Hi David
I tried Chirp both for Windows XP and for Linux / Ubuntu. Since the version in the PPA for ham radio in Ubuntu is not the latest, I installed from the compressed file on the chrip web downloads page. I also downloaded and installed the Windows exe and installed it on the same laptop - dual booting into Windows XP or Ubuntu Precise.
The latest daily has many improvements on 857/897 driver, please go on using it :)
Both versions don't list the Yaesu FT-897 so I used the Yaesu FT-857 US Version instead.
In the latest version they are listed as FT-859/897 this is one of the improvents ;)
I tried the Linux version - no luck downloading - I got the error was expecting 4 something and received 0 error message. I noticed I could set to ;/dev/ttyUSB0 or USB1 but I could NOT set the baud rate which is 38,400.
You missed this http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Beginners_Guide there is a specific note for yaesu like 897. During clone the serial speed is fixed, no matter what you set in radio menus. I don't know which of the two ttyUSB is the right one, try both
73 de IZ3GME Marco