Re: [Hampshire] is it time to get rid of my advansys scsi controller?

[Alan Pope]

2009/6/28 john lewis :
> I had read about the Debian decision not to include firmware in
> kernels but didn't really expect my ancient advansys scsi card to fall
> foul of this.
>

You could of course just copy the firmware off another machine.

 http://popey.com/~alan/advansys/

I've put the ones off my machine (running kernel 2.6.30 - but I doubt
that matters). Try them.

Cheers,
Al.

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Re: [Hampshire] is it time to get rid of my advansys scsi controller?

[john lewis]

On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:09:49 +0100
Alan Pope  wrote:

> 2009/6/28 john lewis :
> > I decided to install the latest kernel (2.6.30-1-amd64) on my
> > system, on installation I got the following errors
> >
> > Setting up linux-image-2.6.30-1-amd64
> > (2.6.30-1) ... Running
> > depmod. Running
> > update-initramfs. update-initramfs:
> > Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.30-1-amd64
> >
> > W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/38C1600.bin for
> > module advansys
> >
> > W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/38C0800.bin for
> > module advansys
> >
> > W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/3550.bin for
> > module advansys
> >
> > W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/mcode.bin for
> > module advansys
> >
> 
> On my Ubuntu system they're in:-
> 
> a...@hactar:/lib/firmware$ find | grep 38C
> ./2.6.30-10-generic/advansys/38C0800.bin
> ./2.6.30-10-generic/advansys/38C1600.bin
> ./2.6.30-9-generic/advansys/38C0800.bin
> ./2.6.30-9-generic/advansys/38C1600.bin
> 
> > and it won't boot - with messages saying it cannot find those
> > firmware modules. I've tried googling for a solution without
> > success.
> >
> > I also installed the linux-headers package but am not sure how to
> > compile those missing firmware modules for a non-running kernel
> >
> 
> You generally don't compile firmware blobs as they're usually provided
> by hardware manufacturers in binary-only form. According to Ubuntu
> they're in:-
> 
> a...@hactar:~$ dpkg
> -S /lib/firmware/2.6.30-10-generic/advansys/38C0800.bin
> linux-image-2.6.30-10-generic: 
> /lib/firmware/2.6.30-10-generic/advansys/38C0800.bin
> 
> So in Ubuntuland the standard kernel contains that firmware.
> 
> I can't find those firmware files in Debian.
> 
> http://packages.debian.org/search?searchon=contents&keywords=38C0800.bin&mode=exactfilename&suite=unstable&arch=any
> 
> Maybe it's time to upgrade to Ubuntu :p

Never, not ever!*

I had read about the Debian decision not to include firmware in
kernels but didn't really expect my ancient advansys scsi card to fall
foul of this.

My googling efforts didn't throw up any source for those missing files
hence my asking for advice. It does look like my best option is to
remove the card and look for a reasonably priced usb scanner that
works out of the box with Debian

What I get is going to depend on what having the four glass french
mantle clock I inherited from my Mother will actually cost to have it
fully restored. 

It was a nice looking clock in its tarnished condition but with the
brasswork properly polished and lacquered, the enamelled pillars,
dial surround and pendulum cleaned up, plus new mercury vials it will
be quite stunning.

It has been with the restorers for nearly 9 months now such is the
demand for their services but it is almost ready for collection. The
original estimate was in the region of £800 but depending on what
problems they found it could cost somewhat more. Once done however the
retail value will be double that so worth having done.

So until I know the final cost I'll have to do without a scanner.

* I will admit to having installed crunchbang in VirtualBox along with
XP Pro so equate them as being almost equally bad :-) 
 
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[Hampshire] [ADMIN] July Meeting

[Hants LUG Chairman]

Hi,

Summer greetings!

Our next meeting will take place on Saturday 04 July at Southampton, 10:00 - 
16:30. Details are on the wiki[0] and as before please email Damian in advance 
if you plan to attend or need wireless network access.

If anyone would like to give a talk[1] at the meeting, please let me or any 
committee member[2] know and we will add you to the list.

I am still awaiting books to review, so at the moment I have no more books for 
review, and yes I've asked for everything you asked for... ;-)

###

We have spoken with Jamie's Computer club and they are happy for us to visit 
them again[3]. To make it viable for them to open their doors to us on a 
weekend we need to make sure enough people turn up and that we are happy to 
have a look at what they have to sell - well actually buy stuff...

Do we as a group want to go to James?

When do we want to go?

###

[0] http://www.hants.lug.org.uk/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?4thJuly2009
[1] http://www.hants.lug.org.uk/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?MeetingSuggestions/Talks
[2] http://www.hants.lug.org.uk/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?CurrentCommittee
[3] http://www.jamiescomputerclub.org.uk/

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[Hampshire] Meeting 4th July - Register and MAC(s)

[Damian Brasher]

For security reasons I have maintained a register, since Jan 09, of regular
attendees and new attendees of the BaB meetings held at Southampton
University. All attendees, both HLUG members and non-members, must provide
their name to security upon entry.

Security guards often occupy a new reception desk located in the atrium which
joins buildings 53 and 59<-where-we-are, during the weekends. ECS staff and
students are exempt.

Can those that plan to attend on the 4th and did not register earlier this
year please provide your:

1) Full name
2) MAC address(s) for WLAN

Please use this email address: d.brasher {...@} omii {.} ac {.} uk.

Please see http://www.hants.lug.org.uk/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?SeminarRoom1 for more
information about the venue.

I look forward to seeing you,

Damian

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Re: [Hampshire] No WPA2 option in Jaunty

[Rob Malpass]

- Original Message - 
From: "Alan Pope" 
To: "Hampshire LUG Discussion List" 
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 5:54 PM
Subject: Re: [Hampshire] No WPA2 option in Jaunty


2009/6/28 Rob Malpass :
> After a hell of a lot of fiddling, I now have the right driver (but had to
> put XP back on the laptop) to be sure I had it. Now to wipe, install
> Ubuntu and try ndiswrapper with the known working driver. If only I'd
> thought of this before I wiped XP!!!
>

You probably don't want to hear this, but you didn't need to install XP.

You can get the windows driver from the manufacturers webpage usually.
The following guide is super useful.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/Ndiswrapper

Cheers,
Al.

Thanks Al - I'm sure you're right but it was the "Devil's own job" finding 
the right driver.   lshw talked about a Texas Instruments card, Device 
Manager called it a Toshiba card but I finally discovered it was an Agere 
card.   Agere is apparently now lsi.   Suffice to say I have downloaded and 
squirreled away the working driver.

Cheers
Rob 


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Re: [Hampshire] No WPA2 option in Jaunty

[Alan Pope]

2009/6/28 Rob Malpass :
> After a hell of a lot of fiddling, I now have the right driver (but had to
> put XP back on the laptop) to be sure I had it.   Now to wipe, install
> Ubuntu and try ndiswrapper with the known working driver.   If only I'd
> thought of this before I wiped XP!!!
>

You probably don't want to hear this, but you didn't need to install XP.

You can get the windows driver from the manufacturers webpage usually.
The following guide is super useful.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/Driver/Ndiswrapper

Cheers,
Al.

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Re: [Hampshire] No WPA2 option in Jaunty

[Rob Malpass]

- Original Message - 
From: "Alan Pope" 
To: "Hampshire LUG Discussion List" 
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Hampshire] No WPA2 option in Jaunty


2009/6/27 Rob Malpass :
> *-network:0 DISABLED
> description: Wireless interface
> physical id: 2
> logical name: eth1
> serial: 00:02:2d:36:84:b6
> capabilities: ethernet physical wireless
> configuration: broadcast=yes driver=orinoco driverversion=0.15
> firmware=Lucent/Agere 6.14 link=no multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11b

I believe the orinoco driver doesn't support WPA/WPA2.

Not sure which chipset it is - could be Prism2, in which case you
_may_ be able to switch to the hostap driver - which also isnt ideal.
The other option is to use ndiswrapper with a windows driver, which
again, is less than perfect. Last option is get a new pcmcia/usb
network card to replace that one.

Cheers,
Al.

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Thanks.

After a hell of a lot of fiddling, I now have the right driver (but had to 
put XP back on the laptop) to be sure I had it.   Now to wipe, install 
Ubuntu and try ndiswrapper with the known working driver.   If only I'd 
thought of this before I wiped XP!!!

Cheers
Rob 


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Re: [Hampshire] is it time to get rid of my advansys scsi controller?

[Lisi]

On Sunday 28 June 2009 13:16:23 Keith Edmunds wrote:
> Debian have, perhaps unhelpfully, stopped shipping a lot of firmware.
> Installing Lenny onto a system with a Broadcom NetXtremeII NIC will result
> in a system with no network drivers unless you have the firmware available
> on a USB stick or similar when you install.
>
> On the one hand you have Debian's purity; on the other, pragmatism. Debian
> is going to be a harder sell as a result of this decision.

And the most recent installation of Lenny I did (last week) had neither K3b 
nor CUPS there by default in the Desktop packages.  This is the first time 
that this has happened to me.  There was no other CD burner so far as I could 
see.

Debian has been becoming easier and easier to install and administer.  Perhaps 
this was offending the purists???

In Lenny's defence, I must put the other side of the coin.  Another thing new 
in my experience, X was a piece of cake.  I did the installation at my house 
and then took the box round to the owner.  I expected to have to reconfigure 
xorg.conf, since I have a monitor running at 1280x1024 and he has a 
widescreen monitor.  In the event, Lenny booted straight into the correct 
resolution for his monitor.  In fact, his display was better configured than 
I have ever managed to get it before.

Lisi


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Re: [Hampshire] is it time to get rid of my advansys scsi controller?

[Keith Edmunds]

Debian have, perhaps unhelpfully, stopped shipping a lot of firmware.
Installing Lenny onto a system with a Broadcom NetXtremeII NIC will result
in a system with no network drivers unless you have the firmware available
on a USB stick or similar when you install.

On the one hand you have Debian's purity; on the other, pragmatism. Debian
is going to be a harder sell as a result of this decision.

Keith

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Re: [Hampshire] is it time to get rid of my advansys scsi controller?

[Alan Pope]

2009/6/28 john lewis :
> I decided to install the latest kernel (2.6.30-1-amd64) on my system, on 
> installation I got the following errors
>
> Setting up linux-image-2.6.30-1-amd64
> (2.6.30-1) ... Running
> depmod. Running
> update-initramfs. update-initramfs:
> Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.30-1-amd64
>
> W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/38C1600.bin for
> module advansys
>
> W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/38C0800.bin for
> module advansys
>
> W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/3550.bin for module 
> advansys
>
> W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/mcode.bin for module
> advansys
>

On my Ubuntu system they're in:-

a...@hactar:/lib/firmware$ find | grep 38C
./2.6.30-10-generic/advansys/38C0800.bin
./2.6.30-10-generic/advansys/38C1600.bin
./2.6.30-9-generic/advansys/38C0800.bin
./2.6.30-9-generic/advansys/38C1600.bin

> and it won't boot - with messages saying it cannot find those
> firmware modules. I've tried googling for a solution without
> success.
>
> I also installed the linux-headers package but am not sure how to
> compile those missing firmware modules for a non-running kernel
>

You generally don't compile firmware blobs as they're usually provided
by hardware manufacturers in binary-only form. According to Ubuntu
they're in:-

a...@hactar:~$ dpkg -S /lib/firmware/2.6.30-10-generic/advansys/38C0800.bin
linux-image-2.6.30-10-generic:
/lib/firmware/2.6.30-10-generic/advansys/38C0800.bin

So in Ubuntuland the standard kernel contains that firmware.

I can't find those firmware files in Debian.

http://packages.debian.org/search?searchon=contents&keywords=38C0800.bin&mode=exactfilename&suite=unstable&arch=any

Maybe it's time to upgrade to Ubuntu :p

Cheers,
Al.

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[Hampshire] is it time to get rid of my advansys scsi controller?

[john lewis]

I decided to install the latest kernel (2.6.30-1-amd64) on my system, on 
installation I got the following errors

Setting up linux-image-2.6.30-1-amd64
(2.6.30-1) ... Running
depmod. Running
update-initramfs. update-initramfs:
Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.30-1-amd64 

W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/38C1600.bin for
module advansys 

W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/38C0800.bin for
module advansys 

W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/3550.bin for module 
advansys 

W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/advansys/mcode.bin for module
advansys

and it won't boot - with messages saying it cannot find those
firmware modules. I've tried googling for a solution without
success.

I also installed the linux-headers package but am not sure how to
compile those missing firmware modules for a non-running kernel

This isn't the first time I've had problems with this card on a kernel
upgrade, there was a 'simple' solution on one occasion (edit the config
to enable the advansys module and re-compile the kernel) 

Looking at the config-2.6.30-1-amd64 I see this line

CONFIG_PREVENT_FIRMWARE_BUILD=y

is this what is causing the problem?

there is a line

CONFIG_SCSI_ADVANSY=m

and /lib/modules/.../drivers/scsi contains advansys.ko but nothing
in /lib/firmware

any suggestions welcome, perhaps the time has come to ditch my Epson
GT-7000 scanner which has used the advansys card for quite a few years
now. I don't use the scanner all that much anyway and lots of usb
scanners are now supported (for example the Epsom V350 at £100ish)


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Re: [Hampshire] Upgrading Ubuntu

[Chris. Aubrey-Smith]

>> perhaps it is time to upgrade to Debian ;-)

Debian is my preferred O/S and runs on four of the six machines on my
network. However, I like to keep an eye on what Ubuntu is up to, so one old
machine runs it.

This situation came about when I 'inherited' the Dell machine (not a brand I
would buy)  which had little memory and a small disc with XP. I increased
the memory and swapped in a bigger disc which had Ubuntu installed. All was
well until I was tempted to upgrade

Chris.

2009/6/28 john lewis 

> On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:14:14 +0100
> "Chris. Aubrey-Smith"  wrote:
>
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Re: [Hampshire] Upgrading Ubuntu

[Jonathan Hudson]

On Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:02:04 +0100
"Chris. Aubrey-Smith"  wrote:

> 2009/6/27 Alan Pope 
>
> > 2009/6/27 Paul Stimpson :
> > > If you boot from the Ubuntu 9 CD and use the try it out option does it
> > work? If it does then the distro works and it's the upgrade that's gone
> > wrong.
> > >
> > > If that is the case then I would run off the CD, connect an external USB
> > drive, backup all my documents then do a clean install from the 9 CD rather
> > than an upgrade.
> > >
> >
> > Whilst that's an option, it would be nice to know what the problem is,
> > so that we can feed that back to the developers in case it hits other
> > users.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Al.
> >
>
> Agreed. I'd rather establish what's happening, rather than simply abandon
> this approach and start again from scratch which is why I posed the
> original question...!
>
> C.

I had a similar problem with an old machine (a c.1998 Celeron 400 home
build). With 9.04 it exhibited similar symptoms with the latest kernel
but would boot older kernels. This was temporarily resolved by using
the '386' kernel; however the 386 kernel similarly failed with 9.10
alpha "Starting up" ..., but the older kernels still worked, as did
the Fedora 11 beta live disk.

On this machine, the kernel has always complained that it was not using
ACPI because of the BIOS vintage. I eventually found a newer BOIS (c.
2002 v. 1998), and after the reflash, the latest kernels boot fine and
it runs Jaunty or Karmic alpha just fine.

There's a launchpad bug entry 
which I subsequently closed as "An old bios problem, not a kernel
issue".

If the Dell is of similar vintage, then it may be a similar issue, but
it's really hard to diagnose when the kernel fails that early (and
very annoying when the installer works, but the reboot fails). This
happened on my karmic install, which I recovered by
rebooting from the install disk in rescue mode, and then manually
installing a known good old kernel prior to the BIOS upgrade.

-jh


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Re: [Hampshire] Upgrading Ubuntu

[john lewis]

On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:14:14 +0100
"Chris. Aubrey-Smith"  wrote:

> I had ordered a later CD but it failed to show, so I was tempted by
> the message that  '9.04 is available... Download..'  Never again!

perhaps it is time to upgrade to Debian ;-)

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Re: [Hampshire] Upgrading Ubuntu

[Chris. Aubrey-Smith]

Thanks for the suggestions..

I spent hours on this, last night and this morning, but could get no further
than the 'Starting up...'  message, after which it seemed to stop dead.
Eventually, I decided I'd wasted enough time on it and re-installed from the
latest CD I had. (8.10)

I had ordered a later CD but it failed to show, so I was tempted by the
message that  '9.04 is available... Download..'  Never again!

Chris.


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