[ILUG] Laptop request

[chekov]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the offer, but I've already got it working, the very latest 
Mach 64 server (from xfree-3.3.5) didn't fix the problem, 
it appears that there are actually two distinct and different
ATI Rage LT Pro chipset and the new ones still don't work
with the standard Mach 64 server.  So I had to go the long way around,
compiling framebuffering and VESA support into the kernel and then
using a Mach 64 X server (3.3.3.1) with a bios patch and
setting the lilo parameter vga=791 for the kernel.

This actually has the advantage of giving you full-screen support
for text-mode and you get a nice little penguin icon on boot-up!
However, apparently it is way slower than using a regular Mach 64
server, although this doesn't bother me, since I only use X for
Nedit (and for propaganda value to show how flash a Linux laptop
can look).

Chekov Feeney   

Gary Pigott wrote:
> 
> The ATI Rage LT Pro chipset requires an updated Mach 64 X server.
> I've got a Samsung GS6366XT laptop and X works fine.
> 
> I can send it to you if you need it. (I've lost the original URL).
> 
> Gary
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: chekov <chekov at indigo.ie>
> To: <ilug at linux.ie>
> Sent: 12 October 1999 18:22
> Subject: Re: [ILUG] Laptop request
> 
> > I just went through the nightmare of installing a Xircom Realport CE3
> > 10/100
> > nic card on a Compaq Armada 1750 (avoid this laptop btw, it requires
> > serious work to get X to work on the ATI RAGE LT PRO card that comes
> > with it).  It seems that Xircom changed the card without changing the
> > model number recently, breaking the linux driver (xirc2ps_cs.c) which
> > was (until very recently) unmaintained.  So old versions of the card
> > work
> > while new ones do not.  To get it to work I had to apply a patch by
> > hand,
> > from some obscure mailing list.  The most recent version of the pcmcia
> > package has the patch in it, (although the pcmcia docs refer to the
> > xircom driver as unmaintained so I don't know how it got there and the
> > Xircom development list seems unaware of the fix).  This Linux mailing
> > list for Xircom driver development at
> >
> > http://hyper.stanford.edu/HyperNews/get/pcmcia/xircom.html
> >
> > However a very small proportion of the posts are solutions.  In general
> > the list goes like this:
> >
> > MSG1:  My Xircom whatever card doesnt work
> > > MSG2:   yeah me too
> > > MSG3:   and me
> >         .
> > .
> > .
> > > MSG10   Here is why it doesnt work, Xircom have done this, there is
> > no solution.
> >
> > >From this experience I'd counsel avoiding Xircom cards absolutely,
> > anybody
> > who changes the chips on a card without telling anybody is an idiot, it
> > is
> > not surprising that these people don't support Linux.
> >
> > (Incidentally the ATI RAGE PRO LT card was apparently also changed
> > without
> > changing the part number.  So while all of the documentation for xfree
> > says
> > that it is supported by 3.3.5, actually it seems that only older cards
> > are
> > supported, mine unfortunately was not, although that is another story..)
> >
> > Chekov Feeney.
> >
> >
> >
> > "John P . Looney" wrote:
> > >
> > > On Tue, Oct 12, 1999 at 10:50:26AM +0100, Jakma, Paul mentioned:
> > > > > What about PCMCIA NICs ?  Any particular makes/models which just
> work
> > > > > ?
> > > > xircom's work pretty well ime.
> > >
> > >  Are they not a nasty company that won't tell Linux programmers how to
> > > program their products ?
> > >
> > >  AFAIK, all the Xircom drivers are reverse engineered. Buy stuff that
> > > supports Linux in some way.
> > >
> > > Kate
> > >
> > > --
> > > Microsoft. The best reason in the world to drink beer.
> > > http://www.redbrick.dcu.ie/~valen
> > >
> > > --
> > > Irish Linux Users' Group: ilug at linux.ie
> > > http://www.linux.ie/mailman/listinfo/ilug for (un)subscription
> information.
> > > List maintainer: listmaster at linux.ie
> >
> 
> --
> Irish Linux Users' Group: ilug at linux.ie
> http://www.linux.ie/mailman/listinfo/ilug for (un)subscription information.
> List maintainer: listmaster at linux.ie