Need help from Dell users
 

Question for Dell (preferably Dimension 2400) users - what distro are you using? Did you have any trouble with it?

I've installed Slackware 9.0 on several 2400's without any real trouble.

Were those 2400s using the bcm4400 ethernet card?

Here is a great link for Dell/Linux
http://www.domsch.com/linux/

Id be surprised if you had any compatibility issues with and distro, with any dell manufactured in the last 2 years... ive installed rehat and suse on at least a dozen different dimensions (8100, L1000, L866R, XPS series) and optiplexes (gx240, gx260, etc) and have never event thought about drivers.

I don't think it's so much a problem with the drivers as the setup and configuration. I had a problem with the video chipset which I thought was due to not having the drivers for it, but it was fixed by changing the video buffer instead.

Right now, the only real problem I have is trying to connect to the LAN.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right now, the only real problem I have is trying to connect to the LAN.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

elaborate on that.... what is going on?

Well, if I go into Configure Computer in KDE and look at the page with the Network stuff, I see my Broadcom nic listed as bcm4400, but the status is "down". I tried using DCHP, but it didn't detect anything. I tried entering the same info that I get from ipconfig in XP, but no luck there either. I've managed to get the status to "up" a few times, but it will still say "not connected".

Installed Fedora Core 2. It works OK except when doing Log Off and Shutdown.
In both cases CPU appears to be halted and must press power switch to turn off
system, then power on again to log in as different user.

Dell Dimension 4100, Fedora Core 4 install courtesy of UCLA Linux UG.

Internet Connection Wizard seems to have written script "funny". Modem worked, but produced error message (very non serious) at boot.

Real Player 10 downloaded, "installed" itself, when called, nothing.

Chestnut Dialer downloaded, "installed" itself, when called, nothing.

Nautilis keeps "blowing up" and needs re-starting.

Mark_in_Hollywood -- Thanking Linux community since January 21, 2006

HoosTrax,

Have you tried installing the kernel module for the bcm4400 nic.
A quick Google search turned up the following:
http://linux.derkeiler.com/Newsgroup...4-04/0361.html

So, if your mobo is an Asus one with built-in bcm4400 nic, you may want to try
downloading the nic driver from asus.com.

My Dell Optiplex works great with Ubuntu 5.10 and 5.04 worked well before it! *pats his Dell*

Running Arch on a Dimension 4400. No problems at all.

I have a 2350, and I did have a problem with the bc4400. After running a Live-CD, the network would no longer connect in Windows. It did, however, continue to work with the live CD. Now, as a former electronic tech, and a current software developer, it still totally escapes me how a Live CD could have affected Windows NIC drivers, but that is exactly what happened. I updated the Broadcom drivers, and the network was back. Go figure...

Beyond that, I have had no trouble running FC2, Mepis, or Kanotix on the Dell Dim 2350.