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#1 2012-04-15 16:17:19

av
Member
Registered: 2012-03-17
Posts: 32

[SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

I have recently been asked to install Linux on an Asus p5kpl-am epu.


I have downloaded the official Linux drivers for this model,
only to discover that they are not really supposed to work with any kernel newer than: 

- Vanilla 2.6.25 or earlier
- Vanilla 2.4.31 or earlier
- Vanilla 2.2.26 or earlier

It's also made clear that these drivers may not even work with kernels that have been modified by distributors.

Does this really mean that I can only install old and untouched kernels on it or is there some kind of a workaround?[S

Last edited by av (2012-04-17 10:18:31)

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#2 2012-04-15 18:23:27

George
Member
Registered: 2011-05-11
Posts: 165

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

Are you sure that you need the official drivers, you could try booting a recent kernel to test if hardware support it built in? -- I'd use a recent live cd from some other distro for this kind of quick test.

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#3 2012-04-16 11:34:19

av
Member
Registered: 2012-03-17
Posts: 32

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

The owner of the motherboard that I'm talking about, has Windows installed on it at the moment.
He is not interested in keeping it though; he wants to make a full switch to Linux.
However, I need to be 100% sure that everything will work flawlessly, before I replace Windows with Linux.

What are the chances of everything working smoothly when I boot from the cd,
just because Windows will be there to "support" the motherboard?
Is that even possible? I really don't know how these things work, sorry..

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#4 2012-04-16 12:06:36

Lone_Wolf
Forum Moderator
From: Netherlands, Europe
Registered: 2005-10-04
Posts: 11,949

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

You are probably refering to the drivers from this page :   http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_ … /#download  ?

The LinuxDriver.zip file has 2 things  in it,  alsa and a LAN driver.
I assume you're worried about the lan driver ?

This file describes the Linux* Base Driver for the Atheros(R) AR8121/AR8113 PCI-E
Ethernet Adapter, version 1.0.0.5 This driver supports the 2.4.x and 2.6.x kernels.

This driver is not made by asus, but by atheros themselves. Check if you can find a newer driver.

Last edited by Lone_Wolf (2012-04-16 12:06:50)


Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.


(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

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#5 2012-04-16 12:32:30

av
Member
Registered: 2012-03-17
Posts: 32

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

No, I'm talking about the Audio folder in it. There is a Supported Kernels file inside alsa-driver-1.0.18rc3 for instance, saying:

The alsa-drivers in this package are designed for the following kernels:

 - Vanilla 2.6.25 or earlier
 - Vanilla 2.4.31 or earlier
 - Vanilla 2.2.26 or earlier

It's not guaranteed that they work with any newer version than above
or modified kernels by distributors.

That's the reason why there aren't enough Linux users out there; it's the result of their unholy war against us~

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#6 2012-04-16 12:37:19

.:B:.
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Registered: 2006-11-26
Posts: 5,819
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Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

Try a recent live cd (actually, you can just boot the Arch Linux ISO). If everything is recognised, it shouldn't be a problem.

Maybe an Ubuntu 12.04 beta?


Got Leenucks? :: Arch: Power in simplicity :: Get Counted! Registered Linux User #392717 :: Blog thingy

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#7 2012-04-16 12:43:51

lifeafter2am
Member
From: 127.0.0.1
Registered: 2009-06-10
Posts: 1,332

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

Are you really sure that you want to install Arch on someone's machine that can't install it themselves?? Are you going to be around for them when they need to do manual updates etc.?

I love Arch, but generally don't recommend it if you can't install it yourself ... because you likely won't be able to maintain it. Considering your statement of:

av wrote:

What are the chances of everything working smoothly when I boot from the cd,
just because Windows will be there to "support" the motherboard?
Is that even possible? I really don't know how these things work, sorry..

I don't know if Arch is the right choice in this case.

Not trying to be an a-hole ... just trying to set your expectations correctly.


#binarii @ irc.binarii.net
Matrix Server: https://matrix.binarii.net
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Allan -> ArchBang is not supported because it is stupid.

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#8 2012-04-16 12:52:31

Lone_Wolf
Forum Moderator
From: Netherlands, Europe
Registered: 2005-10-04
Posts: 11,949

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

av wrote:

No, I'm talking about the Audio folder in it. There is a Supported Kernels file inside alsa-driver-1.0.18rc3 for instance, saying:

The alsa-drivers in this package are designed for the following kernels:

 - Vanilla 2.6.25 or earlier
 - Vanilla 2.4.31 or earlier
 - Vanilla 2.2.26 or earlier

It's not guaranteed that they work with any newer version than above
or modified kernels by distributors.

That's the reason why there aren't enough Linux users out there; it's the result of their unholy war against us~

That is just an old version of ALSA, every distro has versions specifically compiled for the kernels they deliver.
Asus driver is 1.0.18 , Arch current version of alsa is 1.0.25 ..

I maintain a system running archlinux for a friend that can't maintain it himself, but have to go there atleast every month to maintain archlinux (usually no problem, i visit him often).
However, av do you feel your knowledge/experience of archlinux is good enough to maintain a system that's not your own ?


Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.


(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

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#9 2012-04-16 13:27:57

swanson
Member
From: Sweden
Registered: 2011-02-05
Posts: 759

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

Xubuntu is recommendable with it's standard menus. Easy to maintain too.

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#10 2012-04-16 13:33:32

av
Member
Registered: 2012-03-17
Posts: 32

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

Lone_Wolf wrote:
However, av do you feel your knowledge/experience of archlinux is good enough to maintain a system that's not your own ?

Certainly not. That's why I am going to install Mint on it instead.
He will learn some basics while using it and then, at some later point, he will hopefully proceed to Arch.
After all, none of us wants him to have his system constantly maintained by someone else.
He wants to learn how to do it himself and I think I can help him with that.
I can even give him those thousands of printed pages that I used to read frantically all day long
when desperately trying to find a way to prevent my first installed Linux system from falling apart..


One last question: 
If the sound and everything else is ok when I boot the live cd, does this mean that I can proceed with the installation?
Please keep in mind that he currently has Windows on his motherboard, which he plans to remove once we decide to install Linux.
My guess that everything may work smoothly when I boot the live cd, just because Windows is on, is far too wild then?

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#11 2012-04-16 13:56:20

av
Member
Registered: 2012-03-17
Posts: 32

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

.:B:. wrote:

Try a recent live cd (actually, you can just boot the Arch Linux ISO). If everything is recognised, it shouldn't be a problem.

Maybe an Ubuntu 12.04 beta?

I was thinking about Mint but I suppose that the wisest thing I can do is
let him try two or three different distributions and DEs and see how he likes them.
Thank you for both, the answer and the suggestion.



lifeafter2am wrote:

Not trying to be an a-hole ... just trying to set your expectations correctly.

No, you are absolutely right. I am not sure that I myself would be able to deal with anything weird that might occur in my Arch,
and I've been using Linux for about 4 years.
I'd never install Arch on someone who knows nothing about Linux..



swanson wrote:

Xubuntu is recommendable with it's standard menus. Easy to maintain too.

I hadn't even thought about this one. I'll have a look at it, thank you.

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#12 2012-04-16 20:49:28

sonoran
Member
From: sonoran desert
Registered: 2009-01-12
Posts: 192

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

av wrote:

My guess that everything may work smoothly when I boot the live cd, just because Windows is on, is far too wild then?

Yeah. The fact that there is a Windows installation on the hd, but not running, would not affect a LiveCD or an installed GNU/Linux system.

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#13 2012-04-17 10:18:04

av
Member
Registered: 2012-03-17
Posts: 32

Re: [SOLVED] Motherboard drivers don't support newer kernel versions

sonoran wrote:

The fact that there is a Windows installation on the hd, but not running, would not affect a LiveCD or an installed GNU/Linux system.

Damn my ignorance. Thank you for clearing that up for me.

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