Best Distro for Hardware Detection

Earlydayrambler · 07-31-2017, 06:00 PM

Good afternoon everyone,

I use a Lenovo T510 with built-in bluetooth support.

What is the best or good Distro for hardware detection?

Thanks in advance.

TheEzekielProject · 07-31-2017, 06:05 PM

Can you define what you mean by "hardware detection"?

Earlydayrambler · 07-31-2017, 06:14 PM

My apologies.

Hardware detection such as bluetooth and network card support.

Thanks!

smallpond · 07-31-2017, 06:16 PM

The linked question notes that the Debian net install distro did not include the drivers for the T510 but the full install did. Since the drivers are in the kernel, any distro that has a recent, full kernel build should be OK.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...on-4175600248/

jefro · 07-31-2017, 06:27 PM

In a very general statement, distro's don't distinguish themselves by hardware support usually. The basic kernel tends to be similar on mainstream distro's.

Some devices are not supported directly in any distro.

Try a few of the distro's out there for your results. Distrowatch is a good starting point.

TheEzekielProject · 07-31-2017, 06:28 PM

Most of the time, with currently supported distros, this should work out of the box. If not there is almost definitely a guide somewhere on the 'nets showing how to get it working on whatever distribution you choose. The only time I have ever had issues with wifi or bluetooth not working out of the box I was able to fix it with little effort.

If you are having issues with it, I would bet you have Broadcom wireless/bluetooth hardware

Mike_Walsh · 07-31-2017, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEzekielProject

Most of the time, with currently supported distros, this should work out of the box. If not there is almost definitely a guide somewhere on the 'nets showing how to get it working on whatever distribution you choose. The only time I have ever had issues with wifi or bluetooth not working out of the box I was able to fix it with little effort.

If you are having issues with it, I would bet you have Broadcom wireless/bluetooth hardware

Sounds as though that's more than likely.

Broadcom is one of very few manufacturers whose chips are an absolute PITA to work with/round. If you need to identify any chipsets in networking equipment, in order to find out which drivers are required, here's a good place to do so:-

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Main_Page

Almost without exception, any distro using a recent kernel will have support built-in. The kernel is, at this point in time, something like 95% nothing but drivers.....and already runs to many millions of lines of code.

Mike.

beachboy2 · 08-01-2017, 02:34 AM

Earlydayrambler,

T510 specs:
https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/solutions/pd003320

In my experience Lenovo laptops are generally well behaved with regard to Linux, but no doubt you have one that is an exception to the rule?

I suggest that you install Linux Mint 18.2 MATE 64 bit, available from:

https://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=239

Use an ethernet cable initially and after installation make sure that all the software updates are installed.

Then try disconnecting the ethernet cable and see if your wifi network is displayed and connects after password authentication.

If not, then post again on this thread and somebody will help you.

willieaames · 08-01-2017, 03:31 AM

For Broadcom try apt-get install firmware-b43-installer. It works with the BCM43xx versions.

AwesomeMachine · 08-01-2017, 05:58 AM

OpenSuSE has a reputation for hardware compatibility.

kishor joshi · 08-02-2017, 08:23 AM

Try Linux Mint 18.02 Cinnamon/Mint.
my experience is it is the best distro for detecting WI Fi.