Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-11 Thread Daniel Pittman
Jon Jermey  writes:

G'day Jon.  It would be *really* nice if you could follow the same quoting
style as the rest of the thread; it makes it much easier to foll.w

>> *nod* The real problem is not that Linux is hard to install: Windows is
>> just as damn hard, and just as painful, for non-technical users.
>>
>> The problem is that when you buy your machine it comes with Windows
>> installed for you, by someone else, and you don't have to worry about it.
>
> To me the issue goes somewhat deeper: from my limited perspective as a
> hardware novice, I just can't see why different drivers are even necessary.

Let me educate you: because the hardware is different, which is because the
vendors are lazy, and because ...

> As far as I can tell one wi-fi card does exactly the same things as any
> other wi-fi card:

... there are some pretty big variations in what the cards can do, to date,
and networking is one of those areas where performance differences are still
found, and where the activities of the hardware are complex.

> is is too much to ask that the hardware should be constructed so that it
> works with old software which is already out there and functioning perfectly
> well?

Obviously, yes.  Otherwise there would be a standard interface for wifi
drivers, like we have in USB with the UHCI, OHCI, EHCI, and other
standards. :)


> I accept that when there are technological breakthroughs the drivers need to
> change; but what we seem to have at the moment is a rerun of the old
> Apple/Apricot/Microbee/Commodore/Amiga hardware wars with each (wi-fi card,
> scanner, printer...) manufacturer refusing to run software -- i.e. drivers
> -- just because it was made for a different piece of hardware.

Neither your statement about the "old ... hardware wars", or about drivers, is
accurate, so there isn't much response possible to this.

> Surely making a new piece of hardware that will fit into an existing system
> should be the responsibility of the hardware manufacturer, not the user OR
> the operating system manufacturer.

Why?  Seriously: why should the hardware vendor be responsible for paying out
the significant amount of money required to support your boutique little OS?

If you want to run whatever software you please, why shouldn't you pay
directly for the cost of driver development?[1]


> Isn't it a bit like the printer manufacturers trying to stop you using
> generic ink by sneaking microchips into their cartridges?

In some ways, but not very many of them, and not very similar.

A much better analogy would be that a vendor who refuses to distribute
hardware programming documentation is like a microchipping ink vendor:

In that case both vendors are actively trying to stop you using their system
the way you want, rather than just giving you all the information about the
hardware and a hearty "you want a driver, you know where to find GCC."

Daniel

Footnotes: 
[1]  ...and you do, even in the FOSS universe: there, you pay by waiting
 longer to get drivers, rather than by paying more money to get them.[2]

[2]  ...or waiting longer *and* paying more money, as many commercial OS
 implementations show is quite possible. :)

-- 
✣ Daniel Pittman✉ dan...@rimspace.net☎ +61 401 155 707
   ♽ made with 100 percent post-consumer electrons
--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-11 Thread Jon Jermey
To me the issue goes somewhat deeper: from my limited perspective as a 
hardware novice, I just can't see why different drivers are even 
necessary. As far as I can tell one wi-fi card does exactly the same 
things as any other wi-fi card: is is too much to ask that the hardware 
should be constructed so that it works with old software which is 
already out there and functioning perfectly well? I accept that when 
there are technological breakthroughs the drivers need to change; but 
what we seem to have at the moment is a rerun of the old 
Apple/Apricot/Microbee/Commodore/Amiga hardware wars with each (wi-fi 
card, scanner, printer...) manufacturer refusing to run software -- i.e. 
drivers -- just because it was made for a different piece of hardware. 
Surely making a new piece of hardware that will fit into an existing 
system should be the responsibility of the hardware manufacturer, not 
the user OR the operating system manufacturer. Isn't it a bit like the 
printer manufacturers trying to stop you using generic ink by sneaking 
microchips into their cartridges?


Jon.

*nod*  The real problem is not that Linux is hard to install: Windows is just
as damn hard, and just as painful, for non-technical users.[1]

The problem is that when you buy your machine it comes with Windows installed
for you, by someone else, and you don't have to worry about it.

 Daniel

Footnotes:
[1]  Heck, it sucks for technical folks too, a lot of the time.

   


--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-10 Thread Dave Kempe
- Original Message -
> From: "Martin Visser" 

> Jon's experience probably really demonstrates why Linux isn't going to
> go
> mainstream anytime soon. While I would say 90% of people are going to
> have
> hardware that just works with the most current release of most
> distros, it
> is the 10% that have issues that really stings.

Yeah I second Ken's reply to this - Windows has exactly the same problems at 
the moment.
Especially with Windows 7 64bit. 
I have clients that have sound card problems that are unresolvable because the 
driver doesn't support Win7 properly.
Others have all sorts of other issues getting things to work - webcams, 
fingerprint readers, extra stuff.
Its not roses on the other side either...

Dave
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-10 Thread Daniel Pittman
Ken Foskey  writes:
> On Wed, 2010-08-11 at 06:08 +1000, Martin Visser wrote:

>> Jon's experience probably really demonstrates why Linux isn't going to go
>> mainstream anytime soon. While I would say 90% of people are going to have
>> hardware that just works with the most current release of most distros, it
>> is the 10% that have issues that really stings.

[...]

> Installed windows on non-mainstream machines lately.  You have to find
> drivers,  have conflicts of dlls and other things.

*nod*  The real problem is not that Linux is hard to install: Windows is just
as damn hard, and just as painful, for non-technical users.[1]

The problem is that when you buy your machine it comes with Windows installed
for you, by someone else, and you don't have to worry about it.

Daniel

Footnotes: 
[1]  Heck, it sucks for technical folks too, a lot of the time.

-- 
✣ Daniel Pittman✉ dan...@rimspace.net☎ +61 401 155 707
   ♽ made with 100 percent post-consumer electrons
--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-10 Thread Marghanita da Cruz

Ken Foskey wrote:

On Wed, 2010-08-11 at 06:08 +1000, Martin Visser wrote:

To the community.

Jon's experience probably really demonstrates why Linux isn't going to go
mainstream anytime soon. While I would say 90% of people are going to have
hardware that just works with the most current release of most distros, it
is the 10% that have issues that really stings.

Surely this hurdle needs to be overcome. With the likes of Canonical,
Redhat, Novell and the like wanting this to work surely there is a need for
some sort of integration centre that hardware vendors can submit their
gadgets for driver development assistance, and qualification? I know that
they do do some of these things and a lot of problems like video and
suspend/resume seem a lot more predicable.

Or is this simply never going to happen and we just need to put up with it
considering the effect of aggressive competition and the need to get new
stuff out there all the time.


Installed windows on non-mainstream machines lately.  You have to find
drivers,  have conflicts of dlls and other things.

I am not saying that it is not a problem, just not doom and gloom.




It is worth bearing in mind that Microsoft once did deals
with Hardware suppliers and Hardware suppliers basically
had/have to comply.However, the take home message from
Jon's experience is the was a driver out there, so the
manufacturers are obviously on board (difficult to write
drives without the specs).

However, one of the issues is licensing. WiFi as we all know
is a licensensed technology, with royalties flowing through
to CSIRO. Similarly for DVD/MPEG2. However, my understanding
is that in both these cases the license is in the hardware
not the software or at least not at the operating
system/driver level. Alternatively, if the hardware ships
with a license for the Windows software this should be
transferable for use in the Linux software - as the Windows
software and embedded license is redundant.

A couple of years back, I bought a digital TV tuner that
only came with a Windows driver with a view to running it
under linux. I subscribed to the list and learnt a bit about
what was involved. One of the issues seemed to be the
hardware supplier was not keen for the specs to get into the
public arena.So, the linux community may need to make do
with closed source drivers.

If SLUGers are interested in getting a feel for the issues
try googling AF9015

Marghanita
--
Marghanita da Cruz
http://ramin.com.au
Tel: 0414-869202



--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-10 Thread Ken Foskey
On Wed, 2010-08-11 at 06:08 +1000, Martin Visser wrote:
> To the community.
> 
> Jon's experience probably really demonstrates why Linux isn't going to go
> mainstream anytime soon. While I would say 90% of people are going to have
> hardware that just works with the most current release of most distros, it
> is the 10% that have issues that really stings.
> 
> Surely this hurdle needs to be overcome. With the likes of Canonical,
> Redhat, Novell and the like wanting this to work surely there is a need for
> some sort of integration centre that hardware vendors can submit their
> gadgets for driver development assistance, and qualification? I know that
> they do do some of these things and a lot of problems like video and
> suspend/resume seem a lot more predicable.
> 
> Or is this simply never going to happen and we just need to put up with it
> considering the effect of aggressive competition and the need to get new
> stuff out there all the time.

Installed windows on non-mainstream machines lately.  You have to find
drivers,  have conflicts of dlls and other things.

I am not saying that it is not a problem, just not doom and gloom.

Ken

-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-10 Thread Martin Visser
To the community.

Jon's experience probably really demonstrates why Linux isn't going to go
mainstream anytime soon. While I would say 90% of people are going to have
hardware that just works with the most current release of most distros, it
is the 10% that have issues that really stings.

Surely this hurdle needs to be overcome. With the likes of Canonical,
Redhat, Novell and the like wanting this to work surely there is a need for
some sort of integration centre that hardware vendors can submit their
gadgets for driver development assistance, and qualification? I know that
they do do some of these things and a lot of problems like video and
suspend/resume seem a lot more predicable.

Or is this simply never going to happen and we just need to put up with it
considering the effect of aggressive competition and the need to get new
stuff out there all the time.

Regards, Martin

martinvisse...@gmail.com


On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 3:48 PM, Jon Jermey  wrote:

> Puppeee did the trick! The eee 1005p is now talking to the world in Linux
> via wireless. Thanks, Kenneth!
>
> Jon.
>
> On 09/08/10 11:51, Kenneth Caldwell wrote:
>
>> You might also investigate Puppeee-1.0 released on August 7th.
>>
>> http://puppylinux.org/news/releases/puppeee-10-for-the-eee-is-released/
>>
>
> --
> SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
> Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
>
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-09 Thread Jon Jermey
Puppeee did the trick! The eee 1005p is now talking to the world in 
Linux via wireless. Thanks, Kenneth!


Jon.

On 09/08/10 11:51, Kenneth Caldwell wrote:

You might also investigate Puppeee-1.0 released on August 7th.

http://puppylinux.org/news/releases/puppeee-10-for-the-eee-is-released/


--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p? -- thanks for suggestions

2010-08-07 Thread Jon Jermey
Thanks for all the suggestions on this. So far I have tried the backport 
method in Ubuntu 10.04 and 9.10 without success, and ndiswrapper 
likewise. I've also been able to get Mint 9 and Moblin 2 running, but 
with no wireless. Other distros have failed to boot. I am now holding 
out for the new Ubuntu NBR in October.


Jon.
--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p?

2010-08-05 Thread Morgan Storey
I have a 1001px, which Ubuntu 10.04 worked fine off out of the box except
for wifi (ath9k as well), found a thread on the Ubuntu forums which
suggested upgrading to kernel 2.6.34, just downloaded the deb from
launchpad.net and installed, rebooted and wifi was fine.

uname -r
2.6.34-020634-generic

--
Regards
Morgan Storey


On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 12:23 PM, Heracles  wrote:

> -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
> Hash: SHA1
>
> On 05/08/10 10:26, Jon Jermey wrote:
> > Under Windows it can be turned on or off with Fn-F2, and it's always on
> > after booting. I don't know any other way.
> >
> > The output from
> >
> > lspci -v
> >
> > tells me it's an Atheros Communications Inc Device 002c (revo 01)
> > Subsystem: Device 1a3b:1112
> > Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 10
> > Memory at fbff000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
> > Capabilities: 
> >
> > iwconfig shows no wireless extensions on lo or eth0.
> >
> > Hopefully this means more to some of you than it does to me.
> >
> > The next step is to try ndiswrapper, I guess.
> >
> > Jon.
>
> Don't know if this is the problem, but you mentioned that eth0 works
> fine. When I installed Ubuntu 10.04 it picked up eth0 and forgot about
> wireless. I had to connect up using eth0 and download the wireless
> extensions. After that all worked fine.
> See what iwconfig says.
>
> Heracles
> -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux)
> Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/
>
> iEYEARECAAYFAkxaIKcACgkQybPcBAs9CE935gCgn15UfyPYWW/DHXMiVZrN/rM8
> NeMAn0x/CosJTCl5w6ryAH6TcF5tY4eq
> =wamI
> -END PGP SIGNATURE-
> --
> SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
> Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
>
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p?

2010-08-04 Thread Heracles
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

On 05/08/10 10:26, Jon Jermey wrote:
> Under Windows it can be turned on or off with Fn-F2, and it's always on
> after booting. I don't know any other way.
> 
> The output from
> 
> lspci -v
> 
> tells me it's an Atheros Communications Inc Device 002c (revo 01)
> Subsystem: Device 1a3b:1112
> Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 10
> Memory at fbff000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
> Capabilities: 
> 
> iwconfig shows no wireless extensions on lo or eth0.
> 
> Hopefully this means more to some of you than it does to me.
> 
> The next step is to try ndiswrapper, I guess.
> 
> Jon.

Don't know if this is the problem, but you mentioned that eth0 works
fine. When I installed Ubuntu 10.04 it picked up eth0 and forgot about
wireless. I had to connect up using eth0 and download the wireless
extensions. After that all worked fine.
See what iwconfig says.

Heracles
-BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
Version: GnuPG v1.4.10 (GNU/Linux)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/

iEYEARECAAYFAkxaIKcACgkQybPcBAs9CE935gCgn15UfyPYWW/DHXMiVZrN/rM8
NeMAn0x/CosJTCl5w6ryAH6TcF5tY4eq
=wamI
-END PGP SIGNATURE-
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p?

2010-08-04 Thread james
On Thursday 05 August 2010 08:34:25 slug-requ...@slug.org.au wrote:
> I'm trying to get Linux running from an SD card boot on an Asus eee 
> 1005p but every distro I have tried so far fails to recognise the Wi-Fi 
> (Atheros). Wired connections are working. Does anyone know of a distro 
> which recognises wireless out of the box on this specific model or, 
> failing that, a reliable set of instructions to get one working?

I found it easy to get everything running.
I used U-karmic notebook remix which is rather nice. I do not use ubuntu on my 
everyday machines as I find the 'doan tucha da buttons' attitude onerous so my 
opinion is not tainted by baby duck.

Everything works (camera, skype, hot keys, wireless), but I've not tried to 
get multi-touch working.

After installing you add an apt repository and install the drive. All was 
easily googled. I installed this
https://launchpad.net/~markus-tisoft/+archive/rt3090/+files/rt3090-
dkms_2.3.1.3-0ubuntu0~ppa1_all.deb

I like a CLI and it was easy to config gnome-terminal to NOT be fullscreen 
with no decor, but most apps run fullscreen with easy switch between them.

Mail me if you are stuck and I'll boot the box and read what I set for apt.

James
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p?

2010-08-04 Thread Matthew Hannigan


It is supposed to work with more recent kernels.
The eeebuntu and fedora info says it works -- now.

And this 
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-backports-modules-2.6.32/+bug/521967
suggests it works for more recent ubuntu or one of the PPA kernels mentioned 
there.

Maybe you just need an update?
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p?

2010-08-04 Thread Jon Jermey
Under Windows it can be turned on or off with Fn-F2, and it's always on 
after booting. I don't know any other way.


The output from

lspci -v

tells me it's an Atheros Communications Inc Device 002c (revo 01)
Subsystem: Device 1a3b:1112
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 10
Memory at fbff000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
Capabilities: 

iwconfig shows no wireless extensions on lo or eth0.

Hopefully this means more to some of you than it does to me.

The next step is to try ndiswrapper, I guess.

Jon.

On 05/08/10 08:12, Kevin Shackleton wrote:

Silly question - is the wifi turned on ?!

I'm using eeebuntu and everything works (on an older model).

Cheers,

Kevin.
   


--
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html


Re: [SLUG] A distro which recognises Wi-fi on Asus eee 1005p?

2010-08-04 Thread Adrian Chadd
On Thu, Aug 05, 2010, Jon Jermey wrote:
> I'm trying to get Linux running from an SD card boot on an Asus eee 
> 1005p but every distro I have tried so far fails to recognise the Wi-Fi 
> (Atheros). Wired connections are working. Does anyone know of a distro 
> which recognises wireless out of the box on this specific model or, 
> failing that, a reliable set of instructions to get one working?

You "just" need to compile the latest wireless-compat source tarball
for your kernel.

It'll include much more up to date ath9k drivers.

I have one of these very-recent atheros chipset eeepc laptops and it
works fine. Just need to remember to recompile it every time the kernel
is updated.




Adrian

-- 
- Xenion - http://www.xenion.com.au/ - VPS Hosting - Commercial Squid Support -
- $24/pm+GST entry-level VPSes w/ capped bandwidth charges available in WA -
-- 
SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/
Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html