Problem installing Hoary on AMD64 Asus K8S-MX

[Anders Wallenquist]

Matt Zimmerman wrote:

> I don't understand what you mean; it sounds like you are misunderstanding
>
>how our development process works.  While on operating systems like Windows,
>hardware manufacturers provide drivers which are then bundled with the OS,
>in Linux, drivers are part of the Linux kernel itself.
>  
>
I know the drivers are part of the Linux kernel, and I also know that 
there is a process to choose what drivers to be part of a specific 
kernel. A specific kernel will work for some computers and not for 
others. If a user has the skills, he can build a kernel of his own with 
drivers that not is part of a stock kernel. Sometimes the main line of 
stock kernels does not cover drivers for important types of computers, 
the Centrino platform are a good examples of this. Today the ubuntu line 
of kernels are exelent for this platform, but a year ago there were 
several distribution kernels that did not work very well on that platform.

I'm new to the AMD64 architecture and have as today found several 
computers with moherboard built on SiS and Via platforms distributed by 
my local PC dealer. You named the nForce-plattform. Compared to Intel 32 
architechture this is a very small number of platforms. Add to this that 
modern chipsets bundle more basic functions. SATA-disks, ethernet, 
audio, usb, etc. If the computer has no adressable disks and lacks 
ethernet, its a show stopper - a red flashing screen.  Its impossible to 
install an ubuntu on that box at all. Minimum of drivers for a AMD64-K8 
kernel whould be drivers for either SiS, Via or nForce-platform. If the 
kernel are built for nForce-platform, then say so.

>>I like the idea of collecting good referenses in a database that for 
>>example the device manager do (ubuntu hardware database collection 
>>tool), and I'm willing to contribute to that database. I think its 
>>better to collect this type of information in machine readable form than 
>>let hardware amateurs like me try to describe what we have infront of 
>>us. Are there plans to let us plain users search this database in the 
>>near future?
>>    
>>
>
>This raw data won't be able to provide recommendations for which computers
>to buy; perhaps you would be willing to volunteer to analyze the data to
>produce a buying guide?
>  
>
Today i'm reading kernelsource-code to find out that Wifi-cards built 
with Prism-chips gives me better odds in the buy, test and ebay lottery. 
Don't you think its easyer search a database for the same information? 
Yes this database is not a buying guide till hardware manufacturer 
regulary feed the same database with matching data. But if I and other 
ubuntu-users feeds the database thru ubuntu hardware database collection 
tool, we can come a long way.

In my personal view, I see drivers bundle with a specific kernel as a 
matrix, and a computer with its chipsets and optional hardware as 
another matrix. Matching these matrixes you can se what kernel that 
works and if there is minor differenses you can live with, and maybe 
even see future kernel releases  with even better matrix matching.

>The installer includes all of the disk controller drivers provided by the
>kernel; it would be ludicrous to do otherwise, since the installer's job is
>to get Ubuntu installed on a disk.
>  
>
Its a good thing if all drivers fits on install media. I have a slite 
memory of apt-getting nvidia drivers for the grafics, but I can be wrong.

>>Thats my point, you had to get your personal experience to know if it 
>>works. The method buy, test and ebay. (and for every purchase you get a 
>>copy of Windows XP).
>>    
>>
>
>I don't know for whom you are recommending this process, but it sounds
>expensive.
>  
>
Well can you recommend another process? Lets say I like to buy a 
AMD64-based computer and planning to apt-get mythtv (DVB-T). I also have 
specific sound and size restrictions to fit in a livingroom and connect 
to a TV-set.

Yes, its expensive. Personal computers are inexpensive today, you can 
buy computers at the mall at the same time you buy milk. But the price 
tends to rise when you have to buy, test and ebay a couple before you 
finds a mix of hardware that matches the Linux-kernel.

>>Today the timespan for that knowledge are getting even shorter. I bought a
>>HP nx7000 six month ago that works nice with Warty and Hoary, but will it
>>work with nx7010 that ships today? The nx7000 did not work very well with
>>Debian Sarge, so Warty made a HP customer happy after a month of
>>struggeling. What laptop should I recommend with Ubuntu when I get the
>>question, today, in three month?
>>    
>>
>
>As before, I would recommend collecting information from the community about
>their experiences, and writing a buying guide based on that.
>
>  
>
OK, minimize the number of people who have to buy, test and ebay. But 
someone still have to be first, and with a shortening lifecycle for new 
computer-products the more people are first.

I've been using *nix on PCs since 1983, venix I think the label was, on 
a IBM PC with an optional winchester 5MB tandon harddrive. *nix and 
Linux have never been better and as easy to install as it is today, but 
the last barrier to be a major operating system outside the server rooms 
are compatibilty and an easy and rock solid methods of choosing hardware 
for end users. The latter are more important than drivers for all 
possible hardware. Its expensive to buy two, three of a kind each time. 
My daughter has bought four gamepads and joysticks with still no luck 
for her Ubuntu-based game-computer.



-- 
Hälsningar,
--
....''`. Anders Wallenquist, anders.wallenquist at kreawit.se
..:.:' : 013-35 29 50 0709 - 565 160
..`..`'. http://www.kreawit.se
....`--. http://www.rfa.se

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