Cyborg R.A.T. Mouse on Linux

Xorg Server Configuration & Setup for Cyborg R.A.T. Series

Table of Contents

• Cyborg R.A.T. Mouse on Linux
  • Table of Contents
  • Problem Description
    • Root Cause
  • Quick Fix
  • Detailed Setup
    • Step 1: Identify Your Mouse
    • Step 2: Test Mouse Buttons
    • Step 3: Configure Xorg
    • Step 4: Apply Changes
  • Kernel Driver Method
    • Prerequisites
    • Build Steps
  • Supported Systems
  • Mouse Technical Details
  • Contributing
  • License

Problem Description

After connecting a Cyborg R.A.T. mouse, it appears to work but exhibits the following issues:

• Unresponsive buttons - Cannot open/close windows or use context menus
• Dragging issues - Unable to drag windows or select text properly
• General unresponsiveness - Mouse feels laggy and difficult to use

Root Cause

These problems are caused by conflicts between the R.A.T. mouse's "Mode" button (profile changer) and the Xorg server's input handling.

Quick Fix

The simplest solution is to disable the problematic "Mode" buttons in Xorg configuration:

1. Create the configuration file:

   sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf

2. Add the configuration (see 10-evdev.conf for the complete file)

3. Restart your X session or reboot

Note: Using a separate configuration file ensures your settings survive Xorg updates.

Detailed Setup

Step 1: Identify Your Mouse

First, find your mouse in the system:

xinput list

Look for output similar to:

Virtual core pointer                          id=2    [master pointer  (3)]
  ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer                id=4    [slave  pointer  (2)]
  ↳ Saitek Cyborg R.A.T.9 Wireless Mouse      id=10   [slave  pointer  (2)]

Note the ID number (in this example: id=10).

Step 2: Test Mouse Buttons

Test each button to identify their numbers:

xinput --test 10  # Replace 10 with your mouse ID

Press each button and note the numbers. Example output:

• Left button: 1
• Right button: 3
• Wheel click: 2
• Wheel up: 4
• Wheel down: 5
• Back button: 8
• Forward button: 9
• Sniper button: 12
• Horizontal wheel left: 11
• Horizontal wheel right: 10
• Mode buttons: 11, 12, 13 ⚠️ These need to be disabled

Step 3: Configure Xorg

Create /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf with your button mapping:

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-evdev.conf

Add configuration based on your button test results. See the example 10-evdev.conf file.

Key settings:

• Option "Buttons" "17" - Maximum button number from your test
• Option "ButtonMapping" "1 2 3 4 5 0 0 8 9 7 6 12 0 0 0 16 17" - Button mapping with mode buttons disabled (set to 0)

Step 4: Apply Changes

Restart your X session or reboot your system.

Kernel Driver Method

Advanced Users Only - Requires kernel compilation experience

Recent Linux kernels include dedicated MadCatz/Saitek mouse drivers that can eliminate the need for Xorg configuration.

Prerequisites

• Kernel sources
• Build tools: gcc, make, ctags, ncurses-devel

Build Steps

1. Access kernel configuration:

   cd /usr/src/linux
   sudo make menuconfig

2. Navigate to mouse drivers:

   Device Drivers → Input device support → Mice
   

3. Enable the following drivers:

   • HID Multitouch panels
   • Mouse interface
   • Synaptics I2C Touchpad support

4. Compile and install:

   sudo make -j$(nproc) && sudo make modules_install
   sudo make install

Warning: Kernel compilation can make your system unbootable if misconfigured. Consult your distribution's documentation for specific instructions.

Supported Systems

Tested Linux Distributions:

• Gentoo (testing profile)
• Funtoo (current profile)
• Arch Linux (current)
• Ubuntu (14.04 - 18.04+)

Compatibility:

• Kernels: 2.6+ to current (kernel-agnostic solution)
• Xorg/evdev: All versions to current

Mouse Technical Details

Cyborg R.A.T. Series Specifications:

• Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wireless (R.A.T.9) or Wired (R.A.T.3, R.A.T.7)
• DPI Range: 25-6400 DPI (25 DPI increments)
• Tracking Speed: Up to 6 meters per second
• Button Layout:
  • 2 main buttons (left/right)
  • 4 custom DPI settings
  • 6 programmable buttons
  • 3 Cyborg modes
  • Total: 8+ functional buttons

Cross-Model Compatibility: Settings are transferable between MadCatz and Saitek R.A.T. models.

Note: This solution works for many multi-button mice beyond just the R.A.T. series.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! This configuration helps with many multi-button mice beyond just the R.A.T. series.

How to contribute:

1. Fork the repository
2. Test with your mouse model
3. Submit documentation improvements
4. Report issues with specific hardware

License

This project is licensed under the BSD 2-Clause License - see the LICENSE file for details.

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Disclaimer: This is an independent community project and is not affiliated with MadCatz or Saitek.