Networking

Hi everybody !

I am dead tired, - but will try to say a few words to Ian, ( - I
did encourage him a bit dive into this subject :o)

First, - it is smart to let Windows try to figure out what kind
of card you have.

Second, - in the HOWTOs - you might find an URL to - I think it is
Donald Becker. He has written a lot of drivers I think. Anyway, -
I think I once saw a page of how to identify unknown cards. Taken
the layout, types of chips etc.

Third, do some guesses, and search the net. Many of the
manufactures has drivers and other stuff that you can download.
Some even will tell you what it is, by using the serial number.

Linux has two ways of dealing with the card.

1: configure and compile it into the kernel.
2: have it as a load able module. With this last option, you
don't have to recompile your Linux kernel.

Configure: This can be a bit tricky. On old cards, you could
set jumpers for interrupt, dma, base address, bios, ..
But it is more common to do this in software. For some cards,
Windows will set these things up for you. Otherwise, you need the
setup program from the OEM. Unless this is setup, the card will
not be active, and Linux will not find it.
After Windows or a Setup program has configured the card, then
Linux will find it. Then you have to configure Linux to use it.
Let us say that it will use interrupt 5, ( from Win/ setup disk )
- take a note of this, addresses and other things. When you
configure the card, then you will have to supply this info to
Linux.
( Say you have one card that can be set up to use several
different interrupts - during boot up, You may see the card under
Linux, but it will not probe it to find out what interrupts it
uses, or try any default. You have to give it a helping hand )

Many cards could use interrupt 12, but later this one was used
for the PS2 mouse. If you use a different mouse, then you can use
this one for a network card. The thing I want to point out, is
that this is something you decide, not the machine. I do think
this is just okay, - look on a Win98 and see how many times it
just can't figure things out without help. In Linux they don't
even try to install it, before you give it some directions as how
you want it. ( sometimes it is nice to be able to disable
something, something that once in a while can be difficult in
Windows )

There is a lot of stuff/subjects I would like to comment on, but
I am just to tired. I hope this may be to some help.

//ARNE