compact flash slot, no driver? IBM laptop X21
 

I just go a digital cam and got a compact flash module with it. My laptop has a compact flash slot (I never used it, did not even know it was there). Now pluging in the cf module in RedHat 9 does not produce anything.

/var/log/messages does not show anything when I connect it.
Does that mean that there is no driver for linux for this hardware?

You may have to compile in support for the card reader in the kernel. I would check the manufacturers website for details on who makes the reader, then recompile. I highly suggest getting manufacturer info on all hardware in your laptop before recompiling. It will save you the effort of recompiling again and again.

another question then:

How well do compact flash cards work with CompactFlash to PCMCIA adapters on linux?

That should give me also more speed than using USB, right?

self answer
 

I can just answer my question myself (maybe somebody will profit from this)

They work great! I just bought one and tried it. Works splendid!

Ah, an the other problem, with the Compact Flash direct slot on a IBM X21:

Now it works great, AFTER activating the PCMCIA deamon. ;-)
I remember now, some half a year ago, saying: "hmm, who needs that PCMCIA cardmgrd deamon... Do I have a PCMCIA card? Naahhhh......"

The cf slot is recognized as another PCMCIA port.

Great, something more that works....

lol. Congrats. Yeah they do work well. I save all my course projects on CF (via PCMCIA). The Netgear MA-701 CF 802.11b card works well in an adapter as well (just thought I would let people know).