Linux and midi ports

Does anyone here use Linux?  I’m trying to figure out how to get a midi keyboard to talk to my Linux machine (specifically Ubuntu 7.04).  All the howtos on midi and linux either completely ignore hardware or skip past that, assuming it always works.

I assume you’ve installed the driver and Jack?

I assume you’ve installed the driver and Jack?

Jack is installed.  I can’t figure out what else is needed besides.  I have a MOTU Fastlane.  When it’s plugged in, /dev/midi1 appears.  Doing “cat /dev/midi1” should produce a bursts of characters when keys on the midi board are struck, but nothing appears.  Mashing keys only results in the MOTU flashing a light: expected, but not what I’m ultimately after.  If I start Rosegarden, it recognizes that a MOTU Fastlane is connected.  It doesn’t get anything from the board either.