Linux Device Drivers

isalmbio · 12-15-2006, 11:21 AM

I'm a linux newbie, and I don't know anything about device drivers in linux.

I'm currently using debian etch. My sound card is not working.

I hope any one could help me on where and how to get and install device drivers under linux.

farslayer · 12-15-2006, 12:07 PM

to configure your soundcard open a shell and run alsaconf
this should automatically detect and configure your sound card

then open your mixer (sound volume application) and make sure the volume levels are set correctly and the channels are not muted.

then you can use alsactl store to save the settings so it should work the next time you boot your machine

Code:

itg-debian:~# alsaconf

MENU 1

Terminating processes: 1564.
Unloading ALSA sound driver modules: snd-intel8x0 snd-ac97-codec snd-pcm-oss snd-mixer-oss snd-pcm snd-timer snd-page-alloc snd-mpu401-uart snd-rawmidi snd-seq-device.
Building card database...

MENU ASKING YOU TO SELECT SOUND CARD IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE

Running update-modules...
Loading driver...
Setting default volumes...


===============================================================================

 Now ALSA is ready to use.
 For adjustment of volumes, use your favorite mixer.

 Have a lot of fun!


itg-debian:~# alsamixer

itg-debian:~# alsactl store
itg-debian:~#

isalmbio · 12-16-2006, 10:02 AM

Thanks a lot i'll try it now....

But also I'd like to know about how to obtain other device drivers, and how to install it in linux.
I mean for printers, vga-cards, internal modems,...... etc.

Also one last question:
my SATA hard disk is not mounted and every time I try to mount it I get an error: "/dev/sda5 is not removable".
Is this because it is SATA or because it is NTFS partitions or both ???

IMOBoss · 12-16-2006, 11:25 AM

I have the same problem with my IDE hd.
When I try to mount I get dev/hdb7 is not removable?
sugestions please?

farslayer · 12-16-2006, 11:33 AM

For printers you would use CUPS
http://www.linuxprinting.org/cups-doc.html

dpkg install cupsys cupsys-client cupsys-driver-gutenprint
and possibly one or two other packages depending on the type of printer you have. the info you need to determin this you should be able to find at linuxprinting.org. you can tehn configure the printer using the CUPS web interface which will be at : http://localhost:631/

A new graphics card can be configured using the dpkg reconfiguration tool to get a basic working config going..
dpkg --reconfigure xserver-xorg
Then if it's ATI or nVidia there are how-to's you can use to install the proprietary Linux drivers so you can get 3D harware acceleration going..
Debian nvidia how-toFollow the Module assistant directions)
ati how-to (start at section4 and follow the module assistant directions..)

Internal modems.. erm. I dunno I haven't used a modem in I don't know how long.. someone else can field that one.

SATA drive with NTFS you need to have NTFS support available..
start by installing the latest ntfs drivers..
apt-get install ntfs-3g

then you should be able to mount te drive using
ntfs-3g /dev/sda5 /mnt/windows -o umask=0,nls=utf8

If that all works you can add it to yor /etc/fstab file so it will automatically mount
/dev/sda5 /mnt/windows ntfs-3g umask=0,nls=utf8 0 0

Drivers for pretty much every device are in the lINUX kERNEL, THE Debina repositories, or packages related to the device. the trick is learning how to find them. start practicing yuor Internet search techniques with searches like..
debain ntfs how-to
debian nvidia how-to
debian cups how-to
debian modem how-to

Make use of the Linux documentation projects such as http://www.tldp.org/
Become familiar with how to use the apt package management system http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/apt-howto/
And as always drop by here and ask 'smart questions' to get relevant helpful answers.

The more info you provide about what DistributioN and version you are running and what specific hardware you are trying to setup the easier it will be for people to assist you .

Hope that helps

enjoy !!