Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:44:08 +1000 From: Da Rock <freebsd-questions@herveybayaustralia.com.au> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Hardware compatibility Message-ID: <4F441E38.5090406@herveybayaustralia.com.au> In-Reply-To: <20120221164410.447b4676.freebsd@edvax.de> References: <CAPoQBCiKje8XywWsBp8k=Mb_Nq9CYyKuLUut05b2DBxG2n1rUA@mail.gmail.com> <20120220203515.185b038d.freebsd@edvax.de> <4F42E911.1010202@herveybayaustralia.com.au> <20120221164410.447b4676.freebsd@edvax.de>
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On 02/22/12 01:44, Polytropon wrote: > On Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:45:05 +1000, Da Rock wrote: >> To the OP, check the pages Polytropon has linked here, but the chances >> of getting exactly that are nil to impossible. I've run about 6 or more >> laptops now without too much trouble. The biggest problems were >> wireless, but that was the bad old days... most support is there now >> thanks to Adrianns work. > Today's problems seem to be suspend/resume/hibernate (all > the variations of "it's not switched on, but also not > switched off entirely") and some specific sorts of wireless > devices. I've never used, so I hadn't thought of it. That doesn't work for desktop either does it? One thing I have tested is the backlight turns off when you close the lid and the power button will do a proper shutdown. I haven't heard of the others working - at the very least you need to script it for your own needs. >> Having a live disk is not likely to help for several reasons: >> 1. there aren't really the tools to see if something will actually work >> in a production environment (unless pc-bsd have a disc I don't know >> about). For instance, wifi maybe recognised but not actually work and >> error like crazy only once you start to use it. > The main idea of using such a system is to most precisely > determine the _present_ hardware to allow further investigations > (e. g. web searches and mailing list questions). The OS from > disc or stick can help to identify the hardware. If you're > running a live file system from a USB stick, you can do > things like: > > # dmesg > # pciconf -lv > # usbconfig > # sysctl -a > > If you start the system by "boot -v" (verbose logging), dmesg > will contain some more lines than usual. If you have a USB > stick, you can easily save the output of those commands to > persistent files. > > If you have X in the mix, you can also check the support for > the display and obtain other information that might be important > later on (especially GPU info): > > # glxinfo > # xvinfo > > Log files worth saving are in /var/log, as well as Xorg.0.log > for X-related things. > > If you prepare some programs, you can also do some testing, > e. g. multimedia, gaming, 3D support, networking and so on. Fair comment. I had in mind mostly a CD, but I admit a USB will be far better. I also had in mind the livefs system produced by the releases, which doesn't give much at all. X would be very helpful and implies a full system on the disk - this _will_ do most tests for a production environment, like test whether components actually work or are just recognised. >> 2. The BIOS will get in your way - see recent thread regarding samsung >> laptop not installing. I don't think the salespeople will let you play >> with that either. > Depends. If you're interested in buying one of the more > expensive ones, they will offer you a "test ride" which > includes that you have a look at the CMOS setup (which is > something very typical for you as an IT professional). > > You can say: "The BIOS is defective, it doesn't allow me > to boot a standard OS. Let's see... for 100$ less, I would > still do you a favour and buy it." :-) <chuckle> You are a devious one Polytropon :) That would depend on the sales enviornment and country your in. Here they have the systems running with a lease on and a screenlock, and try to show you as little as possible to buy the thing... or you buy online. I'd love to try that trick of yours though.... >> If you do this *and* get it to boot, you want to get a copy of pciconf >> -lv which will give you the best idea on whats what. You may be able to >> use a linux live disk (if you can get it to boot) to accomplish this better. > USB sticks seem to be the best solution as they can allow > you to store files (as the results of your investigation). Definitely agreed. But you'd need a full on system to do this, preferably with X - watch the Vid cards. That said you can always use vesa anyway.
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