USB support

Kenster · 12-11-2003, 05:28 AM

okay, I installed Debian on my machine last night.

I got it working, after a bit of effort on the GUI front (KDE would run but got it eventually)

I have noticed that I have no USB support.

I am running Kernel 2.2.20

Are there any commands to add USB support, or do I need to upgrade the kernel on this?

jkobrien · 12-11-2003, 09:37 AM

Have a look for a file called /boot/config, if you grep it for usb it will tell you whether support is built in or modular. If it's modular you can load it with modprobe (check the manpages). If it's built-in, there could be some other problem.

You can also check the boot-up messages, "dmesg | less", for clues.

You won't need to upgrade the kernel but you might need to recompile to include USB support. If you have to recompile you might as well upgrade at the same time, 2.4.23 is current in most distros.

John

Kenster · 12-11-2003, 09:40 AM

I think I will need to recompile.

upgrading scares me.

but is there much difference?

since when I modprobe'd and GREP'd last night there was nothing there.

All my friends are telling me I neews to upgrade my kernel but it really does strike the fear of god into me.

jkobrien · 12-11-2003, 09:51 AM

Hi,

Well, upgrading is simpler than recompiling. But, yeah, you probably need to recompile.

These boards are full of threads about how to do this, here's just about the best one that I've seen. There should also be a guide over at LDP but it's under review at the moment.

The hard part about recompiling is getting your configuration file right. Spend a lot of time finding out about your hardware, the more you know the easier that will be. After that it's just a half-dozen commands.

John

p.s. I highly recommend doing the kernel EXTRAVERSION step in the link above.

TigerOC · 12-11-2003, 02:33 PM

You don't need to recompile the kernel. There is usb support in modules. To get the relevant support as root do modconf which will bring up a menu go down the list and look for usb, select the modules you need from the list. Most of the explanations are with each.