Linux-Hardware Digest #495, Volume #12 Fri, 17 Mar 00 00:13:10 EST
Contents:
Re: Need a clean hard disk (Juergen Heinzl)
Re: Oki 4w+ (Rod Smith)
Cirrus CLM Data Fax Modem... HELP!!!!! ("Geri Cauilan")
Re: Sound Blaster 128PCI (James Pinkster)
Re: Need a clean hard disk (Michel Catudal)
.avi (Bergeron Bernard)
SV: Oki 4w+ ("Bengt-Arne Johansson")
SV: Searching afther 'oki4linux-1.0.tar.gz'. ("Bengt-Arne Johansson")
weird hardware problem ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
weird hardware problem ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
mouse freezes on DEC HiNote Ultra II ("Dalibor Andzakovic")
Re: Is the Yamaha CDRW-6416S Linux-Compatible? (Stephen Thiele)
FA: AMD K6 400 Linux System Complete ("Sales@NSM")
Sound problem (Chris Davis)
FA: Sun 690MP Sparc Server loaded with Linux ("Sales@NSM")
Re: Need a clean hard disk ("Jake")
Creative WebCam GO??? (bgeer)
help! -- 2 drives disagree on CD contents (root)
Re: Dell Latitude CSx / SuSE --> ?? SOUND ?? (Christian Bohn)
Re: Need a clean hard disk ("Ted Rutledge")
Intel sound chip on Tyan 810 Tomcat MB??? (Paul Nelson)
General enquiry/discussion about hardware support in linux. ("Steve Taylor")
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Juergen Heinzl)
Crossposted-To:
alt.comp.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage
Subject: Re: Need a clean hard disk
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 01:03:03 GMT
In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Lew Schwartz wrote:
>Long story:
> I thought I'd turn a W98 machine into nt, aborted that & decided on
>Linux, & now, with all the wrong decisions vis-a-vis bootable partitions,
>mbr's and what not, I can't use this disk at all.
>Short story:
> Need to make hd squeaky, clean so as to start over.
[...]
It is a SCSI disk :: some controllers allow to do a low level format
via a BIOS option.
It is a (E)IDE disk :: it was possible with old models to render them
unusable to the point where one required a vendor specific programme,
so ...
Use the Linux installation medium to boot
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=512
... is another way to overwrite the whole disk. If there are two disks
installed beware not to specify the wrong one, as forensice methods
aside, your data is bound to be gone forever 8-}
One word of warning and I do not know how much trouble this can cause,
but AFAIK there are new machines (PC) that store a part of the BIOS
on the disk. Both, the dd method as well as any other might be able
to get rid of that data so if in doubt, ask your vendor or perhaps
someone here can tell more, as my machine ... pat pat, yes, you are
a fine computer ... is too old to make this an issue here.
Cheers,
Juergen
--
\ Real name : J�rgen Heinzl \ no flames /
\ EMail Private : [EMAIL PROTECTED] \ send money instead /
------------------------------
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Rod Smith)
Subject: Re: Oki 4w+
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 01:04:35 GMT
[Posted and mailed]
In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
Lars Olsson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> Has anyone got the Oki 4w+ to
> work properly in Linux? Please let me know
Check http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/pht/printer_list.cgi for information
on printer compatibility with Linux. It looks like this model uses a
proprietary printer language that's supported only with some add-on
Ghostscript drivers. As such, it'll be a nuisance to get working under
Linux, because you'll need to patch and recompile Ghostscript. That's one
of the more tedious tasks in Linux, unfortunately.
--
Rod Smith, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.rodsbooks.com
Author of books on Linux networking & WordPerfect for Linux
------------------------------
From: "Geri Cauilan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Cirrus CLM Data Fax Modem... HELP!!!!!
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 11:11:32 +1000
hello there,
i installed Red Hat Linux 6.1 on my PC and all peripherals work well except
for my modem which is Cirrus CLM Data Fax Modem...
is this modem a WinModem? if yes, is the anyway i can get a driver for it to
make it LinModem?
any help of any kind is highly appreaciated!
_gEri
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (James Pinkster)
Subject: Re: Sound Blaster 128PCI
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 01:30:54 GMT
I am using Debian and also have a SB PCI 128, I have had a similar problem where the
kernel sees the sound card and loads the driver for it and then it wouldn't
play sound or it hung the machine. I later found that my PCI ethernet card was sitting
on the same IRQ as the SB 128.
So you may want to check that its not conflicting with another IRQ.
When i removed the network card, my SB 128 work fine with play au and wav files as
well as sound with Unreal Tournament.
James
------------------------------
From: Michel Catudal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.comp.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage
Subject: Re: Need a clean hard disk
Date: 16 Mar 2000 19:53:26 -0600
Lew Schwartz a �crit :
>
> Is it available anywhere on the internet?
>
Go to the manufacturer's web site for your drive. For example if you have
a WD hard disk you go to the WD web site and they do have an OnTrack
manager that works only if you have at least one WD drive in the system.
It's true for most manufacturers. At IBM they only have a winblows OnTrack
so you use EZdisk. Don't install the OnTrack or EZdisk manager unless your
PC can't recognize the hard disk. Either one will do the trick.
As for a solution to clean the whole disk you don't really need to do
all that when fdisk would to the trick.
Boot on the CD of Linux and run fdisk and remove all the partitions. Create
new partitions and you're all set.
--
Tired of Windows' rebootive multitasking?
then try Linux's preemptive multitasking
http://www.netonecom.net/~bbcat/
We have software, food, music, news, search,
history, electronics and genealogy pages.
------------------------------
From: Bergeron Bernard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: .avi
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 02:56:52 +0100
How to read .avi files?
I usally use XAnim but it doesn't succeed
Thank you
------------------------------
From: "Bengt-Arne Johansson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: SV: Oki 4w+
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 01:57:47 GMT
Rod Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> skrev i
diskussionsgruppsmeddelandet:DwfA4.3249$[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [Posted and mailed]
>
> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> Lars Olsson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
> > Has anyone got the Oki 4w+ to
> > work properly in Linux? Please let me know
>
> Check http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/pht/printer_list.cgi for information
> on printer compatibility with Linux. It looks like this model uses a
> proprietary printer language that's supported only with some add-on
> Ghostscript drivers. As such, it'll be a nuisance to get working under
> Linux, because you'll need to patch and recompile Ghostscript. That's one
> of the more tedious tasks in Linux, unfortunately.
>
>
Hi there is an driver written by Marcin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I found a link from SuSE over to ': http://freshmeat.net ' an from there it
was pointing furthure on to 'ftp://develop.dacotec.net/oki4linux-1.0.tar.gz
', but that link is dead end.
I e-mailed the author a week ago and asked for that tar.gz file, no ansver
yet. So if someone has that tar.gz? Would you like to send it to me ;-)
Bengt-Arne
------------------------------
From: "Bengt-Arne Johansson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: SV: Searching afther 'oki4linux-1.0.tar.gz'.
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 02:00:41 GMT
Thanks a loot Lars
or
Tack s� mycket ;-)
Mvh
Bengt-Arne
Lars Olsson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> skrev i
diskussionsgruppsmeddelandet:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://www.ssmsoftware.dk/oki4linux
>
> Bengt-Arne Johansson wrote:
>
> > Hi
> >
> > I'm searching afther a printer driver that was at
> > 'ftp://develop.dacotec.net/oki4linux-1.0.tar.gz' earlier. It's now gone
and
> > I have not find it on any other place on th net.
> >
> > If someone knows where to find it or has it then please tell me.
> >
> > Or if there is any newer whit maybe a new name or something...
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Bengt-Arne
>
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: weird hardware problem
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 02:02:34 GMT
Hi there,
I'm fighting here with a weird problem. My computer crashes at
undefined times usually after one hour independent of red hat linux,
linux router project or even windows (bah). It basically screws up my
kernel swap daemon, sometimes applications crash or even my hard disk
fs structure will be screwed up. It's a Pentium MMX 200Mhz PCIGenuine
Intel with 40MB with IDE, PCI. I don't think it's the hard drive it
also happens with linux router project (RAM-Disk). It doesn't look like
RAM problem (took Ram out, exchanged Ram, ...). It's not the CPU Fan
works fine. To me it looks like the MMU (virtual to physical mapping)
of the processer is somehow screwed up.
Has anybody any hints?
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: weird hardware problem
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 02:03:00 GMT
Hi there,
I'm fighting here with a weird problem. My computer crashes at
undefined times usually after one hour independent of red hat linux,
linux router project or even windows (bah). It basically screws up my
kernel swap daemon, sometimes applications crash or even my hard disk
fs structure will be screwed up. It's a Pentium MMX 200Mhz PCIGenuine
Intel with 40MB with IDE, PCI. I don't think it's the hard drive it
also happens with linux router project (RAM-Disk). It doesn't look like
RAM problem (took Ram out, exchanged Ram, ...). It's not the CPU Fan
works fine. To me it looks like the MMU (virtual to physical mapping)
of the processer is somehow screwed up.
Has anybody any hints?
Or some test software?
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
------------------------------
From: "Dalibor Andzakovic" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.portable
Subject: mouse freezes on DEC HiNote Ultra II
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 15:35:25 +1300
hullo
I have a DEC HiNote ultra II nodebook with slackware 7runniong (2.2.14
kernel and XFree 4.0). The problem is that internal PS/2 mouse freezes
(trackball actually, and keyboard as well) under heavy CPU load. I can still
SSH to the laptop and restart X or GPM, but this is a pain and impossible on
the road. external serial mouse works OK
are there any fixes for this
TIA
Dali
------------------------------
From: Stephen Thiele <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Is the Yamaha CDRW-6416S Linux-Compatible?
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 12:42:52 +0930
My Yamaha 4416S works fine on my Adaptec 2940UW. Had to do some fidling to
make it reliable though.
In your SCSI BIOS, change the transfer rate to 5M/s or as slow as you can go.
I think I may have had to look at the initiate negotiation or disconnect
options also but I'll get back to you on that one. I left the jumper in the
factory position.
Adrian Roye wrote:
> Hi,
> I know the jumper. I tried with and without - no succes !
> I hope I do not have to buy another scsi controller ;-((
> Adrian
>
> > : I have a problem with this SCSI Yamaha drive.
> > : I am triing to install Linux ( I already tried SUSE 6.3, Red Hat and
> > : Delix.... ). I have a Domex SCSI Ultra Controller ( Domex 3194
> > UP -scsi id
> > : 7) and a Tandberg SCSI Tape( scsi id 0), a Teac CDROM (scsi id 1), the
> > : yamaha 6x4x16 (scsi id 3), a microtek scanner (scsi id 6) . Linux uses
> > the
> > : initio driver and finds the tape, the CDROM and the yamaha and stops.
> > : Does not get to higher id numbers in order to find the scanner. If I
> > take
> > : the yamaha out of the chain, and terminate the cdrom, the initio
> > driver will
> > : find even the scanner.
> > : The construction is working fine under Win NT and Win 9x on the same
> > : computer so I think that the scsi chain is correctly terminated.
> > : I have tried only the yamaha on the controller - same problem !
> > : What sould I try ???
--
-- Stephen Thiele --
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
WWW: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~slt
**I Prefer Digitally Signed and Encrypted Messages**
------------------------------
From: "Sales@NSM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.linux.networking
Subject: FA: AMD K6 400 Linux System Complete
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 03:17:04 GMT
This is a completely set up - New - RH 6.1 Linux System. Current bid
$5.50. Auction ends March 22 2000 21:33 PST
on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=285115407
------------------------------
From: Chris Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Sound problem
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 22:06:49 -0500
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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I have a Compaq Presario 1277 with a VIA Technologies (model VT82C686)
sound card. I'm running RH6.1. I'm having no luck getting sound out
of it. I ran sndconfig --noprobe and set the address to 0x220, IRQ 5,
DMA 1 and when it played the sample files, nothing. I went ahead and
answered "yes" to acknowledging that I heard them. I thought, perhaps,
I could get SoundStudio to play a file. It starts up, loads a file, but
no sound.
Anyone experience this and have solution(s)?
Please help!
TIA,
chris
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title:Embedded Specialist
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==============0FA035F2850D8D0A544B74E0==
------------------------------
From: "Sales@NSM" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Crossposted-To:
linux.redhat.sparc,comp.sys.sgi.marketplace,comp.sys.sun.wanted,comp.sys.next.marketplace,misc.forsale.computers.workstation
Subject: FA: Sun 690MP Sparc Server loaded with Linux
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 03:23:10 GMT
This is a great system! 690mp motherboard installed in a Sun 4/110 VME
chassis - cheap to run compared to a 4/690 chassis! Lots of SMP power.
Its great to see multiple penguins on boot-up. Check out the details on
ebay. Current bid $100. Auction ends March 20 2000 20:13 PST.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=283454106
------------------------------
From: "Jake" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.comp.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage
Subject: Re: Need a clean hard disk
Date: 16 Mar 2000 22:33:40 EST
That sounds more like a BIOS issue, not a hard drive issue.
Jake
"Lew Schwartz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> I went the /mbr route, but now the machine won't boot off the cd for some
> strange reason.
>
> "Next Dimension Hardware" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:8XdA4.4725$[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > If all else fails you could also low-level format, but that should be
your
> > LAST resort. What is the exact error message you are getting? Did you
try
> > fdisk /mbr to re-create the master boot record?
> >
> > Best Regards,
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > =================================================
> > ## Next Dimension Hardware
> > ## Webmaster
> > ## http://www.nextdimensionhw.com
> > ## Your Window to the Future of Technology
> > ## [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > =================================================
> >
> >
> > "Lew Schwartz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > > Long story:
> > > I thought I'd turn a W98 machine into nt, aborted that & decided
on
> > > Linux, & now, with all the wrong decisions vis-a-vis bootable
> partitions,
> > > mbr's and what not, I can't use this disk at all.
> > > Short story:
> > > Need to make hd squeaky, clean so as to start over.
> > >
> > > Any help appreciated.
> > >
> > > - Lew S
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (bgeer)
Subject: Creative WebCam GO???
Date: 16 Mar 2000 21:05:51 -0700
Has anyone tried using the Creative WebCam GO with Linux?
I found a linux driver for the WebCam WebCam 3, but Creative's web
site doesn't give enough info to compare the GO & 3 models for
potential compatibility.
Emails to Creative are so far have gone unanswered.
Much obliged,
Bob
--
<> Robert Geer & Donna Tomky | * <>
<> [EMAIL PROTECTED] | _o * o * o <>
<> [EMAIL PROTECTED] | -\<, * <\ </L <>
<> Salt Lake City, Utah USA | O/ O __ /__, /> <>
------------------------------
From: root <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: help! -- 2 drives disagree on CD contents
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 22:25:27 -0600
I have a P3/450 with SCSI TEAC CD reader and SCSI HP 9200 CD writer,
which can supposedly write at up to 8X.
I made a bunch of 1:1 copies from the reader to the writer using
cdrecord -v dev=0,6,0 speed=4 -isosize /dev/scd0
When I do this with a rewritable Memorex CD, no problems.
When I try it with a write-once Memorex CD, and read it back from the HP
drive, no problems.
When I remove the same write-once CD from the HP drive and read it from
the TEAC drive, the directory structure changes and some files
disappear! What's up with that?!
I could understand some kind of write error, but how can it be that the
two drives read the result differently?
Any tips appreciated. Thanks!
IDM
------------------------------
From: Christian Bohn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Dell Latitude CSx / SuSE --> ?? SOUND ??
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 22:14:46 +0100
Axel Hein wrote:
> afaik sound support is not compiled in standard (ie pre-compiled)
> kernels of the SuSE distribution, ie you have to build your own kernel
it is supported -- at least, you can switch a button called
neomagic... in the config files for kernel compilation (and
I did it).
> and to enter the respective data of your sound card. (see SuSE support
> database, keywords 'sound' and 'kernel', or the sound-howto).
I already tried this with no success.
Due to the support (s.a.) I thought there must be an easier way.
Anyway thanks :-)
Christian
--
Christian Bohn, Dept. of Rendering Techniques and Application
Institute for Media Communication http://imk.gmd.de/reta/
------------------------------
From: "Ted Rutledge" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To:
alt.comp.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup,comp.os.ms-windows.nt.setup.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage
Subject: Re: Need a clean hard disk
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 23:35:15 -0500
Reply-To: "Ted Rutledge" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The "Fill with zeroes" utility on the Ontrack "Disk Manager, DiskGo !" can
be run without loading the Disk Manager.
Michel Catudal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> Lew Schwartz a �crit :
> >
> > Is it available anywhere on the internet?
> >
>
> Go to the manufacturer's web site for your drive. For example if you have
> a WD hard disk you go to the WD web site and they do have an OnTrack
> manager that works only if you have at least one WD drive in the system.
> It's true for most manufacturers. At IBM they only have a winblows OnTrack
> so you use EZdisk. Don't install the OnTrack or EZdisk manager unless your
> PC can't recognize the hard disk. Either one will do the trick.
> As for a solution to clean the whole disk you don't really need to do
> all that when fdisk would to the trick.
> Boot on the CD of Linux and run fdisk and remove all the partitions.
Create
> new partitions and you're all set.
>
> --
> Tired of Windows' rebootive multitasking?
> then try Linux's preemptive multitasking
> http://www.netonecom.net/~bbcat/
> We have software, food, music, news, search,
> history, electronics and genealogy pages.
------------------------------
From: Paul Nelson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Intel sound chip on Tyan 810 Tomcat MB???
Crossposted-To:
comp.os.linux.setup,linux.dev.sound,linux.redhat.install,alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.tyan
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 05:03:22 GMT
Hello Folks,
I'm trying to configure sound on 4 new Linux workstations for our=20
school.
They have Tyan 810i motherboards with on-board sound. When I run=20
sndconfig I find a PCI sound card and with this unknown device.
Intel Corporation|unknown device 8086:2415
sndconfig goes on to say it's not supported.
Any clues for us?
All help appreciated,
;-) Paul
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Paul Nelson................... [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Riverdale School, 11733 SW Breyman Ave, Portland, OR 97219
school (503)636-4511.....................fax (503)635-6342
Riverdale Web Page......... http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
------------------------------
From: "Steve Taylor" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: General enquiry/discussion about hardware support in linux.
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 05:07:57 GMT
Hi.
For a long time now, I've been wanting to get into linux. By that I mean
using it as an everyday operating system I can take seriously, and for
developing applications. I have even installed various versions on a few
ocassions.
However, lack of hardware support has really put me off. Even the typical
hardcore linux advocate will admit Win9x better facilitates virtually any
hardware configuration. But linux is fussy. And even when it acceps a
hardware device, it doesn't automatically mean it will access it optimally.
This fact is no discredit to the thousands of linux developers out there,
but a fact because the linux drivers for the hardware are written by 3rd
parties, i.e. not the manufacturer. The manufacturers are quite content to
write drivers only for windows and refuse to disclose information on how to
access the hardware directly. Such information would ensure linux drivers
would be of an extremely high standard. After all, isn't almost everything
else in linux?
Ah yes, I said I had an enquiry.
I would like to know if there are any efforts to unify hardware
accessability in a similar way windows. Is this something to be done as part
of a new desktop environment development project? Should the drivers load
when you start an X-Windows compatible environment, then unload when you
leave? I would favour that model. I know it sounds a bit like Win9x, but I
must say the way Win9x handles hardware would have to be its nicest feature.
I'll tell you more about why I favour that model. First of all, I will
mention that the alternative to this is, of course, writing a driver for
each new piece of hardware and having it load upon login (or bootup). So
far, there has been a mixture of both ideas. You may have a driver (or
should I say daemon) to handle basic functionality of, say, an S3 card. That
way you can play a graphical game from a command prompt when not running an
XWindows session. Then you startup an XWindows session using, say, XFree86
which has its own driver for your S3 card. Then you have your soundcard. Its
has probably just one daemon associated with its control and can be accessed
whether you are in an X-Windows session or not.
What's the problem?
Lack of standards. Confusion.
Here is the bigger problem. As more hardware comes out, linux developers are
making attempts to write drivers for them. There is no guaruntee on the
success or the quality of the work, since these guys aren't getting paid and
no-one is telling them to do it. However, much effort of the linux
developing community is being focussed on developing these drivers, which
has the effect of making linux more accessable to others. Why is this all a
big problem? A lot of time is being spent making linux accessable to more
people, but the time could be better spent making linux a better operating
system for those who are using it. Let the hardware manufacturers write the
drivers. They will do the work of making linux more accessable to more
users.
Maybe you're thinking, "But the hardware manufacturers are (generally) NOT
writing linux drivers." Do you want to know why they are not? They
generally don't know how to approach the problem. And why? There is no
standard way to do this. There is no "device manager". It is my strong
belief that if an X-Windows compatible desktop environment was developed
with such a device manager, manufacturers would leap at the opportunity to
have their hardware supported.
And the question remains, why wait until X-Windows starts to start a device
manager? Why not on system startup? The answer is quite simple. Who
volunarily uses command line environments anymore? Point-and-click,
drag-and-drop; it's the way to go. Aside from an extremely small minority,
everyone prefers an environment in which what-you-see-is-what-you-get.
"Yeah, but why not load all those drivers on system startup or login?"
Because we want all our hardware access drivers to load in the same step.
You see, a graphical desktop environment will need video drivers that are a
bit more feature-rich than a video driver designed just to give access to
the card. A video driver for a GUI system has routines for moving windows,
displaying the mouse pointer, etc... Why load some drivers upon
startup/login and some more upon starting the desktop environment? It just
doesn't go with the spirit of having a hardware device manager. It fucks
things up.
Anyway, it's getting late. I'm a first year I.T. student and I need some
kip. If I keep going, I'll just use more four letter words.
In closing I would just like to say what this is all about. I think linux
has potential that's bound by the chains of lack of hardware support. For
instance, I have a Yamaha WaveForce 192XG soundcard. It is a fantastic
little piece of equipment. It also has no linux support. I still have one of
those old S3 Trio64V+ video cards. It still does the trick, because its
windows driver makes the most of its hardware acceleration capabilities.
However, no linux driver does yet, although the card is well over two years
old. It seems linux hardware drivers are written just to get a piece of
hardware up and running.
*** WE MUST GET THE MANUFACTURERS TO WRITE THE DRIVERS.
*** THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS HAPPENING IS TO PROVIDE A STANDARD ENVIRONMENT
FOR THIS.
- Steve Taylor
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