Linux drivers???

[Pers]

i want to install linux, but where do i get linux drivers??

 

[ugh]

Linux supports a lot of devices except for WinModems. What devices do you have that you're worried of support from linux?

 

[DeeK]

Most of the time, the drivers you need are already included with it. Judging by your rig, the two possible weak points are the sound card and the modem. It depends on what chip your sound card uses as to whether or not it's supported, so I'd check some of the major distro's hardware compatibility lists to see if it's there.

As for the modem: if it's a hardware modem, then it should work (the best test for a hardware modem is if it works on a 386 and/or in DOS. Check the system requirements for it). If it's a Winmodem, then I'm afraid that it will most likely not work. There are some drivers available (check linmodems.org), but most of them are binary-only and thus only work with certain kernel versions.

 

[MGMorden]

The Lucent Winmodems (which are actually quite common) are a very different story though. I've found setting up one of these to less troublesome than setting up a "hardware modem". As for most drivers, they're usually included with the kernel sources (and hence with the distro's). Some things such as printers may require searching the net a bit (www.linuxprinting.org is an excellent source for this). Scanners are also a toughy. For those that are supported just search for the scanner name, linux, and SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy). For sound cards most drivers are included with the kernel. For those few that aren't, you can get drivers for most of them at www.alsa.org, or from sourceforge.net/projects/aureal if you have an Aureal Vortex card. Finally, video drivers. If you have an Nvidia card they have drivers on their site. If you have something different (like a Radeon or such) then you can usually get the latest video drivers from dri.sourceforge.net. Sorry about not linkifying all that, but there were too many urls and I'm getting ready to make a 4 hour drive, so just cut and paste 😉.

edit: The Lucent drivers are at www.linmodems.org (or actually they'll have instructions on how to get them) as another user already pointed out.

 

[Pers]

thanks, but what exactly is a "winmodem"???

 

[DeeK]

A "Winmodem" is a generic term for a modem that doesn't have a hardware controller, and so the controller's work must be done in software. Of course, most companies only release this software for Windows, and hence the term "winmodem" because they only work with Windows. Most PCI modems are Winmodems.