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Linux newbie and device drivers

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by sa1montie

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I can't seem to locate any guidance on installing device drivers. I am adding an Adaptec 29160 card to a 7.2 server so I can attach a tape drive to my SAMBA server. I have the patch file from the Adaptec web site but can't find out how to use it/load it/upgrade what's there. I love how SAMBA works but the super techie aspect of Linux is killing me. Stuff that should take no time I look for 3 hours trying to find answers to. Can anyone point me to some information on the web to see how to do this? Thanks.

5 replies

by jcmcintyre

The driver will probably have to be compile with the kernel. To make the driver an available option when the kernel is compiled, copy the .c (source code), and the .h (header file to the directory where the driver is located, probably something like:

/usr/src/linux-2.4.18-19.8.0/drivers/scsi

Then go throught the kernel compilation process, and select the driver for your card. Build the kernel and install it, and the dirver will be available when the machine is rebooted weith the new kernel. Check some of the articles at TechPro Guild for help on the kernel compilation process

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