Jaypee, I recommend you subscribe to the PH Linux Newbie mailing list and
ask there. Your questions are not off-topic here (the main PLUG list) but
are more appropriate to be there. :)
On Mon, 10 Sep 2001 at 07:21, Jaypee B Molina wrote:
> o i see.... so just for my information, please correct me if i'm
> wrong.... linux doesn't need drivers for every devices
Yes and no. Yes Linux needs drivers for every device. That's what the
kernel is for. Support for devices may either be built into the kernel
(compiled statically) or loaded dynamically (on demand) as modules. Your
kernel is typically in /boot as vmlinuz-xxx bzImage-xxx or something like
that. Your modules are in /lib/modules/x.x.x.
No you don't normally need a special driver disc for your hardware. Save
of course for Winmodems which normally have binary-only drivers that you
can load as modules to get them to work with Linux.
> i mean, for example, the monitor (based from what i have seen in the
> setup for redhat 7.1) linux just needs the horizontal and vertical
> sync, and presto!!!!???? no drivers needed for every brand and model
> of monitor???
The inf file in Windows is essentially the same thing. It contains, these,
among other information.
> and for other devices such as printer, it doesn't need a driver for a
> specific brand and model... all it needs is the pins and
> resolution????
There are certain standards for printers, like PostScript for example.
Unfortunately these standards seem to be pretty messed up. Worse, there
are breeds of printers that do not follow these standards at all. I hear
there are "WinPrinters" that will only work with special drivers since
they off-load (again?) processing to the CPU.
No, not all printers work with Linux. AFAIK most proper PostScript
printers will, though, and without much fuss. Others will require some
filter settings. Anyone know of a good document to serve as a primer for
such information?
> and for the modem, in case i decided to buy a new external modem, it's
> literally plug&play?
An external modem will connect to your serial port. Unless of course you
get an external USB modem. Because it connects to your serial port, it
will follow pretty established standards, and as such doesn't need
anything special to work with Linux. Before Windows came around you didn't
need special drivers to work with your modem, either. And internal modems
have always been more difficult because of possible resource conflicts
(IRQ, DMA, I/O) as it has its own "serial port" (controller).
A USB modem needs special stuff to get to work on Linux, too. And won't
always work. I am not sure, though, as I haven't tried. I think
<http://www.linux-usb.org/> will be a great stop. :)
> this is really a very good o.s.
Yes of course! But not because "it doesn't have drivers". It does. Linux
is great for so many other reasons, and not just because it's free. :)
--> Jijo
--
Federico Sevilla III :: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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