LinuxQuestions.org

LinuxQuestions.org (/questions/)
-   Linux - Newbie (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/)
-   -   Are all open-source drivers included in Linux? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/are-all-open-source-drivers-included-in-linux-4175454047/)

littlebigman 03-14-2013 08:28 AM

Are all open-source drivers included in Linux?
 
Hello

This is definitely a newbie question.

With Linux supporting so many devices these days, I was wondering if mainstream distros include all the open-source (and some proprietary) drivers ever developed, or is the user expected to download/recompile a different kernel in case some driver isn't included?

To improve the chance of users having the perfect Linux experience, I'd like to hand out a distro that so many drivers that it's very likely to be plug and play.

Thank you.

ronlau9 03-14-2013 08:40 AM

If you do not have exotic hardware most distro works out of the box

knudfl 03-14-2013 11:04 AM

Quote:

I was wondering if mainstream distros include all the open-source
(and some proprietary) drivers ever developed
No, not at all.


Quote:

is the user expected to download/recompile a different kernel
in case some driver isn't included ?
No. Compiling the one module in question will do : <name>.ko

-

kooru 03-15-2013 03:39 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ware_for_Linux

littlebigman 03-15-2013 06:16 AM

Thanks for the infos.

I intend to ship USB sticks to users who have trouble with their Windows host, so it could be very exotic (desktops from years ago, recent laptops, printers and external drives), so I would like a kernel that supports as many open-source drivers as possible.

So if a driver is missing, all it takes is recompiling into a .ko binary, and tell Linux to load it?

jefro 03-15-2013 10:55 AM

dupe.

jefro 03-15-2013 04:14 PM

People who make distro's tend to target an audience. They add in drivers for their intended users. Very often one has to add in drivers to match their computer.

Problem with making too many drivers is that there are millions of them, they change chipsets, change numbers and may not pick up the correct one.

There are three ways to add in drivers. From kernel, from outside kernel or use something like ndiswrapper.

You may wish to simply take a well known disto and use it.

littlebigman 03-18-2013 09:14 AM

Thanks for the infos.

I guess
From Kernel = statically linked within the Linux binary
Outside Kernel = dynamically linked with a Linux binary compiled to allow loading and unloading drivers at will
NDIS wrapper = use Windows drivers when no Linux driver is available, either open- or closed-source

jpollard 03-18-2013 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebigman (Post 4913872)
Thanks for the infos.

I guess
From Kernel = statically linked within the Linux binary
Outside Kernel = dynamically linked with a Linux binary compiled to allow loading and unloading drivers at will
NDIS wrapper = use Windows drivers when no Linux driver is available, either open- or closed-source

From kernel - included with kernel source, may be builtin (not likely) or module (much more likely) and thus loadable at will or as directed by system startup (udev scans and loads).
Outside kernel - not included with source.

littlebigman 03-19-2013 09:22 AM

Thanks for the clarification.

In case users need some extra driver for their hardware, I'll just ship them a new customized stick.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:32 PM.