Re: Newbie first-time install advice: Highpoint Rocket 133SB

From: David Witbrodt (dawitbro_at_sbcglobal.net)
Date: 09/26/04

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    Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2004 19:03:26 -0400
To: debian-user <debian-user@lists.debian.org>

    Stefan O'Rear wrote:
    >
    > Linux autodetects nearly anything. Non-hardware things like PPPoE (IIRC
    > this is used by DSL) can be trickier. Also, there are Linux-hostile
    > hardware vendors out there; be very careful near wireless LAN cards,
    > modems, and 3D-accelerated graphics cards. (ATI refuses to support
    > Linux, NVidia officially supports Linux but the drivers aren't open
    > source.)

      I am glad to hear about the autodetect, but I am a bit worried about
    autodetection of my NIC (HP EN1207D-TX) and my video (NVidia Vanta on
    motherboard).
      I have a SpeedStream 5100b, which has a built-in router, for DSL.
    That is supposed to make things easier, since it handles PPPoE itself.
    On the other hand, if I have the slightest problem I will be
    stonewalled, since I'm a total newbie. That's my main reason for
    preferring CDs over netinst. I kept a forum article where someone
    explained that I only need something called DHCP to be able to use
    Linux; unfortunately, I don't even know what that is (yet).

    > Don't usually bother with the manufacturor's website. Almost everyone
    > seems to have been brainwashed into thinking "Red Hat is Linux; Debian
    > doesn't exist".
    >
    > Almost all DSFG-free GPL-compatible drivers come with the kernel;
    > non-kernel drivers are contraversial, obscure, proprietary, non (beer)
    > free, very new, or some combination of the above.

      I will be able to ignore the Highpoint website only if I can find a
    kernel with built-in support for the Rocket 133SB controller.
    Otherwise, I will have to use their open source driver code, and then
    learn how to compile my own kernel, or use the driver as a kernel
    module, from what I've read. The website has binary packages for 3
    other distros, but at least provides source code for the drivers you can
    compile yourself. I was hoping to hear from someone already using a
    Rocket 133SB, so that I would know which kernels already support it, or
    whether I will be forced to compile the drivers myself... which will be
    a bit over my head for a while!
      Not having a kernel with Rocket 133SB support would mean installing
    Debian to the old hard drive until I can get a kernel working which can
    handle the controller and hard drive. It's THOSE things that I wish
    would autodetect! And maybe they will, but I won't be able to try for
    several more days.

    > Sarge will be stable Real Soon Now.

      I did download a Sarge netinst CD, as I mentioned before. I saw the
    announcement in August that it would become the new "stable" by 9/15,
    but that appears to have been wishful thinking. If netinst can't figure
    out how to use my DSL connection, that CD is useless anyway -- unless
    someone can tell me how to finesse it to work with my DSL modem.

    > Woody was frozen in 2001/2. Still gets security updates, but no new
    > programs.

      Yes, and when I noticed it couldn't handle the big HD, that's when I
    searched and found HILUX. The only problem is that I don't know if it
    supports the Rocket. I will give it a try, since I don't know how else
    to find out whether it will work.

     
    > Do use sarge though. The Woody installer ('boot-floppies') is nearly
    > impossible to use.

      I was under the impression that boot floppies are no longer necessary
    with boot CDs. Isn't that so?

    Thanks for the response,
    Dave W. 

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