Linux-Hardware Digest #644, Volume #12 Sun, 9 Apr 00 05:13:07 EDT
Contents:
Re: I am a reseller and need help ("The Nice One")
Re: HELP: Can't make PS/2 mouse work ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Re: Boca M65i Modem headaches ("Scott and Sherri Napier")
Re: i-opener that can be modified, where can I get one? (Steven Potter)
Re: speed traslation (Steven Potter)
Hot Swapable Drive (Steven Potter)
Re: high altitude modern systems performance (Peter Teuben)
Re: I am a reseller and need help ("Robert W. Cunningham")
Re: I am a reseller and need help ("Robert W. Cunningham")
Re: i-opener that can be modified, where can I get one? ("Robert W. Cunningham")
last try, PA-2013 linux lockups. anyone have this configuration? (jonathan
hunsberger)
Re: small server for home (dammitjim)
Re: Where is my 128 MB RAM gone? (Ronald Bruck)
Re: Doh! 32-bit @1024x768 acts weird! HELP ("Peter T. Breuer")
Re: I am a reseller and need help ("The Nice One")
Re: high altitude modern systems performance ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Re: COM1 or COM2 for the ext. modem; whats optimal? (Anthony Hill)
Re: last try, PA-2013 linux lockups. anyone have this configuration? ("Richard
Olsson")
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "The Nice One" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: I am a reseller and need help
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 14:15:44 +1200
Reply-To: "The Nice One" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
look all I was asking for was some minor help
don't be such an arsehole
--
Yours Dave :-)
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
>
> Sunday April 09 2000 00:59, The Nice One wrote to All:
>
>
> TO> Ok I am a computer reseller in Dunedin New Zealand but I need some
> TO> help/feedback about a proposed system I am hoping to offer as a
> TO> Linux
>
> TO> I try to be best cheapest and friendliest :-)
>
> You are *cheap* all right! Pay for consulting services, and don't abuse
> Usenet!
>
> KS
>
>
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: HELP: Can't make PS/2 mouse work
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 21:52:03 +0000
Do you have Xconfigurator? If you don't mind going through the whole
setup (video, etc.) it should set up a PS/2 mouse for you. It works great for
my logitech anyway.
Mark Bratcher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi.
>
> I've got a Microsoft Intellimouse Trackball and it works fine on my
> serial port under both Windoze and Linux.
>
> When I try to configure it to work on my PS/2 port (which it natively is
> supposed to connect with) it works on Windoze, but NOT Linux. Trying to
> run X just gives me a blank screen.
>
> I have RH 5.2. Kernel 2.2.14. I have already done the following:
>
> - Configured the kernel to support PS/2, non-serial mice
> - Modified the Pointer section of XF86Config to use "imps/2" or "PS/2"
> on port /dev/psaux
> - Ran mouseconfig (which I think just redirects /dev/mouse)
>
> Any help appreciated.
>
------------------------------
From: "Scott and Sherri Napier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Boca M65i Modem headaches
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 23:08:22 -0400
I checked out that list, but did not see the M56i listed... maybe I am just
blind. I saw a few Bocas, but not that one... although if that many are
listed I am inclined to believe that I am just doing something wrong in
setting it up... fun and excitement every day!!
"Rob Clark" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:bjPH4.11343$[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> Scott and Sherri Napier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >Well, here is another modem that I cannot get to work! I sent an email
to
> >Boca, but of course they never responded... does anyone know if this
thing
> >will work with Linux?? I am using Mandrake 6, but I am most certainly a
> >newbie so be gentle with me :-)
>
> Please check the "big list" at
> http://www.o2.net/~gromitkc/winmodem.html
> especially in the "EUD-Boca Research" section.
>
> As long as you have the M56I and not the M56HI, you're probably okay.
>
> Rob Clark, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
From: Steven Potter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: i-opener that can be modified, where can I get one?
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 22:04:52 -0500
The i-openers that are currently shipping have some of the pins on the
IDE header clipped. So unless you are good at soldering, the best place
to get a hackable one in E-bay, but you will have to pay more.
Steven Potter
Karlo Szabo wrote:
>
> Hi
>
> This seems very cool, I want one
> http://www.linux-hacker.net/iopener
>
> but after the 20th it reckons that they can't be modified anymore.
>
> Can I get a modifiable one from somewhere????
>
> TIA
> karlo
--
Make Money Surfing The Internet
http://connect.to/get_paid/
------------------------------
From: Steven Potter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: speed traslation
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 22:18:22 -0500
The only problem is that you will never get a 56K connection at max you
will get 52K due to FCC limitations.
Steven Potter
"David S. DeWitt" wrote:
>
> I need someone to check my thinking on this. If my modem is capable of "A"
> then my download speed should be about "B". assuming I had the best
> possible connections. Also modems are rated as Kbps (Kilo Byte) were
> download speed is normaly shown as KBps (Kilo bits). 8 bits per Byte.
> Please correct me if I am wrong.
>
> A B
> 28.8 ---- 3.6
> 33.6 ---- 4.2
> 46.3 ---- 5.75 <-- my normal connection speed with a 56K rated modem
> 56 ------ 6.6
>
> The reason behind the question is trying to determin how fast of a
> connection I am getting under RH 6.1
>
> Thanks
> David
--
Make Money Surfing The Internet
http://connect.to/get_paid/
------------------------------
From: Steven Potter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Hot Swapable Drive
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 22:29:18 -0500
Hi,
I'm trying to figure out how to setup a system with a hot swapable hard
drive for backup, and I have a few questions.
What kind of hardware do I need? (e.g. special SCSI controller, special
drive tray ect...)
Does it require any special software support other than the drive not be
mounted when it is removed?
Thanks
Steven Potter
--
Make Money Surfing The Internet
http://connect.to/get_paid/
------------------------------
From: Peter Teuben <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.systems
Subject: Re: high altitude modern systems performance
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 23:41:09 -0400
Kenneth Mankoff wrote:
>
> Hello everyone,
> I live at 10,000 feet and have had all systems newer than a 486DX33Mhz
> computer fail me. Since november, this is:
>
> * 3 Dell Inspiron 7500 latptop motherboards (450Mhz). 2 months to failure
> * 3 Dell Inspiron 7500 hard drives (12 to 18 gig). 2 months to failure.
> * one gateway latop internal modem. 3 days to failure
> * one 200 Mhz (overclocked) Gateway tower (2 days, then writing to zip and
> floppy drive in linux failed)
>
> Running for days (and years):
> 486 DX 33Mhz desktop
> 286 5Mhz desktop
>
> I know airplane computers have radiation sheilds. I also know i have a 3%
> higher chance of cancer than the average altitude of the global population
> (or maybe it was sea level)
>
> I'm grasping at straws, but hoping some of you may have experience with
> high altitude computing, or can point me to a resource.
hmmm. i am about to take off for Mauna Kea, at 14,000ft. The only thing
I am
aware of there are the enourmous fans they use to keep the airflow
around
monitors and CPUs large (even at the mid-station at 10,000ft). I did
also
hear people being worried about the lower airpressure and the now slight
imbalance of the diskheads, but I have not heard such horror stories as
you
have described. People generally have not had problems with HDs
crashing.
I can report back from Mauna Kea if you remind me next week (short term
memory
will be impaired there) and also maybe get some more stories of the
other
observatories.
peter
------------------------------
From: "Robert W. Cunningham" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: I am a reseller and need help
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 03:57:18 GMT
Buchan Milne wrote:
> Why an ISA modem ? You probably won't get your 56k across the ISA bus!
Oh, get real!
1. The ISA moves data at up to 16 MB/s (non-VL, non-EISA), even higher with BIOS
tweaks. At most, an analog modem will need only 0.2 MB/s of bus bandwidth.
2. Why waste a PCI slot on a modem?
3. PCI modems cost 2x or 3x what ISA modems cost.
4. Eventually, every Linux user will want to replace the analog modem with a
cable modem or DSL or advanced wireless.
5. Of course, a USB modem might be best of all, since it is trivial to share
with a laptop, and won't use a serial port like an external serial modem would.
Linux does support at least one USB modem, but that support is not expected to
make it into the 2.4 kernel, nor do I think it is part of any current
distribution (maybe RedHat 6.2?).
6. What else can you use an ISA slot for these days? If the motherboard has
one, why not fill it up?
-BobC
------------------------------
From: "Robert W. Cunningham" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: I am a reseller and need help
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 04:06:52 GMT
Rod Roark wrote:
> On Sun, 9 Apr 2000 00:59:46 +1200, The Nice One <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >Ok I am a computer reseller in Dunedin New Zealand but I need some
> >help/feedback about a proposed system I am hoping to offer as a Linux box.
> >
> >My major barrier to doing this is that I know almost squat about linux(all
> >distributions)....
>
> Um, how're you gonna support it if you don't know Linux? I applaud
> your effort but DON'T do this until you have used the stuff yourself
> as your primary computing environment for a few months.
Uh, do *ANY* computer vendors "support Linux"?
I think not! Support will have to come from the distribution vendor and the
Linux community, just like always.
The PC retailer merely wants to avoid problems with HIS part of the setup!
Wouldn't you?
After all, I'd much rather see a system that's already been assembled using
Linux-compatible parts, than to endure the headache I now have from trying to
put together an economical dual processor box. I'm going cross-eyed from
trying to put together a hardware list that suits my needs.
The fact that this reseller wants to save that bother for his customers means
alot to ME (at least), even if he doesn't know a single thing about Linux.
His customers will! They had better, or they will be out of luck on matter
how well the dealer knows Linux.
It does not MATTER if the dealer knows Linux. Hell, how many retailers even
know Windows! Have you gone shopping lately? For that matter, do you know of
anyone who ever got help from Microsoft?
But he should certainly hire someone to do a good Linux install for him, to
check everything out, then include an image of that install with each machine.
Now THAT's service!
-BobC
------------------------------
From: "Robert W. Cunningham" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: i-opener that can be modified, where can I get one?
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 04:11:15 GMT
Steven Potter wrote:
> The i-openers that are currently shipping have some of the pins on the
> IDE header clipped. So unless you are good at soldering, the best place
> to get a hackable one in E-bay, but you will have to pay more.
I can't quite tell from the photos: Is the IDE header surface mount or
through the board? If the latter, it should not be too hard to replace
with a new header and a cheap soldering iron.
-BobC
------------------------------
From: jonathan hunsberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.fic
Subject: last try, PA-2013 linux lockups. anyone have this configuration?
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 00:23:49 -0400
I'm still getting lockups under Linux. Win98SE runs fine. I pulled down
2.3.50 with IDE patch and still have the problem. Here is the setup.
PA-2013 PCB 2.0, 2MB cache
128M Hyundai PC 100 memory DIMM
20GB Maxtor EIDE
K6-III / 450
cards:
Voodoo3 2000 AGP
SBLive! MP3 (PCI)
NCR 53c810 PCI SCSI
I've had lockups with/without all of the above cards, so i don't think it's
an issue with one of the cards. The lockups seem to occur during disk access,
but have happened also while system was idle (could still have been background
disk access). Sure way to make it hang is try to tar from one filesystem
to another.
Anyone have a similar setup?
I'm about to give up and order an Epox board.
------------------------------
From: dammitjim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: small server for home
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 04:32:02 GMT
> See http://booksizepc.com
Also see http://www.addtronics.com/2901.htm
and http://www.paloaltoproducts.com/pc/nlxpa120.htm
The second one is particularly neat.
I'm looking to put together a flexatx machine to run openbsd. Am I too
early? I know the products are just coming out, but I don't know enough
about drivers to know whether the new products are different enough to
break something. Like the video drivers sharing memory. Anyone with any
insight?
- jim
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Ronald Bruck)
Subject: Re: Where is my 128 MB RAM gone?
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 22:42:57 -0700
In article <z%FG4.2028$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Chris L."
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
:I also had to set my bios to "OS/2 type operating system" for anything more
:than 64M to be seen so you might want to check that also in addition to
:"mem=128M"
:
:Good luck and God bless,
:Chris
However, when I changed the OS/2 option this on MY Athlon 700/Asus K7M
combination, the Mandrake 7.0-2 installer wouldn't work. First of all, I
didn't get the standard installer--more like the old RedHat. Second of
all, it kept failing when trying to install the Adaptec 2940UW drivers.
Whereas the append "mem=512M" worked fine for me.
--Ron Bruck
--
Due to University fiscal constraints, .sigs may not be exceed one
line.
------------------------------
From: "Peter T. Breuer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Doh! 32-bit @1024x768 acts weird! HELP
Date: 9 Apr 2000 06:38:45 GMT
Mark Bratcher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
: "Peter T. Breuer" wrote:
:> Mark Bratcher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
:> : Gene Heskett wrote:
:> :> Hummm, 4 megs you say. Do the math, Mark. 32 bits is a 4 byte
:> :> broadside read, so 1024x768x4 is 3.145728 megabytes of just the visible
:> :> raster screen data. And the cards processor needs room to do its thing.
:> : it _may_ work. I just wasn't sure. Is there a commonly known guideline
:> : as to what percentage (or perhaps integer multiple) of the cards video
:> : RAM is needed for the video card just to "do it's thing"?
:>
:> Sure. Just look at your modeline. But you might as well just guess
:> 25% more.
:>
:> Peter
: OK, so 1024x768x4 times 1.25 (25%) is < 4000000 < 4MB. I'm still
: surprised my
: 4MB card is not enough.
I'd say tops 1200x900x4 = 1.08x4. It's close. Lower the size a little
and see if you have better luck. The card or the driver may need some
of that space. But I also would have said that it should fit handily.
I believe it should.
Peter
------------------------------
From: "The Nice One" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: I am a reseller and need help
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 19:49:06 +1200
Reply-To: "The Nice One" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I am also now in constant contact with a guy who is teaching me alot about
it
As Robert says all I want to do is get the hardware side in order so that
the initial setup is easy.
I figure if I can make the setup more user friendly then Linux will become a
more accessable OS to the masses
I am just trying to help ok
As for the linux install I have a guy who does Linux Network Administration
around the country helping me with that
I may know squat about linux but I am willing to learn more than Joe average
--
Yours Dave Hall JCD Computers
http://jcdcomputers.tripod.com
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dunedin's first Email Only Computer store
I try to be best cheapest and friendliest :-)
Robert W. Cunningham <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> Rod Roark wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 9 Apr 2000 00:59:46 +1200, The Nice One <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
> > >Ok I am a computer reseller in Dunedin New Zealand but I need some
> > >help/feedback about a proposed system I am hoping to offer as a Linux
box.
> > >
> > >My major barrier to doing this is that I know almost squat about
linux(all
> > >distributions)....
> >
> > Um, how're you gonna support it if you don't know Linux? I applaud
> > your effort but DON'T do this until you have used the stuff yourself
> > as your primary computing environment for a few months.
>
> Uh, do *ANY* computer vendors "support Linux"?
>
> I think not! Support will have to come from the distribution vendor and
the
> Linux community, just like always.
>
> The PC retailer merely wants to avoid problems with HIS part of the setup!
> Wouldn't you?
>
> After all, I'd much rather see a system that's already been assembled
using
> Linux-compatible parts, than to endure the headache I now have from trying
to
> put together an economical dual processor box. I'm going cross-eyed from
> trying to put together a hardware list that suits my needs.
>
> The fact that this reseller wants to save that bother for his customers
means
> alot to ME (at least), even if he doesn't know a single thing about Linux.
> His customers will! They had better, or they will be out of luck on
matter
> how well the dealer knows Linux.
>
> It does not MATTER if the dealer knows Linux. Hell, how many retailers
even
> know Windows! Have you gone shopping lately? For that matter, do you
know of
> anyone who ever got help from Microsoft?
>
> But he should certainly hire someone to do a good Linux install for him,
to
> check everything out, then include an image of that install with each
machine.
>
> Now THAT's service!
>
>
> -BobC
>
>
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Crossposted-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.systems
Subject: Re: high altitude modern systems performance
Date: 9 Apr 2000 07:50:37 GMT
In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.systems Michael Hofmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
> Kenneth Mankoff wrote:
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>> I live at 10,000 feet and have had all systems newer than a 486DX33Mhz
>> computer fail me. Since november, this is:
>>
>> * 3 Dell Inspiron 7500 latptop motherboards (450Mhz). 2 months to failure
>> * 3 Dell Inspiron 7500 hard drives (12 to 18 gig). 2 months to failure.
>> * one gateway latop internal modem. 3 days to failure
>> * one 200 Mhz (overclocked) Gateway tower (2 days, then writing to zip and
>> floppy drive in linux failed)
>>
>> Running for days (and years):
>> 486 DX 33Mhz desktop
>> 286 5Mhz desktop
>>
>> I know airplane computers have radiation sheilds. I also know i have a 3%
>> higher chance of cancer than the average altitude of the global population
>> (or maybe it was sea level)
> Ken,
> I find it hard to believe your problems are really altitude related. 10k
> feet doesn't sound extremely high to me either. But then I could be
> wrong.
Yes, you're wrong. Here's some cut 'n' paste from seagate.com:
Environmental Specifications
[...]
Operating Altitude (max)
3,048 m
Operating Altitude (min)
-305 m
Nonoperating Altitude (max)
12,210 m
Nonoperating Altitude (min)
-305 m
Acoustics
=============================================
Hard drives' heads fly on a cushion of air.
If there isn't enough of it they crash.
------------------------------
From: Anthony Hill <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.chips
Subject: Re: COM1 or COM2 for the ext. modem; whats optimal?
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 20:41:14 -0400
On 5 Apr 2000 02:34:23 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Keith R. Williams)
wrote:
>> If for example the HD, or an other IDE device has a higher priority servicing
>> the interrupt, you may (and will) loose data.
>
>Hogwash! Even a 286 could keep up with a 16550 at full tilt.
>This isn't a biggie.
Agreed, this sort of thing isn't really a problem with most
systems which aren't horribly obsolete (and even most that are).
>> In linux ifconfig (do it every now and then while downloading) will show
>> your packet loss, now this might just come as a shock if it is not zero.
>> packet loss on a http connection may cause the connection to break.
>
>Sheesh! Packet loss is 99.44% communications errors. I've
>*never* seen an under/over-run with a modern computer. THis has
>zip to do with the processor or UART.
With some older computers (386s, 486s, and maybe even early
Pentiums), having an older 16450 UART, which only had a single byte
cache, overrunning the buffer was quite a problem. I think Window's
3.1x's really crappy serial port support compounded this problem even
more. Either way though, this is kind of a moot point though for most
modern computers because it's been a heck of a long time since I've
seen any 8250 or 16450 UARTs being used (or even any real UART at
all).
Anthony Hill
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
From: "Richard Olsson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.fic
Subject: Re: last try, PA-2013 linux lockups. anyone have this configuration?
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 11:02:06 +0200
I dunno what exactly could be wrong, but I'd recommend trying one of the
stable kernels (2.2.14), or the latest
devel. kernel (2.3.99pre4). And are you changing any parameters with hdparm?
"jonathan hunsberger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> I'm still getting lockups under Linux. Win98SE runs fine. I pulled down
> 2.3.50 with IDE patch and still have the problem. Here is the setup.
>
> PA-2013 PCB 2.0, 2MB cache
> 128M Hyundai PC 100 memory DIMM
> 20GB Maxtor EIDE
> K6-III / 450
> cards:
> Voodoo3 2000 AGP
> SBLive! MP3 (PCI)
> NCR 53c810 PCI SCSI
>
> I've had lockups with/without all of the above cards, so i don't think
it's
> an issue with one of the cards. The lockups seem to occur during disk
access,
> but have happened also while system was idle (could still have been
background
> disk access). Sure way to make it hang is try to tar from one filesystem
> to another.
>
> Anyone have a similar setup?
>
> I'm about to give up and order an Epox board.
------------------------------
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