On Fri, Mar 30, 2007 at 02:38:04PM +1000, CaT wrote: > On Fri, Mar 30, 2007 at 12:19:39AM -0400, Kevin Mark wrote: > > > The sensible way to handle hardware support independent of any installed > > > software would be to ship each pc with a bootable CD with custom Dell test > > > software. Linux would make a convenient base for such a CD. > > This is something I have mentioned in other places: bios updates, > > hardware testing and other issues. You need a linux-based or similar > > test cd so that if have a hardware issue or need a bios update that the > > tech support folks stop saying 'but you need to use windows for us to > > diagnose the problem before we can authorizes this' or similar. > > FWIW, the diagnostics, etc CD that Dell ships with servers is Linux > based.
Whee. I love it when I remember more useful bits. There's also a dell interface to updating the BIOS in the stock linux 2.6 kernel amongst other tidbits. One might get the feeling that Dell have been working on this for a wee while. -- "To the extent that we overreact, we proffer the terrorists the greatest tribute." - High Court Judge Michael Kirby -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]