Ok I'm running slack 8 on my laptop. I've recompiled my kernal before....and I understand that process. However, what I don't "see" is how one would include a new updated driver.

For example, I need to latest pcmcia to be added to the kernal. I've downloaded the latest pcmcia and have the source in my usr/src/pcmcia...... folder.

I believe the pcmcia FAQ includes instructions for configuring the new drivers, however, how does my kernal source configuration know to use the NEW drivers??? This is where i'm a bit confused.

Thanks,
SCG

Not every pcmcia card is supported automatically by the linux kernel. You may get lucky and find that our pcmcia card is supported directly in the kernel. So, go though the choices for the pcmcia modules and find out. If not, thats when you will need the driver that you downloaded.

Now i am unsure of how to use a downloaded driver as a module for the kernel, as I have never needed to do this. (I use only linux compatible harware)

Perhaps this is where someone else can pick up the thread should it be needed.

Id say check your kernel before you try adding this driver.

Yea, I had to recompile my kernal when I installed my ATA100 Promise controller drivers.

Kinda a strage and can be, long and tedious process, I got some errors, which I ignored, as stated in the readme. Worked fine. I would look for some instructions or something to clarify why you need or to not need to do what you are tryin' to do.

Later,
Oz

Well, specifically, I'm using an 802.11b Linksys wireless PCMCIA card that I've got source support for. My question is not how to compile the kernal or if I actually need to.....I know I have to.

The question I have is how is the driver compile AND kernal compile accomplished? How does the kernal source KNOW that I have a new driver to include?

Again, I've compiled a couple of kernals and am very familiar with that process, however, I have never ADDED anything.

Thanks,
SCG

I've done something similar for my DVD card, after I compiled the module and did make install I did "depmod -a" and then edited rc.modules to load it at boot.