Add new hardware

[Chrisk]

How do I add new hardware using Madrake Linux. I want to set up my sound card and a net card.

[jglen490]

In many cases, just add the hardware and maybe reboot. Or just run harddrake and let it configure the hardware for you. As for sound cards, the sndconfig utility (run as root in a terminal or from the command line) will pick up and configure most sound cards.

Give these a try, and if they don't quite work, then come on back. In Linux there a a dozen ways to get something done, or at least a lot of tools to help you get there.

[Chrisk]

How do you run a program in linux? I'm a newbe and have no idea. Is there a control panel in gnome?

[jglen490]

I don't personally run Gnome, but it is a desktop environment which includes menus, icons, desktop links and other GUI type artifacts for starting and running programs. You can also start programs from a terminal at a command line prompt.

You will find that there are many choices associated with Linux. There's not just one Linux distribution and each tries to focus on one approach or another to using Linux. Even with all the choices, there are many similarities and there are programs and utilities that run the same regardless of distro.

Do some research, pick up a distro at a store (brick and mortar or on-line) or download on-line, install it, read its literature, try stuff, make mistakes, and enjoy the experience. Most folks will "dual boot" Linux and some version of Windows for a while, and some of them will move on to Linux-only or will discover that Linux is not for them.

I wish you luck and hope you will enjoy Linux.

[grasshopperbe]

which version of mandrake do you use?
i run mandrake 8.2, kde desktop.
to install (most) new hardware you just put it in th pc (power off and so on dont forget)
at bootup it will normally detect the new hardware (the program for this is kudzu i believe) and ask if you want to install it.
(im not entirely sure if kudzu works if you use a graphic bootup like aurora,
this can also be changed in control center),

you can also not install it here but just boot up and do it in gnome.
under kde, its called mandrake control center. you should find this in your
'start'(damn im still customized to windows) menu.
its pretty much the same as on a windows pc, just looks different.
It would be handy if you gave some more specs, which mandrake do you have installed, what a pc is it?
how do you log on, directly to a desktop or do you use startx?

[Computer Hobbyist]

I use KDE myself, but if you will tell us your version of Mandrake, one of us will fire up Gnome and tell you exactly how to find the harddrake utility. Frankly, if you are using a recent version, your cards should self-install on boot up.

CH

[Computer Hobbyist]

If you are looking for harddrake in gnome, you might try clicking on the gnome foot, then configuration > hardware> harddrake.

CH

PS you might also try clicking on mandrake control center.

In both cases you will need your root password.

[Chrisk]

I'm using Mandrake 6.0. I learned Dos and Windows the hard way, Looks like this is no different. The control panel doesn't allow me to add hardware. When I installed Linux I skipped over the sound and net card installation. I figured it would be easy to add later. Wrong!

[jglen490]

I'm using Mandrake 6.0.

That one's a bit long in the tooth. You might try to get a more recent version of Mandrake, or any other more recent distro. Distros become better as their makers learn more and provide better hardware and software tools.

[Computer Hobbyist]

In an effort to learn a little more about Linux, I did a little net research on Mandrake 6.0. I didn't find any good reviews. Apparently, it was close copy of Redhat 5.2 or 6.0 but not as flexible. Trust jglen490--the recent versions of Mandrake Linux are much, muich easier to use. The only questions are "do you want to spend a lot of time in terminal mode?" and "does your hardware have enough horse power for one of the most recent distros?" If the answer is "no" to the first and "yes" to the second, download or buy a new distro.

CH

[Chrisk]

Configured sound card ok but haven't had any luck with net card. Any help would be appreciated. I did figure out to log on as root user but is there an auto config . I am set up on a cable modem with a router.

[Chrisk]

Where can I get a recent copy? Mandrake 6.0 is a Redhat dist.

[MaXimum SMOKE]

Many people with high speed access are downloading from http://linuxiso.org/ . For those that don't want to download, there are resellers for the gpl disks like cheapbytes.com (there are many others). Of course there are the official distributions, with support for more $ at your reseller. Mandrake is based on Red Hat, but it is a separate distribution, and is not based in the u.s.a. Their distribution numbers are roughly 1 higher than the ones for Redhat. So RH 6.2 may be somewhat similar to mandrake 7.2

[Chrisk]

Now when I boot I get an error and can only log in in a text mode. This reminds me of my early days with DOS. I remember thinking, " I wonder what format would do?"

[MaXimum SMOKE]

If you log in root ok, try giving it a startx command and see if your GUI starts. If 'drake 6 is much like RH 5, it probably 'feels like' dos with windows 3.0 strapped on it At any rate, the old tools for admin of networking, could be linuxconf or maybe netconf or similar. Mandrake likes to something drake name a lot of their tools now, but a version this old could be using something like netconf, or linuxconf for admin. You should have a partial command complete, so if you think you may have netconf installed, you could type net and hit the tab key for all the commands available starting with net . If you've done Dos, linux shouldn't be too hard to learn. I started with a book / CD, and thought it was a good way to learn. What did the error say?

[Chrisk]

I am now running Mandrake 9.0. I don't seem to have the patience I once did. It is painfully slow on my P 233 mmx but installed fine. I now must get my sound card working and learn new commands. I also can't get online although my net card is recognized and working. (I think) I can log on as a root user but don't know how to add hardware. The one thing about MS is that everyone I new was running it and I always had someone to give me advise. I must say that this is what turned me on to computers in the first place but am finding Linux a little more frustating.

[MaXimum SMOKE]

You want the Mandrake Control Center, which should be a little icon on the task bar. (Think they call it drakconf as a console command) But, it should look something like a monitor, with a star on it, and a small red circle. This is like the control panel, and it has wizards to set up the networking, your internet connection, etc. There is also a firewall on board, and if it is not configured correct, it can lock out your access to the net (just something to know in advance) At any rate this is a lot more 'graphical' than that old version. And yes, it does demand some resources... as you've noticed. I'm not used to cable modems, but a lot of the other users here are. Hang in there, you didn't learn DOS in a couple of weeks either KDE is a pretty clean interface. It really helps a lot to, have a linux book to refer to, if your local bookseller has them. Personally, however, I've found books on regular Red Hat easier to find. The lifesaver on the task bar is the online help system. Nine requires a lot of resources, personally I've never run it on a machine slower than a celeron 700. If you click on the "K" menu icon you will also see a "Control Center" listed That's probably where you'll wind up to set up system sound, etc...

[Computer Hobbyist]

How much ram do you have in your P233? KDE loves ram.

There are some other gui's on your system that might not use so many resources. You might give them a try to see if one of can improve your system's performance. I'd stay away from Gnome, its just as big a resource user as KDE.

CH

[Chrisk]

96 meg. By the way what happened to The Gimp?

[Computer Hobbyist]

I don't know what happened to The Gimp. It is included with Mandrake 8.+. It is also about the best video editor this side of Photoshop.

Perhaps you didn't install it when you upgraded to 9.0.

CH

[Chrisk]

Installed the gimp - wasn't installed during setup. I am now online also! I still can't figure out how to add new hardware. I log on as root user and run Harddrake but it only shows what is on the machine but not how to add a sound card. I also downloaded some games for the kids but have no idea how to install them. I was able to install the Gimp thru an installer program that lets you intall components on the Mandrake CD. Also how are things intalled? Are they in a directory or where are they? I looked for the Gimp after install but it is not in its own folder. Very confusing. I guess my biggest desire is to get the sound card recognized. Thanks for the help.

[Computer Hobbyist]

The easiest way to get the sound card going is to run Harddrake. You will need to type in your root password. There will be an Icon for hardware. Click on it. It will display all of your installed hardware, and some of the catagories of hardware you might not have installed. You click on sound. (you might see that your sound card is already installed and running.) In any event click on the configuration tool to see if it is properly set up.

You can also run sndconfig in a terminal from root. You open a terminal, type su and then enter your root password. You then type the command sndconfig and follow the instructions.

As to the games, that is a matter of learning how to install software. To do that we need to know how you downloaded the software. What are the files called?


CH

[Chrisk]

Sound is not listed under hardware in Harddrake so I have no way to configure it. I will try to run sndconfig and let you know. I'll have to let you know the ect on the downloaded file but I think it is .Gz(?) I was able to unzip but don't know how to install.
Thanks

[Computer Hobbyist]

What kind of sound card do you have installed?

CH

[Floppyman]

Be sure to read the README files that come with the downloaded software. Many will tell you exactly how to go about installing that particular piece of software. HTH

[Chrisk]

OK sound card is now up and running - seems that sndconfig was not installed so installation of SB 16 is all set. Now if only I can find out where programs are installed to. Do you just unzip the file and run an install program? I also don't know what files to assaciate with what programs. I will say that I was getting bored with MS so I do enjoy the challenge.

[Computer Hobbyist]

What are the files called, including (most importantly) the extensions.

CH

[Chrisk]

The extensions are .bz2 and .gz. I am able to unzip but then not sure what the install file looks like. (what extension?). The good news is that I'm at this site on mozilla on my Mandrake pc. Could you tell me are the file put in directories like in MS or are they scattered throughout the drive? Is there a way I can show you a screen shot on this post?
Thanks

[Chrisk]

Holy crap! Just to install a program?

% tar xvfz gimp-1.2.0.tar.gz # unpack the sources
% cd gimp-1.2.0 # change to the toplevel directory
% ./configure # run the `configure' script
% make # build the GIMP
% make install # install the GIMP

[Computer Hobbyist]

Unless they have changed with Mandrake 9.0, GIMP is normally installed with Mandrake. Anyway, it is not all that hard to install. Just follow the directions like a cook book.

Look to see if there is RPM version on the same site.

As to file directories, I think you will find that Linux is extremely modular. Remember that Linux is a true multiuser program. Many programs will allow you to create your own directories and install at the single user level. Others you will need to go into root to install.

When I bought my first PC many many years ago, I bought a book on PC Dos and Basic. I still have the book somewhere. I would have been lost without it.

I think you might benefit from checking out a Linux book at your local library. I bought mine, but checking one out at the library is a good idea to start. For starters try reading a chapter on how Linux organizes data.

Didn't you say you were up for a challenge. Linux was really designed by geeks for geeks. Nearly all of its design and implementation has been by guys who speak Unix. They don't like to cut guys like us any slack. Linux is only barely civilized.

Just hang in there. You will have a whole new appreciation for your computing skills after you have done a few things.



CH