Drivers For Linux

By Hans_Gruber
in Tips, Tweaks & Customization

 Share

Recommended Posts

Mentor

Hans_Gruber

Posted
Posted

Hey there, I currently have the DVD image of Fedora 3 downloading but I need to know if my network card will work with the OS. My network card is a D-LINK DFE-530TX and it's connected to a Terayom TJ210 cable modem. There are no drivers on the modem site for the USB connection, nor are there drivers at the D-LINK site for linux, only Windows,DOS and Novell. Does this mean I can't have an internet connection if I install any linux distro?

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/247492-drivers-for-linux/
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
Experienced

The Grasshopper

Posted
Posted

I recently installed Suse on my machine and i cant get my linksys wireless b wmp11 pci adapter to work.

I am new to Suse and Linux and Dont have any documentation on this. Can anyone help configure? I don't know if there are Driver Files?..or what you call them in linux?

Please help..trying to learn linux on my OWN is harder than i dreamed of. i am currently on my XP. Want to learn more than windows..not that thier is anything wrong with it..just want to learn linux and see the differences.

Grand Master

markwolfe Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted
There are no drivers on the modem site for the USB connection, nor are there drivers at the D-LINK site for linux, only Windows,DOS and Novell. Does this mean I can't have an internet connection if I install any linux distro?

584967080[/snapback]

In Linux, there aren't really "drivers" in the same way that people think of drivers for Windows.

To my understanding, support is either in the kernel, or it is not. A 'driver' in Linux is really just a module that is present in the kernel.

Someone with more knowledge on this can correct any errors I have made. :yes:

Experienced

The Grasshopper

Posted
Posted
In Linux, there aren't really "drivers" in the same way that people think of drivers for Windows.

To my understanding, support is either in the kernel, or it is not.  A 'driver' in Linux is really just a module that is present in the kernel.

So what your saying is that if my distro doesn't support it then i can't use the wireless card with it? :huh:

Grand Master

markwolfe Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

No. I don't mean that...

It may be a matter of enabling a feature set, or inserting a module that supports the chipset of the device you are using.

If one distro can work the device, then all of them should (assuming same kernel version, and libraries installed)

Proficient

MateoGWJ

Posted
Posted
i have the newest Suse from novell...shouldn't it be in there?

585053893[/snapback]

Here's the way it works: the kernel has a bunch of scripts (drivers) for most types of hardware. On initial install, the system scans your hardware, and compiles those scripts into the default kernel. So when you start the system, all your hardware is loaded and ready to use.

Some things may have to be added in (insmod) while the system is running. That's pretty rare these days.

The latest kernels have support for wireless, etc., so you shouldn't have any problems.

The only thing I can think of that might hold you up is that the Suse kernel may be a little old at this point, and may be missing the latest features, which may require a patch and recompile to bring up to date.

Good luck!

  • 2 weeks later...
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.