Re: Fedora Core2 - IMPORTANT

Hi Nick,

Thanks for looking into this! Is there a link you know of that can show me
how to upgrade the kernal? I have downloaded the "linux-2.6.6.tar" &
"patch-2.6.6.zip" but I'm not sure what to do with them. Any help is greatly
appreciated!

-Nielson
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nick Jones" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: [at76c503a-user] Fedora Core2 - IMPORTANT


> Versions 0.12beta12 and below of this driver WONT work with Fedora
> Core2.  The next few versions after v0.12beta12 may not work with fc2
> either if we can't find a fix.
>
> Although the problem occurs in kernel functions outside at76c503a, those
> functions are called indirectly by at76c503a, and because of the nature
> of those kernel functions, I believe it is being caused somehow by a
> disagreement between at76c503a and the redhat kernel that comes with fc2.
>
> The only solution that I can suggest right now, one that has worked for
> me, is that you upgrade to version 2.6.6 of the standard kernel.org
kernel.
>
> This will be good practise for those who are not so confident about
> building kernels, for you I will offer a couple of pointers.  To build a
> kernel that can run at76c503a, you must include the following
> steps/settings in your standard procedures:
>
> * Redhat will create a file called /boot/config-2.6.5-1.358  for you.
> This file contains the configuration of the modified 2.6.5 kernel that
> comes with fc2.  You can leave this file as it is if you want the
> configuration of the fc2 kernel to be automatically absorbed by the new
> 2.6.6 kernel you have just downloaded.
>
> This can be a good thing because the redhat configuration compiles
> almost every kernel feature and driver as a loadable module, so that the
> it can adapt to the varying hardware configurations we all have.
>
> But I prefer to rename or remove this file and manually specify the
> precise set of features I need.  The benefits are that the number of
> files installed will be much more concise and most importantly, your
> kernel will compile MUUUUUCH faster.  Just make sure you are aware of
> what hardware is present in your system.
>
> Another reason not to do this is because there may be settings or
> modules that you don't want to have on your system, read on:
>
> * You might want to disable two interesting new options, especially if
> you use precompiled kernel modules (of course I mean the nvidia drivers)
>
> Disable these:
> -Processor type and features/Use register arguments
> -Kernel Hacking/Use 4kb for kernel stacks instead of 8kb
>
> My suggestion is to disable these because one of my theories about the
> problem with at76c503a relates to one of these options, I will do more
> testing later.  Also, doing this (in addition to compiling agp support
> as a module) will prepare you for the nvidia drivers (although I had the
> enabled by accident any my nvidia drivers work ok, oh well)
>
> * Finally, the features you need to enable to use the at76c503a driver:
>
> Enable these:
> -General Setup/Support for hot-pluggable devices (if you want to use
> hotplug)
> -Device Drivers/Networking Support/Wireless LAN (non-hamradio)/Wireless
> LAN drivers (non-hamradio) & Wireless Extensions
> -Of course usb host controller interface drivers, loadable module
> support, all the usual stuff
>
> If I have missed anything, someone please point it out as a reply -
thanks.
>
> For any other kernel compilation issues, please use google or ask in a
> forum dedicated to that topic.
>
> Thanks
>
>   Nick
>
>
>
> Nick Jones wrote:
>
> > Hello everyone,
> >
> > It seems that fedora core2 is causing problems with our at76c503
> > driver, or maybe vice versa.
> >
> > I haven't got any answers for these problems, but I will try it out
> > myself with fc2, either by installing that here at home, or trying it
> > out on my office computer which has fc2 installed.
> >
> > Either way, please give me a bit of time, I can't promise that I can
> > do it quickly but I will look into it.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >  Nick
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
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