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-   -   How Debian/Linux Drivers work? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/how-debian-linux-drivers-work-856032/)

feedmebits 01-13-2011 03:16 AM

How Debian/Linux Drivers work?
 
I'm running debian and still learning to find my way around Linux and how to OS works but I haven't been able to figure out and understand how Linux works with drivers. Some devices work out of the box and others don't. I've read post where people explain how to install the drivers for the device but I still don't quite understand how it works.

I've read that you that Linux comes with built in drivers that works for the most common hardware. I can check what hardware is on my motherboard by using the command "lspci", that if your device is recognized in this list that all you have to do is activate it to load into the kernel at startup. If it is not listed you have to install the driver into the system: by installing the driver from the source package(rpm/deb) or you can build de driver from a a tar file. After doing this I have to upload the driver into the kernel so that when I boot my system it wil start up. This is my understanding of how it works, but when trying to get one of my own devices(example: wireless card for laptop or usb headset) to work I can't seem to figure out how this works. I would appreciate it if someone could help me understand how this works cuz once I understand this I have no reason to keep dual booting with windows than windows is history for me.

EDDY1 01-13-2011 03:24 AM

Debian drivers(modules) load automatically, providing that they are available on normal install.
When you install debian if you choose non-free drivers, it will make them available thru package manager if they are not proprietary(I think). On most of my machines atleast the newer ones drivers were readily available.

The debian installation guide is available in synaptic.
I think route 2038 also

There is a lot of reading involved.

evo2 01-13-2011 03:24 AM

Hi,

IMHO, your general understanding seems to be fine (although devices for which you don't have a driver may still be listed in the lspci output).

I suspect that if you tell us exactly what device you are having trouble with, and what you actually tried (and perhaps a link to the instructions you were following) we may be able to help you.

Evo2.

feedmebits 01-13-2011 03:39 AM

I read this article and thought it might help with understanding with installing drivers:

http://www.howtoforge.com/linux_broadcom

I'm trying to get my wirless to work for my laptop(have to reinstall it with Debian again now cuz got windows running on it now):

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport...&swEnvOID=1093

and I'm trying to get this to work on my desktop: http://www.logitech.com/en-us/webcam...s/devices/3622

EDDY1 01-13-2011 03:50 AM

Did you select non-free drivers during setup?
If not you may have to edit /etc/apt/sources.list.

Which version of Debian?

feedmebits 01-13-2011 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDDY1 (Post 4222674)
Did you select non-free drivers during setup?
If not you may have to edit /etc/apt/sources.list.

Which version of Debian?

As far as I know I didn't, is there a way to check that?

Debian 5

EDDY1 01-13-2011 03:54 AM

I think "uname -a"
open terminal
and enter
uname -a

EDDY1 01-13-2011 04:04 AM

2 Attachment(s)
This is what my sources.list looks like.
Notice non-free & contrib


Also output of lspci.

feedmebits 01-13-2011 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDDY1 (Post 4222687)
This is what my source looks like.
Also output of lspci.

thanks :) I will try it this evening because I'm not behind my own pc now

btw now that I see your /etc/apt/sources.list file I see that yours is the same as mine except I'm not running squeeze just lenny. Have all the default sources listed there no "non-free drivers" are listed there.

EDDY1 01-13-2011 04:14 AM

Good luck

EDDY1 01-13-2011 04:17 AM

Quote:

Have all the default sources listed there no "non-free drivers" are listed there.
You need "non-free contrib"
for wireless

After editing sources.list
do an "aptitude update"
You should also setup your "sudo" privileges

the trooper 01-13-2011 07:09 AM

Quote:

You should also setup your "sudo" privileges
Why?.

evo2 01-13-2011 06:31 PM

You still haven't told us what the device is that you are trying to get working. Could you please "cut and paste" the output of lspci into one of your posts (not a screen shot).

The following command will tell what version of Debian you are running
Code:

cat /etc/debian_version
and (as suggested earlier) the output of
Code:

uname -a
and
Code:

cat /etc/apt/sources.list
would also be useful.

Evo2.


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