Linux Driver Issue

[CrackaLackaZe]

I have a driver written specifically for a unique piece of hardware. This driver was written for redhat 8. But now I'm trying to install it on redhat 9, but it won't work. I don't know how to write linux drivers. Is this an impossible scenario? Or can I find another distro that might be compatible?

 

[qbek]

Most of the drivers are distribution/kernel specific.
Unless you can find a driver for your specific distribution, you have a tough nut to crack, I am afraid.

 

[drag]

What is the peice of hardware (can you get the source code)?

 

[CrackaLackaZe]

Yeah I have the source code. The hardware is a type of data acquisition board used for one of the labs in our school.

 

[cleverhandle]

Well, if you have the source it's possible, though if you're unlucky it may require some coding that's beyond your personal ability. If you're lucky, maybe the code is basically compatible and the original author left you a Makefile or some other kind of framework for building the module. What's included with the source? Most open source packages have a Makefile, so that you just do a make in order to build the final product. But there are lots of ways that an author could handle this, and it's not really possible to give much advice without more details.

 

[drag]

ya. It's going to be very difficult to help you. No information on the board and your pretty sparse on the details their.

but then again it would be very difficult anyways. I doubt any of use have any experiance using boards like this.

The source being aviable is a good sign. It's likely that other people have used the board and have kept newer versions of the drivers up to date and such. If you can find versions that people have improvied on you could be in luck.

Also if you can talk to the manufacturers themselves (if they are still around) they can probably help you.

In linux there is a framework for buiilding drivers for data acquisition boards. It's called 'Comedi' and they have drivers for a whole gob of stuff. Try contacting them for help, maybe, since they would be very knowledgable with this sort of thing.

This is a list of hardware supported by Comedi project:
http://www.comedi.org/hardware.html

And they have mailing lists:
http://www.comedi.org/mailinglist.html

I'd probably search thru their mailing list archives first before contacting them. People appreciate when you do your homework.

Also there are projects built around specific cards, and many manufacturers will maintain their own drivers and applications for their own cards. Just google around and see if you can find something.