Linux Device Drivers

I am thinking about setting up a free website offering linux device
hardware drivers, listing and hosting as many as I can find or get
uploaded to me. Any ideas on how this should be set up?

Well most drivers are included in the kernel, so there wouldn't really
be any point.

In comp.os.linux.misc mshelby1 <mshelby1@gmail.com>:
> I am thinking about setting up a free website offering linux device
> hardware drivers, listing and hosting as many as I can find or get
> uploaded to me. Any ideas on how this should be set up?

Most drivers come directly with the kernel, out of 847 modules on
my box, there are only two that didn't come with the kernel
tarball and had to be compiled in addition.

It doesn't look like it would make much sense, perhaps some info
table pointing out which come with a vanilla kernel and which
(including URL) don't would make some sense, if something like
this doesn't exists already? Iirc there's something in the lines
for USB drivers available. But alas, things are moving quite fast
and new drivers are added on a regular base, so you would need to
update the page pretty frequently to make it somehow helpful.

BTW
Please try below URL(s) before answering, most people aren't
using a browser here to read/write, this is usenet.

http://www.safalra.com/special/googlegroupsreply
http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google

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On 2006-04-19, mshelby1 <mshelby1@gmail.com> wrote:

> I am thinking about setting up a free website offering linux
> device hardware drivers, listing and hosting as many as I can
> find or get uploaded to me. Any ideas on how this should be
> set up?

It's already been done:

http://www.kernel.org/

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! Are BOTH T.V.S on??
at
visi.com

<Ben@atomnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1145436966.615286.86900@i40g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
> Well most drivers are included in the kernel, so there wouldn't really
> be any point.
>

I understand your point, but What's the work around for the following
scenario:

I plug in my "Insert Brand Name Device Here" and it just doesn't work, or if
it is recognized, it doesn't work properly, etc...

I think this is one thing holding linux back.
There really out to be a repository for device drivers or something.

I am thinking sort of like M$oft windows update, but on the level of just
for devices.

For example, you open up the web page, click on a "Scan my system" button,
and get a readout of "lshw" or like program complete with info on whether
the device is working (config'd) properly etc...

When dealing with the kernel here, I guess the page would need to call up
kernel config and update modules or even the kernel itself.

Is this to much to ask or am I dreaming here?

Mark Shelby wrote:
> <Ben@atomnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1145436966.615286.86900@i40g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>
>>Well most drivers are included in the kernel, so there wouldn't really
>>be any point.
>>
>
>
> I understand your point, but What's the work around for the following
> scenario:
>
> I plug in my "Insert Brand Name Device Here" and it just doesn't work, or if
> it is recognized, it doesn't work properly, etc...
>
> I think this is one thing holding linux back.
> There really out to be a repository for device drivers or something.
>
> I am thinking sort of like M$oft windows update, but on the level of just
> for devices.
>
> For example, you open up the web page, click on a "Scan my system" button,
> and get a readout of "lshw" or like program complete with info on whether
> the device is working (config'd) properly etc...
>
> When dealing with the kernel here, I guess the page would need to call up
> kernel config and update modules or even the kernel itself.
>
> Is this to much to ask or am I dreaming here?
>
>
Every time I have had to install driver software on Windows PCs and
selected the "check the web" option (or whatever it's called) that
option returned zilch. I don't really believe in such a 'centralized'
service. On the Windoze platform time and time again it turns out it
creates a plethora of new problems. Besides, who'd have to maintain it?

I have the feeling the so called lack of device support for Linux is
vastly outdated & blown out of proportion. Especially since it
automagically seems to be stated as "compared to Windows".

True, there still are plenty companies that refuse to provide Linux
drivers for their kit, but the OS community usually is very fast at
coming up with an acceptable working solution.

(Funny, Canon for instance has officially got no support at all for
Linux, for their printers, yet I once bumped into a Japanese unofficial
Canon site loaded with Linux drivers for several types of gear. Lost the
link alas, thanks to my stupidity in not backing up bookmarks combined
with the funny habits of WinXP)

Sh.

In comp.os.linux.misc, on Fri 21 April 2006 02:39, Mark Shelby
<mshelby1@alltel.net> wrote:

>
> <Ben@atomnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1145436966.615286.86900@i40g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>> Well most drivers are included in the kernel, so there wouldn't
>> really be any point.
>>
>
> I understand your point, but What's the work around for the following
> scenario:
>
> I plug in my "Insert Brand Name Device Here" and it just doesn't work,
> or if it is recognized, it doesn't work properly, etc...
>
> I think this is one thing holding linux back.

You're so right! Take this example that I had recently:

I bought a new Epson Printer (not rocket science) and plugged it into my
Linux machine. I then got the following cryptic message "New printer
connected, it looks like an Epson Xxx" (which is what it was) and there
was no need to configure it or anything for it to work perfectly.

I also plugged the same printer into a Windoze box and got a much
simpler sequence:

New Device found - configuring
New Device found - looking for Drivers
New Device found - no drivers located (search window opens up)
Do you want Windows to search for the best driver, or would you
prefer to look in a list?

I tried asking it to search for a new driver, including using their
new-fangled search on the web, but still with no joy.

It eventually got round to declaring that it can't find a driver and
asking if I had a disk. I loaded the CD and Windows tried to access my
non-existent floppy drive. Next, I am told that I have to close down
all other applications. Later I am told to reboot the machine. After
reboot, I get to use my printer.


Why couldn't Linux have made it this easy?

> There really out to be a repository for device drivers or something.
>
> I am thinking sort of like M$oft windows update, but on the level of
> just for devices.

Maybe you should suggest this to Mircosoft, then they could add a step
to the above sequence "Do you want to search for a driver on our web
repository?" Oh wait, that *is* offered, it just failed to find a
device that had been out for several months.
>
> Is this to much to ask or am I dreaming here?

--
Robert HULL

Archival or publication of this article on any part of thisishull.net
is without consent and is in direct breach of the Data Protection Act

On 2006-04-21, Mark Shelby <mshelby1@alltel.net> wrote:
><Ben@atomnet.co.uk> wrote in message:

>> Well most drivers are included in the kernel, so there wouldn't really
>> be any point.
>
> I understand your point, but What's the work around for the
> following scenario:
>
> I plug in my "Insert Brand Name Device Here" and it just
> doesn't work, or if it is recognized, it doesn't work
> properly, etc...
>
> I think this is one thing holding linux back. There really out
> to be a repository for device drivers or something.

There _is_ a repository for drivers: the kernel source tree.

There are some drivers that aren't distributed with the kernel
source because they are either proprietary (which would be
found on vendor sites) or are being actively developed and
aren't ready for prime time yet (which are found someplace like
sourceforge).

> I am thinking sort of like M$oft windows update, but on the
> level of just for devices.
>
> For example, you open up the web page, click on a "Scan my
> system" button, and get a readout of "lshw" or like program
> complete with info on whether the device is working (config'd)
> properly etc...
>
> When dealing with the kernel here, I guess the page would need
> to call up kernel config and update modules or even the kernel
> itself.
>
> Is this to much to ask or am I dreaming here?

Yes, it's _way_ to much to ask. Feel free to do it, but you're
not going to get very far asking for it. I think trying to
keep it updated with the current versions of drivers will be
pretty hopless.

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! Fold, fold,
at FOLD!! FOLDING many items!!
visi.com

On 2006-04-21, Robert Hull <Robert@please.do-not-spam.me.uk> wrote:

>> I plug in my "Insert Brand Name Device Here" and it just doesn't work,
>> or if it is recognized, it doesn't work properly, etc...
>>
>> I think this is one thing holding linux back.
>
> You're so right! Take this example that I had recently:
>
> I bought a new Epson Printer (not rocket science) and plugged it into my
> Linux machine. I then got the following cryptic message "New printer
> connected, it looks like an Epson Xxx" (which is what it was) and there
> was no need to configure it or anything for it to work perfectly.
>
> I also plugged the same printer into a Windoze box and got a much
> simpler sequence:
>
> New Device found - configuring
> New Device found - looking for Drivers
> New Device found - no drivers located (search window opens up)
> Do you want Windows to search for the best driver, or would you
> prefer to look in a list?
>
> I tried asking it to search for a new driver, including using their
> new-fangled search on the web, but still with no joy.

I recently had much the same experience with an HP LaserJet
printer and several USB-serial devices:

They were all recognized and "just-worked" under Linux.

Under Windows, I had to search the web for drivers, download,
install, reboot, install, reboot, install, reboot, reboot,
reboot, download, install reboot.

> It eventually got round to declaring that it can't find a driver and
> asking if I had a disk. I loaded the CD and Windows tried to access my
> non-existent floppy drive. Next, I am told that I have to close down
> all other applications. Later I am told to reboot the machine. After
> reboot, I get to use my printer.
>
>
> Why couldn't Linux have made it this easy?

God forbid that Linux ever becomes as "easy" as Windows.

--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! Well, I'm on the
at right planet---everyone
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Mark Shelby wrote:
> <Ben@atomnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1145436966.615286.86900@i40g2000cwc.googlegro ups.com...
>
>>Well most drivers are included in the kernel, so there wouldn't really
>>be any point.
>>
>
>
> I understand your point, but What's the work around for the following
> scenario:
>
> I plug in my "Insert Brand Name Device Here" and it just doesn't work, or if
> it is recognized, it doesn't work properly, etc...

Often the reason for this is that there is *no* driver for the
hardware. Or if there is, it only works with kernels newer than the one
installed (so updating the kernel to something more current is all that
needs to be done).