Basic setup

[randycw]

Okay let's see about getting Linux running, and throwing out my Windows blanket. (Keeping in mind that I have had that blanket for about 10 years now, and have become more than a little dependant on it.)

I have managed to install Linux Mandrake 7.2 on my system in a dual boot configuration. So I have been into Mandrake (running with KDE) and had a look around.

However, I can't configure my video card to display past 640X480 and 256 colors. I have a Hercules Prophet 4500 (that's with the Kyro II chip).

Let's start with that, then I'll ask more questions regarding NICs and Cable modems, then onto firewalls, and possibly printers if I can't get mine to work any better under Linux!

[dnar]

Thats a tall order for the opening night! But hey, XFree - lets start there for now.

Tell me the following:

Monitor:
- Max Horizontal scan rate.
- Max Vertical scan rate.

What have you tried?

Are you in the bowels of /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 or are you using Mandrake config stuff?

Maybe point to a url containing the config file listed above, I can have a look.

[randycw]

Monitor H-sync 30-70 kHz
V-sync 50-90 Hz

1280x1024 60Hz
1024x768 87Hz
Lower 90Hz

I have only tried changing things in the Mandrake config. stuff -- not been brave enough to venture much farther.

I e-mailed the folks on the Linux-Mandrake website . They suggested I try the Gullimont Prophet GTS drivers. :confused: That really didn't work! Tried a few of the generic drivers that allow me to get from 16 colors to 256!

I bought LINUX the Complete Reference By: Richard Petersen in hopes of resolving some of my troubles. That book is HUGE. I had waded through the first several chapters, but it has not been as detailed as I anticipated it would be.

[dnar]

Email me your /etc/XF86Config-4 file. I'll have a look tommorrow, I have to go crash, only 2 hours sleep last night......

PS All threads will most likely be deleted in the next 24 hours. So welll continue a new one later dude.:o

[Rick_Deadly]

Originally posted by randycw
However, I can't configure my video card to display past 640X480 and 256 colors. I have a Hercules Prophet 4500 (that's

Unfortunately there probably are not any Kyro II chipset drivers for Linux yet, it is a brand new card. You are currently stuck using the standard SVGA server.

Check out this page to find out if there is hidden Kyro II support in the installation.

http://www.mandrakeuser.org/docs/hardware/hconf1.html

You can manually set up higher resolutions, but you can't get more colors unless you can get the RAMDAC of your video card set up. I have no idea about the Kyro II, but most new video cards use an embedded RAMDAC that is specific to the chipset.

Of course the GTS driver won't work any better than an ATI driver.

Soon to be good news for you here:
http://www.linuxhardware.org/articles/01/03/31/143212.shtml

Hopefully it won't take too long.

Good luck, Rick

[dnar]

Choice Rick. Thanxs dude, not at all familiar with that card.

BTW, it looks like a pretty juicy card, but the monitor is not going to cut much more that 1024x768, unless you can stand running < 76Hz vertical :yipes:.

I don't know hou flush with folding stuff you are, but maybe a new monitor is in order ???? No on seconds thoughts, being a genomer, you probably put all spare cash into CPU's, right ?:D

[randycw]

DOH! :eek: I went in this morning to boot to Linux to send you a copy of the file, and I cna't get it to boot! I am headed out of town for a day or two but when I get back I'll see if I can figure out what the problem is. Thanks for the help Dnar and Rick_Deadly; maybe I'll wait for the drivers to come out before I fool with it too much. :rolleyes:

What I should probably focus on is getting the NIC and Cable modem working, firewall setup so I can start crunching on Linux instead of Windows. Then I could spend more time poking around, and not feel like I need to log out and get back to crunching in Windows> :p

randycw

BTW... Waddya mean my monitor sucks? ;) It's a great monitor.... well for a shitty one it's great.

[Rick_Deadly]

Originally posted by siggy
What is Linux? Does it work with Windows? Does it work instead of windows? Is it a MAC thing?

-Ann

Hi siggy:

Linux is a freeware version of Unix. A full fledged 32bit operating system that has been around since about 1970 (Unix that is.). The current Linux incarnation was started by Linus Torvalds.

Think of it as the most stable OS you can find. There are downsides, but that's mostly new hardware support since most manufacturers don't release Linux drivers with thier products.

CYA, Rick :)

[dnar]

Rick, Linux is not technically a version of Unix.... Linux is Linux, POSIX based, but it should not be bundled in with Unix.

Re: Linus / current incarnation by Linux.... Linux is a kernel, thats all, and Linus developed and wrote that himself. He soon had others helping, around 6 from memory. The really cool thing about Linux is this: it is THE NETWORKING OS, it sprang to life on the Internet, from a simple posting asking for help. It now runs the Net, and is maintained, distributed and supported using the Net. Heck, Linux holds the Net together and visa versa.

Then there are those Windows boxen sitting in just about every home and office..... but thats another story :D

Here is the home of Linux, a good read! (http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/linux/)

[Rick_Deadly]

Originally posted by dnar
Rick, Linux is not technically a version of Unix.... Linux is Linux, POSIX based, but it should not be bundled in with Unix.

Re: Linus / current incarnation by Linux.... Linux is a kernel, thats all, and Linus developed and wrote that himself. He soon had others helping, around 6 from memory. The really cool thing about Linux is this: it is THE NETWORKING OS, it sprang to life on the Internet, from a simple posting asking for help. It now runs the Net, and is maintained, distributed and supported using the Net. Heck, Linux holds the Net together and visa versa.

Then there are those Windows boxen sitting in just about every home and office..... but thats another story :D

Here is the home of Linux, a good read! (http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/linux/)


I know where your coming from with the "not Unix". I'll rephrase the statement to "Unix like" :)

I've worked with Harris CX/UX and several version of Solaris, but I'll never remember what ones started as POSIX, BSD, SVR4, etc...

Hehe, that's just to deep for me man :)

[dnar]

It is of course perfectly acceptable to refer to *nix systems !