested for a long time but once worked. See link for the linux kernel driver that's necessary to run the scanner.

Backend: primax

Link(s): http://px-backend.sourceforge.net
Comment: This backend is not included because it depends on the code of the primax command line program. Therefore the author wants to keep it in the primax CVS tree.

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Primax Colorado Direct 300 Parport good  
Colorado Direct 600/30bit Parport untested  
Network Scanny MM100 Parport good  
Storm Totalscan Parport untested  
ImageWave Parport untested  
Genius Colorpage-Vivid+ Parport untested  

Backend: scanwit

Link(s): ftp://ftp.mccme.ru/users/ushakov/scanwit
Comment: The backend is not included because it lacks code for safe detection of the scanner and documentation.

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Benq ScanWit 2720S SCSI basic Usable, but not complete

Backend: viceo (0.6)

Link(s): mailto:viceo@stevencherie.net, http://viceo.orcon.net.nz/
Comment: Supports E3 and E4 family USB scanners from Genius, Primax, IBM. The backend is not included because the license situation is unclear. Also it only works on Linux and needs a a patch for the kernel scanner driver which isn't available on 2.6.

Manufacturer Model Interface Status Comment
Genius Vivid Pro USB USB basic Linux 2.4 only, needs a kernel patch.
Primax Colorado USB 19200 USB basic Linux 2.4 only, needs a kernel patch.
Visioneer OneTouch 6100 USB basic Linux 2.4 only, needs a kernel patch.
OneTouch 7600 USB basic Linux 2.4 only, needs a kernel patch.
OneTouch 8600 USB basic Linux 2.4 only, needs a kernel patch.
IBM IdeaScan 2000 USB USB basic Linux 2.4 only, needs a kernel patch.
LG Electronics Scanworks 600U USB basic Linux 2.4 only, needs a kernel patch.

Still Cameras

Backends: (none)

Video Cameras

Backends: (none)

APIs

Backends: v4l2

Backend: v4l2

Link(s): http://video.inodes.org/sane-v4l2/
Comment: The status of this backend is unknown. It hasn't been updated for years. The v4l2 API is now in Linux 2.5 but it's not clear if the v4l2 backend is compatible to that API.
Description: Interface to Video For Linux 2 API

Meta Backends

Backends: (none)

Legend:

Backend:
Name of the backend, in parentheses if available: Version of backend/driver; newer versions may be available from their home sites.
NEW! means brand-new to the current release of SANE.
UNMAINTAINED means that nobody maintains that backend. Expect no new features or newly supported devices. You are welcome to take over maintainership.
Link(s):
Link(s) to more extensive and detailed information, if it exists, or the email address of the author or maintainer.
Manual Page:
A link to the man-page online, if it exists.
Comment:
More information about the backend or model, e.g. the level of support and possible problems.
Manufacturer:
Manufacturer, vendor or brand name of the device.
Model:
Name of the the device.
Interface:
How the device is connected to the computer.
Status:
Indicates how many of the features the device provides are supported by SANE.
  • unsupported means the device is not supported at least by this backend. It may be supported by other backends, however.
  • untested means the device may be supported but couldn't be tested. Be very careful and report success/failure.
  • minimal means that the device is detected and scans at least in one mode. But the quality is bad or important features won't work.
  • basic means it works at least in the most important modes but quality is not perfect.
  • good means the device is usable for day-to-day work. Some rather exotic features may be missing.
  • complete means the backends supports everything the device can do.
Description:
The scope of application of the backend.

SANE homepage
Contact
This page was last updated on Tue Sep 27 15:14:47 2005