Using Fingerprint reader in 16.04

Question

I have a Dell laptop with fingerprint reader inbuilt. I just ran lsusb on terminal and got the following result:

Bus 002 Device 003: ID 138a:0011 Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS5011 Fingerprint Reader
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 046d:c077 Logitech, Inc. M105 Optical Mouse
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 05ca:1820 Ricoh Co., Ltd Integrated Webcam
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0a5c:21bc Broadcom Corp. BCM2070 Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Is it possible to use fingerprint scanning instead of traditional login with 16.04 and Unity ? Thanks.

Answer 1

You need the fingerprint-gui package, its installation is described at Fingerprint GUI launchpad page and reproduced below:

1. Add PP and install fingerprint-gui and other required packages

   sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fingerprint/fingerprint-gui
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install libbsapi policykit-1-fingerprint-gui fingerprint-gui
   

2. Log out of your session and log back in.

3. Launch “Fingerprint GUI” and enrol your fingerprints.

Please note: I've used fingerprint readers on various laptops before, they are not very reliable so make sure you don't configure it to be the only source of authentication. It's best to add it on top of passwords as well or you may get locked out at some point.

Answer 2

For fingerprint reader 138a:003f VFS 495 this was not sufficient. Many other things had to be installed in certain ways. Refer to this for a full guide.

Working on 16.04 on HP Probook 450