Believe me, it's easier than it appers to be... but take your time and learn at your own pace... that's the best advice I can give you... It took me about 6 years of using Linux before I even attempted to install source packages! I was quite happy with RPMs, that's maybe why I don't see those packages as bad as other people think they are... in fact they're quite efficient. Anyway, just take all the time you need before attempting to (re)-compile a kernel...

Thats right take your time. I've been using Redhat 9 with the 2.4 kernel for about 6months(thats how long i've known Linux =P) and I recompiled the 2.6.0 kernel *sucessfully* after 3 failed attempts =). It runs as like a beauty. But unfortunately I too am having some ALSA difficulties. But what the heck? I will polish 'em out in a week or two =).

@Thetargos: I'm runnig RH9, with kernel 2.4.20-30.9, and I tried to compile the drivers with the CC="gcc32" option, but it then returns the error:
My config.log gives the following output:
Me, as a newbie, would say that gcc32 isn't installed or cannot be found??

In your case, RH9 uses gcc 3.2.3 as the primary gcc command, so no need for you specify it, that line is only needed for Fedora system, whose kernel is compiled with gcc 3.2.3 (gcc32 command), but has the 3.3.2 (gcc command) installed by default, hence the need to specify

So all you need to do is simply ./configure <options> && make && make install, that should be all

My rehat doesn't see my adio card which is a soundmax ditial audio onboard. I have read so much but I can't seem to get it even after the long brilliant tut on this page.....sorry. therefore I will post stuff for my particular situation.

Distro: Redhat 9
kernel: 2.4.20-30.9
alsa driver/lib/utils version 1.04
pentium p4p800 2.8 ghz.
Soundmax digital audio card.

[sr1201@www /]$ /sbin/lsmod | grep soundcore
soundcore 6404 0 (autoclean)

etc/modules.conf file:

alias eth0 8139too
alias eth1 8139too
alias usb-controller ehci-hcd
alias usb-controller1 usb-uhci
alias ieee1394-controller ohci1394

[sr1201@www /]$ /sbin/lspci (parts)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB AC'97 Audio (rev 02)

I have tried to install the alsa driver and alsa module for a p4 but I am stuck. I just don't know how to configure the modules.conf.

I will post another after this since I need more space for info..

....continued
When I try to install the alsa kernel module this is the message:

[root@www alsa]# rpm -ivh kernel-module-alsa-0.9.8-1.fr_2.4.20_20.9.i686.rpm
warning: kernel-module-alsa-0.9.8-1.fr_2.4.20_20.9.i686.rpm: V3 DSA signature: NOKEY, key ID e42d547b
error: Failed dependencies:
alsa-driver >= 0.9.0 is needed by kernel-module-alsa-0.9.8-1.fr_2.4.20_20.9

So I try to install the alsa driver first, before lib, modules etc... and this is what happens

[root@www alsa-driver-1.0.4]# [root@www alsa]# ./configure --with-cards=intel8x0 --with-sequencer=yes;make;make install
bash: [root@www: command not found
make all-deps
make[1]: Entering directory `/home/sr1201/applications/alsa/alsa-driver-1.0.4'
make[1]: Nothing to be done for `all-deps'.
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/sr1201/applications/alsa/alsa-driver-1.0.4'
Please, run the configure script as first...
rm -f /snd*.*o /persist.o /isapnp.o
make[1]: Entering directory `/home/sr1201/applications/alsa/alsa-driver-1.0.4/acore'
Makefile:6: /home/sr1201/applications/alsa/alsa-driver-1.0.4/Makefile.conf: No such file or directory
make[1]: *** No rule to make target `/home/sr1201/applications/alsa/alsa-driver-1.0.4/Makefile.conf'. Stop.
make[1]: Leaving directory `/home/sr1201/applications/alsa/alsa-driver-1.0.4/acore'
make: *** [install-modules] Error 1
[root@www alsa-driver-1.0.4]# bash: ./configure: No such file or directory
bash: bash:: command not found
[root@www alsa-driver-1.0.4]# make: *** No targets specified and no makefile found. Stop.
bash: make:: command not found
[root@www alsa-driver-1.0.4]# make: *** No rule to make target `install'. Stop.

some more info!
PCI devices found:
Bus 0, device 0, function 0:
Host bridge: PCI device 8086:2570 (Intel Corp.) (rev 2).
Prefetchable 32 bit memory at 0xf8000000 [0xfbffffff].
Bus 0, device 1, function 0:
PCI bridge: PCI device 8086:2571 (Intel Corp.) (rev 2).
Master Capable. Latency=64. Min Gnt=8.
Bus 0, device 29, function 0:
USB Controller: PCI device 8086:24d2 (Intel Corp.) (rev 2).
IRQ 10.
I/O at 0xef00 [0xef1f].
Bus 0, device 29, function 1:
USB Controller: PCI device 8086:24d4 (Intel Corp.) (rev 2).
IRQ 3.
I/O at 0xef20 [0xef3f].
Bus 0, device 29, function 2:
USB Controller: PCI device 8086:24d7 (Intel Corp.) (rev 2).
IRQ 5.
I/O at 0xef40 [0xef5f].
Bus 0, device 29, function 3:
USB Controller: PCI device 8086:24de (Intel Corp.) (rev 2).
IRQ 10.
I/O at 0xef80 [0xef9f].

I know I am doing somethin wrong with with the config file and more so if you have some guidance it will be highly appreciated!

Cheers

Stefan

Install from source, that rpm is way outdated!!

For instructions on your soundcard (besides the ones provided here) go to your card at ALSA project

You should see everything there explained for your particular card.

EDIT: just issue the commands from the promt. DO NOT include the promt it self!
This line is the problem, you are already in the correct directory (the first [root@www alsa-driver-1.0.4]#) there's no need to rewrite it (the second [root@www alsa]#), just issue the commands without it!

Thanks Thetargos.

sorry about that line. I actually didn't include it when I did it. cut and paste error..

Anyways.

Before I went here I read and tried to understand all from the project page for the i820 driver.

Concerning that page: There are som big gaps in my knowledge!

- "You must turn on the sound support soundcore module. This is in the kernel. Look in the sound drivers directory and it should be the first option"

first option? I don't understand.

Is my sound support turned on: I don't see anything the modules.conf that would implicate its on.

[sr1201@www /]$ /sbin/lsmod | grep soundcore
soundcore 6404 0 (autoclean)

etc/modules.conf file:

alias eth0 8139too
alias eth1 8139too
alias usb-controller ehci-hcd
alias usb-controller1 usb-uhci
alias ieee1394-controller ohci1394

Is all as it should be here before I begin?

See that I should put the following into my modules.conf:

# ALSA portion
alias char-major-116 snd
alias snd-card-0 snd-intel8x0
# module options should go here
# OSS/Free portion
alias char-major-14 soundcore
alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0

# card #1
alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss

After that I will try to install again.

If it's OK Thetargos, I will keep it coming if it's ok.

Stefan

Yeah, all seems right... Just do you see any Multimedia controller or other things that actually lists the card when you do an /sbin/lspci or cat /proc/pci?? I ask this becuase in the other dump you posted, there's no such information, just to be sure, you may want to check your BIOS settings to make sure the card is enabled in BIOS (I had some experiences with some nForce MoBos [same sound chip] that after a crash disable some devices).

About your sound support, as long as you're using a RH/Fedora built kernel, you have that compiled as a module, you may make sure by doing an:
You may replace the `uname -r` with your kenrel's actual version (2.4.20-30.9, for instance).

[sr1201@www /]$ /sbin/lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp. 82865G [Springdale-G] Chipset Host Bridge (rev
02)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2571 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (Hub #1) (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (Hub #2) (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (Hub #3) (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BA/CA/DB PCI Bridge (rev c2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82801EB ISA Bridge (LPC) (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801EB ICH5 IDE (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corp. 82801EB SMBus (rev 02)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB AC'97 Audio (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation: Unknown device 0322 (rev
a1)
02:05.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139
C+ (rev 10)
02:0b.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): VIA Technologies, Inc. IEEE 1394 Host Controller (
rev 46)
02:0d.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139
C+ (rev 10)

All I can see is the "00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB AC'97 Audio (rev 02)"

check on soundcore: /lib/modules/2.4.20-30.9/kernel/drivers/sound/soundcore.o. Should be good.

Tell me if the audio controller above looks good. otherwise I will check the Bios.

I have a couple of more questions coming up but first things first.

thanks mate.

Sr.

No problem, that's why we are here, to help each other

Ok, everything looks just right to me... in theory (assuming you already installed the lib, utils, oss) packages, all you have to do is build the kernel modules (drivers)... just make sure you edit modules.conf before so the drivers load right after you build them (also make sure you build the devices with the ./snddevices script). Then just run alsamixer and tweak away!

amazing feedback time here

well as I said .... a couple of more questions. Sorry for all the dump but I gather it's better giving you too much then too litlle info.

question 1)

I am editing the modules.conf.

Original conf:

alias eth0 8139too
alias eth1 8139too
alias usb-controller ehci-hcd
alias usb-controller1 usb-uhci
alias ieee1394-controller ohci1394

OKEY...so I open the file and paste inn the rest and it looks like this:

alias eth0 8139too
alias eth1 8139too
alias usb-controller ehci-hcd
alias usb-controller1 usb-uhci
alias ieee1394-controller ohci1394LSA portion
alias char-major-116 snd
alias snd-card-0 snd-intel8x0
# module options should go here

# OSS/Free portion
alias char-major-14 soundcore
alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0

# card #1
alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss

----
then ESC
I press shift + q and I assume it is saved. I close the window and still assume the new conf file is all good.

I check the modules.conf again and the changes are not made. Isn't it enough to do shift +q? I read about the wq! but tell me my friend...am I suppose to type this wq! in the file?

question 2)

When installing alsa-lib-1.0.4 all goes smotth in the install until the the end where I get the message checking for gcc... no
checking for cc... no
checking for cc... no
checking for cl... no
configure: error: no acceptable C compiler found in $PATH
See `config.log' for more details.

I thought rh 9 had all this checked from the box. What can I do about it?

If you want the log file say to.....

(ofcourse the same results to installing alsa-utils and alsa-oss)

Cheers.
sr




















alias eth0 8139too alias eth1 8139too alias usb-controller ehci-hcd alias usb-controller1 usb-uhci alias ieee1394-controller ohci1394

Hmm.... no GCC?? Just grab your CD1 and open redhat-config-packages, install the development tools...

As for the first question with vi, use :x (esc, colon, x) instead of shift+q, shift+q will exit witout saving! while x will do so saving. Just make sure you open the file as root!

Sorry Thetargos, the cd's are in Norway and I am in Denver colorado....so I will have to find another way....

I will get back when I am ready to deal with the thread issue.

thx mate.

Ok... Just another quick tip, you said you used apt-get, right? install synaptic and ask for the development packages (in graphical mode, quite convinent). Just ask for gcc and it will install the rest