How to install drivers on Linux

[zach0624]

I have been trying to understand how to install drivers on openSuse10.2(windows vet since DOS, but a Linux noob) but when I use the make command after extracting but it says the makefile is not present (I am in shell and used cd to get to the folder)it has something to do with a missing lib. and when using YAST's add-on utility and it says I am not using a valid URL (WTF?). I am trying to install atheros wireless drivers and the Nvidia 3d accelerated drivers. Thanks

 

[drag]

Sorry, I am not familar with the Suse yast tools.

The only recommendations I can make are either to install Ubuntu or Debian (which I am familar with) or to look at OpenSuse's documentation and if that does not help then look at the OpenSuse forums for help.

Most distributions have detailed howtos for dealing with common drivers. Installing nvidia and madwifi (atheros stuff, except for atheros usb) are common things and generally are well documented.

Check out the OpenSuse wiki:
http://en.opensuse.org/Nvidia
http://en.opensuse.org/Atheros_madwifi

And, of course.
http://en.opensuse.org/Communicate

It would probably be worth your time to spend some time looking around that wiki.

 

[zach0624]

I have debian and am going to give it a go. I think it was a problem with SuSE not installing a config file. I may even download Ubuntu and give it a try if I can't find my boot disk lying around.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Originally posted by: zach0624
I have been trying to understand how to install drivers on openSuse10.2(windows vet since DOS, but a Linux noob) but when I use the make command after extracting but it says the makefile is not present (I am in shell and used cd to get to the folder)it has something to do with a missing lib. and when using YAST's add-on utility and it says I am not using a valid URL (WTF?). I am trying to install atheros wireless drivers and the Nvidia 3d accelerated drivers. Thanks

You'll need to open up Yast2 and add the appropriate repos and install either via the gui or zypper.

I've not been running SuSE since 10.1 came out but they do boast about "click a link - install" and according to drags links, it's that easy.

SuSE has come a long way since i last tried it.

 

[Nothinman]

Try to find packages for the modules that you need, compiling things from source will get you nothing but problems if you're not sure about what you're doing.

 

[IEC]

.rpms are easy

 

[Nothinman]

Actually dealing with .rpms or .debs manually is a PITA, you should only drop down to that level when absolutely necessary. APT, yum, etc should be used whenever possible.

 

[doog519]

Get the Atheros drivers here for Suse 10.2 32 bit.
http://madwifi.org/suse/10.2/i586/

You need the top one and the other one will be the one that matches your kernel.
download the two files right click file and prompt it to install with yast.
And you should be good to go.

Nvida
http://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/10.2
Add that link as a repository and install through Yast.
Software management/search/nvidia
Match the kernel to your kernel
You will also need
X11 driver

Some other very easy distros.
PCLinuxOS
Mandriva 2008
Ubuntu
You shouldn't have to much trouble getting any of them running.
But I don't feel they have quite the polish Suse does.
But Suse is a little more configuring.

 

[zach0624]

thanks, switched to ubuntu 64 bit. installed drivers automatically for wifi and only had to run one command line to get nvidia working and have found installing through shell is alot easier than yast2 and thanks doog for the suse drivers, but I have pretty much given up on suse since ubuntu runs so well. Just installing sound blaster audigy drivers since I will actually have to look for them since creative has no audigy linux drivers.

 

[doog519]

Glad you found something that worked for you. That is what it is all about.
Enjoy

 

[Kaervak]

Installing the madwifi drivers on Suse is easy. I don't bother with the RPM though, I compile from source.

Download the tar.gz of the madwifi drivers and extract them, install the kernel sources, install gcc if you haven't done so already, open a terminal and login as su, cd to the source dir, type make, then make install and finally modprobe ath_pci.

That's pretty much it. RPM is nice, but it can be a pain in the ass at times.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Actually dealing with .rpms or .debs manually is a PITA, you should only drop down to that level when absolutely necessary. APT, yum, etc should be used whenever possible.

I know RPM's are a pain (have to use alien in Debian), but .deb's install with double click or dpkg -i *.deb. They remove with apt-get just the same (afaik).

 

[Nothinman]

I know RPM's are a pain (have to use alien in Debian), but .deb's install with double click or dpkg -i *.deb. They remove with apt-get just the same (afaik).

Both are exactly the same in their respective distributions, but rpm/dpkg don't do any dependency checking, you have to download them manually, etc.