Linux-Hardware Digest #677, Volume #14 Tue, 24 Apr 01 05:13:07 EDT
Contents:
Re: Microsoft gets the credit its due, as a marketing Co. that sells (John
Westerdale)
Re: Floppy controller tapes ("A.C. 'Static' Stadt")
Re: Kernel 2.4.3 questions... ("A.C. 'Static' Stadt")
Re: Kernel 2.4.3 questions... ("A.C. 'Static' Stadt")
Current (as of 4/23/2001) Motherboard Recommendations Sought (William A. Maniatty)
Recommended Gigabit over Copper NICS? (William A. Maniatty)
Re: oldest terminal you have used ("A.C. 'Static' Stadt")
Re: Switchboxes for keyboard, mice, video? (Eric P. McCoy)
Re: Screen going black with ATI Rage 128 Pro (Marc D. Williams)
3c905-tx-m and linux red hat 6.2 problems (collisions and no 100 full duplex)
("cande")
Serial 3B mouse under console and under X. (Tomasz Bold)
ABIT KT7A-RAID ("Pavel Tom�ek")
ZIP ext2 vs fat16 and speed (Nigel Jewell)
AMI MegaRAID 1600 + RH 7.1 not working ("Oliver Olsen")
Need Redhat7 video card suggestion. ("R. Giuly")
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John Westerdale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.arch,comp.os.linux.advocacy
Subject: Re: Microsoft gets the credit its due, as a marketing Co. that sells
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 03:20:42 GMT
> > or hotfixes that require a (planned) reboot. We've never had a W2K crash.
>
> *Are* there hotfixes that don't require reboot?
Maybe Microsoft Will put out a clean operating system, People will use
it
for years, and years, without needing to upgrade, because it works so
well.
Maybe?
That does fly in the face of what I have seen as being the real reason
that
the WInXX admin has to scramble more often.... the incessant need to
satisfy both
users and admins need to feel like they are in control. A battle that
ensures the
OS Vendor re-sells a customer a new BOX and OS every 2 Years.
If you put a single app on a box and leave it alone, it will probably
work. What
Unix box suffers for having Apache on board?
What user would be happy if he/she couldn't install drivers? (In Unix
you dont, but
printer Mfr's haven't generally ported their spiffy GUI interfaces,
aside from Irix that
can read a PPD file and construct a GUI on the fly). What user wouldn't
be tee'd off
if they couldn't load that new blastwell-Maximus game _with_ the
BFG-3000. These activities
degrade the quality of the O.S. because it breaks the continuity of the
original
clean install. Ever see an BigCo printer driver install and all the
software it mucked
with (OEM Microsoft DLLS getting whacked).
What Admin. should be content to leave any O.S. partition read write for
users the
Futz with? Why cant you run many apps on an NT Server? Seems they all
Morph the
(probably stable) MS code into their own flavor. NT with
TApe-Restore-Plus isn't the same
as NT with Big-Dog-Co printer drivers. Different still is the same box
with AOL 5.0
on it... Its a damn battleground. Who wins? Who knows. Who loses? the
consumer that
wants a stable box. Always wanted to point My Computer at the system
files just to
see if I could start whacking things.. Delete, delete, delete... Would
expect "that's
not fair".... complaints, but what IS security?
In Unix land random binary strings are executed in rapid succession...
not 'cause its
fair, but because its real... How many hours can crashme run until
something odd happens.
Or is it days or weeks? Why tolerate reboots as casual fixes?
The Quality of an MS-O.S. seems to decay because the System files are
not adequately
protected from the installation process. I have watched AOL installs go
by and and recall
being amazed that the machine still worked! This generally doesn't
happen with Unix. The stack is
not mucked with by setup.csh. The printer already works OK. (though I
would hope that
Linuxers would envision a better way to Permit Vendor Variation in
printing functions
al la PPD file (postscript printer definition files)).
So... Why post this Here? its a legit beef, and it needs to be handled,
because the
Linux/Open Source movement must be sure to separate Base-OS operations
from the
Application softwares. XFree86 must be Clean and operational
completely, then there is
no need for any other junk to degrade an otherwise properly operating
system. The
various software utilities must be included in a stable build. A clear
distinction
between the O.S. and the Application space would protect the user from
Himself, by insulating
the O.S. from the well intentioned user. OK... So Linux has the Kernel
space. Who
can ask or define what a software package can and can't do?
It makes a business case for MS to generate a continuous stream of $,
but Linux/Open Source
has to keep this from being the issue that keeps computers from being
transparent. That is,
once a technology gets ubiquitous, it becomes transparent.
Refrigerators, Washing machines,
TV's even bring new content every day, and don't usually explode. (HDTV
is a paradigm shift,
yeah, I know, but its a serious upgrade!).
Have removed this from the MS-adv. lists, they know this and would be
offended if this
point was offered in a public forum. Let them endure the vagaries of
their master that
envisioned their world. Its not mine. The future belongs to the
efficient.
Enough ranting... Give credit where its due, and find the reasons for
the instability.
These are things I have noticed in maintaining all sorts of systems.
... Phew... Sits under table to avoid flying Debris from upset
applecarts ...
JDW
# Retro-Genius: Ability to change perceptions to redefine the original
reality #
------------------------------
From: "A.C. 'Static' Stadt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: Floppy controller tapes
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 04:02:40 GMT
hmmm... I was just about to throw out my old TR3 (wife is complaining about
my overflowing boxes of parts :-P), but after seeing this, I'll have to give
it a shut myself - thanks (gives me an excuse to save it :-) ).
Roberto Migliorati <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:9c2nla$gi9$[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> Juergen,
>
> Thanks a lot for your extensive help!! I'll put the drive in my box
tonight
> and we'll see hot it goes.
>
> Roberto.
> "Juergen Pfann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> > Roberto Migliorati wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I have an old Seagate CTT3200 floppy controller tape drive (Travan
TR3)
> with
> > > its own Conner 2MB/s controller card. I'd like to test it (and
possibly
> use
> > > it!) under RH7.1 and/or Mandrake 8.0.
> > >
> >
> > IMHO, with modern distros, this config should work out of the box,
> > as there are the appropriate module(s) and device nodes by default.
> > One possible problem might be the controller card; IIRC most of these
> > cards are supported - but you might check the HW settings for I/O port
> > and IRQ, and might have to specify this to the "modprobe ftape" command.
> > If the card - and thus the drive - isn't recognized, you might have to
> > build a custom kernel in that case, after manually editing
> > /usr/src/linux/drivers/char/ftape/Makefile (or are these settings
> > editable
> > by "make menuconfig" in the meantime ? - don't think so).
> > If you need to re-build the ftape driver, however, I'd highly recommend
> > you get the ftape-4.x source from freshmeat or similar, and use that
> > instead of the kernel-included driver, which is still V. 3.0.4 IIRC.
> > This promises more stability and possibly performance in some cases,
> > transparent compression, and introduces the facility to format tapes
> > in Linux by included utilities. Beware : the devices nodes with 4.x
> > have undergone some changes, but there's an included script to create
> > these.
> >
> > > Does anybody use a similar tape drive?? Any particular problems I
should
> be
> > > aware of??
> >
> > My Seagate/Conner TST800 TR-1 is working fine - apart from it's slowness
> > and noise - but with the normal floppy controller. Used to work as 3rd
> > device with a 3.5" and 5.25" drive, but when the latter (finally) seemed
> > to have died last week, I had to re-jumper the tape drive to become 2nd
> > device. Guess you won't have such problems with your dedicated
> > controller.
> >
> > > Please don't suggest I use a SCSI drive instead, I already have a Sony
> DDS3
> > > tape drive that works like a charm...just want to resurrect an old
piece
> of
> > > equipment.
> > >
> >
> > ;-) ... but the Sony _is_ a fine piece of HW...
> >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > >
> > > Roberto.
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > Juergen
>
>
------------------------------
From: "A.C. 'Static' Stadt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: Kernel 2.4.3 questions...
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 04:44:02 GMT
Helmut Steinwender <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:Id4F6.49978$[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> I am not sure, but would modprobe know where your vfat is? Shouldn't you
> give the full path?
>
[snip]
Adam,
I really think I need to make up a canned response to this module question.
First, as two other people have mentioned, you need v2.4 or better of
modutils.
Basically RTFM, if you'd take a quick glance even at Documentation\Changes,
you'd find a list in the first few pages of what else you need to upgrade,
preferrably before you compile your new kernel, obviously some of these may
not apply, but you must check the ones that do apply in your case.
Helmut,
The reason that you must update modutils before you install the new kernel
is that
that various mod utilities are *supposed* to know the structure of the
/lib/modules/(kernel ver) tree. The structure of this tree was modified
with the
2.4.0 kernels IIRC, someone please correct me if it happened earlier.
Regarless,
where certain modules appear in /lib/modules/2.2.14/... are not the same as
where they appear in /lib/modules/2.4.3
------------------------------
From: "A.C. 'Static' Stadt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.linux.setup
Subject: Re: Kernel 2.4.3 questions...
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 04:44:02 GMT
Helmut Steinwender <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:Id4F6.49978$[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> I am not sure, but would modprobe know where your vfat is? Shouldn't you
> give the full path?
>
[snip]
Adam,
I really think I need to make up a canned response to this module question.
First, as two other people have mentioned, you need v2.4 or better of
modutils.
Basically RTFM, if you'd take a quick glance even at Documentation\Changes,
you'd find a list in the first few pages of what else you need to upgrade,
preferrably before you compile your new kernel, obviously some of these may
not apply, but you must check the ones that do apply in your case.
Helmut,
The reason that you must update modutils before you install the new kernel
is that
that various mod utilities are *supposed* to know the structure of the
/lib/modules/(kernel ver) tree. The structure of this tree was modified
with the
2.4.0 kernels IIRC, someone please correct me if it happened earlier.
Regarless,
where certain modules appear in /lib/modules/2.2.14/... are not the same as
where they appear in /lib/modules/2.4.3
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (William A. Maniatty)
Subject: Current (as of 4/23/2001) Motherboard Recommendations Sought
Date: 24 Apr 2001 00:39:18 -0400
Hello All:
I am looking to build a cluster of SMP nodes, and am looking for
specific recommendations for motherboards. I would like to have
the option to use 512 MB PC1333 ECC RAM (can't afford that DDR ECC RAM
yet :-().
In particular I was thinking of the Super Micro 370DDE,
which uses the Via Apollo 266 chipset, but am open to other suggestions.
Regards
Bill Maniatty
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (William A. Maniatty)
Subject: Recommended Gigabit over Copper NICS?
Date: 24 Apr 2001 00:41:39 -0400
Hello All:
I'm thinking of constructing a cluster and was wondering if there
was a perferred gigabit over copper NIC. Does anyone have specific
recommendations. I was thinking of using the 3COM 3C996-T adapter.
Regards
Bill Maniatty
------------------------------
From: "A.C. 'Static' Stadt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: oldest terminal you have used
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 04:59:27 GMT
Fred Brooks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]...
> Teletype Corp model 15 teletype. (1942)
> Complete with 5 level tape punch.
I trained on one of those things... lucky for me the model 40 came out! lol.
------------------------------
Crossposted-To: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.chips
Subject: Re: Switchboxes for keyboard, mice, video?
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Eric P. McCoy)
Date: 24 Apr 2001 01:49:18 -0400
[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Keith R. Williams) writes:
> > > Windows key. ...don't need no stinkin' Windows key! Never.
> > Actually, I kind of like it. The one that does Ctrl+Esc (not the
> > context menu key), I mean. I'm a die-hard command line junkie, so in
> > Windows it's Ctrl+Esc, up, up, enter, command name - I use it a lot
> > for calc and notepad.
> When you'r not using WinBlows? I don't even want it when I
> am! I don't like WinBlows specific hardware in any form.
> The WB key is just another example.
I'm sure X and your favorite wm can be configured to do something
useful with it.
> > > Home and End could be done better.
> > That's why God gave us C-a and C-e. (By the way, do not try to use
> > those in Windows - bad things, like erasing the entire message, will
> > happen. I do it all the time, and it drives me crazy.)
> Cntl-Home and Cntl-End? ...I'm sure Billy has figured out a
> convoluted way of doing this too.
Home, End, et al. are the fault of IBM, not of Microsoft. And to be
honest, they're much more intuitive than whatever Unix correspondents
there are.
--
Eric McCoy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
"Knowing that a lot of people across the world with Geocities sites
absolutely despise me is about the only thing that can add a positive
spin to this situation." - Something Awful, 1/11/2001
------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Marc D. Williams)
Subject: Re: Screen going black with ATI Rage 128 Pro
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 06:36:19 -0000
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Mon, 16 Apr 2001 18:55:38 GMT, Niklas Karlsson wrote:
>
>This problem seems to occur both with kernels 2.2.18 and 2.4.[23].
>I've tried a variety of kernel configurations, with various APM
>settings as well as without any APM support at all compiled in, but
>it's still the same. This is quite annoying, as I don't want to be
>forced to run X all the time, and whether or not I'm running X I
>want to be able to use the virtual consoles for extended periods
>of time. Of course, this is especially much of a nuisance with
>SVGAlib games - the screen goes black just as I'm trying for a
>new highscore in 'thrust'. ;)
>
I have similar problems with my Rage 128 and SVGALIB. Being a
console person I'm bummed that I can no longer use my once fave
image viewer, zgv. When the screen goes blank I also lose the
keyboard. Then I find I can't even log in remotely to shut it down
safely. Fsck time.
The Rage 128 does not work with svgalib. An R128 driver was added
to versions 1.43 and 1.9x recently. Tried 1.43 with no change
though I did realize I was able to play nuq-ggi (Quake 1 linked with
GGI libs) just fine at good resolution and high colors.
Check out http://www.svgalib.org/ (?) for some info.
Check the mailing list archives.
--
>>ANIME SENSHI<<
Marc D. Williams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.oldskool.org/~tvdog/ -- DOS Internet & Tandy 1000
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Platform/8269/ -- Win3.x Makeover
------------------------------
From: "cande" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.networking
Subject: 3c905-tx-m and linux red hat 6.2 problems (collisions and no 100 full duplex)
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 09:40:02 +0200
I have a workstation with red hat 6.2 and 3c905-tx-m ethernet card (3C59x
driver) connected to a switch.
Both of them are capable of using autonegotiation, but however It doesn't
work fine.
I can't get 100 Mps full duplex and besides there are too many collisions.
What can i do to solve the problem?
Update linux kernel, update driver, modify driver kernel ...
------------------------------
From: Tomasz Bold <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Serial 3B mouse under console and under X.
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 10:09:04 +0200
Hi !
I have no-name serial 3 buttons mouse. I've install it on RedHat
7.0 using mouseconfig and with no problems I can use it under console. But
Under X11 there is no X/event associated to pushing middle button.
What should I do ?
Best regards
Tomasz Bold
DESY/HH
------------------------------
From: "Pavel Tom�ek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: ABIT KT7A-RAID
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 10:34:26 +0200
Hi all,
do anyone find drivers for IDE ONBOARD RAID controler for ABIT KT7A-RAID
motherboard ? Manufacturer do not suply any drivers for NUX based systems
....
help ...
------------------------------
Crossposted-To: comp.os.linux.misc
From: Nigel Jewell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: ZIP ext2 vs fat16 and speed
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 08:41:24 GMT
Dear all,
I have an ZIP 250 drive (that uses the ide-floppy driver) and have found
the process to be VERY slow when writing to EXT2 formatted disks. It is
fine when writing to FAT16 disks.
Copy 250Mb to a FAT16 filesystem can take a couple of minutes. Copying
250Mb to a EXT2 filesystem can take most of the day. Is there anything
that I can do to speed up the EXT2 writes?
I'm using Redhat 7.1, with a 2.4.3 kernel, although I've experienced
this with 2.2.x kernels aswell.
Thanks,
Nige.
------------------------------
From: "Oliver Olsen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: AMI MegaRAID 1600 + RH 7.1 not working
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 10:54:00 +0200
Hi!
I'm trying to install RH 7.1 on an Intel server (dual P3-1ghz, 512mb RDIMM
etc) with the AMI MegaRAID 1600-controller (493). RH 7.1 detects the
controller, I'm able to select the packages wanted as well as specifying
what partitions/sizes to use. It also says that the sda-partition has to be
initialized, and I have to press 5 times in order to continue. However, when
I'm done and have pressed the OK button in order to start installing I get
the message:
"Unable to format /. This may be a serious error".
Anyone familiar with this? I've tried RH 7.0 (2.2.16-22enterprise kernel)
which works great. However, as I'd like the 2.4 kernel in order to run
Vmware G6-server. I then compiled the 2.4.3-ac9 kernel and tried booting up.
The kernel recogizes the controller and disk-array, but says:
SCSI device sda: 286875648 512 byte hdwr sectors (146880 MB)
sda: unknow partition table
blah-blah-blah......
VFS: Cannot open root device "801" or 08:01
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 08:01
___________________________-
This looks like a 2.4 kernel problem and my controller. I've tried mailing
AMI-support, but not much response from them yet.
Anyone??
Best regards,
Oliver Olsen
------------------------------
From: "R. Giuly" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Need Redhat7 video card suggestion.
Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 04:59:06 -0400
My 3dimage 975 card doesn't work with redhat7, so I'm looking for a
replacement. I'd like a video card that someone has tested with redhat7
in the $50 or less price range. Any suggestions?
thanks in advance
--
Richard Giuly
(remove animal from email address)
------------------------------
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End of Linux-Hardware Digest
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