From owner-freebsd-mobile@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Apr 28 12:00:02 2005 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4043016A4CE for ; Thu, 28 Apr 2005 12:00:02 +0000 (GMT) Received: from mh2.centtech.com (moat3.centtech.com [207.200.51.50]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A2C9D43D5D for ; Thu, 28 Apr 2005 12:00:01 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from anderson@centtech.com) Received: from [10.177.171.220] (neutrino.centtech.com [10.177.171.220]) by mh2.centtech.com (8.13.1/8.13.1) with ESMTP id j3SC001t033006; Thu, 28 Apr 2005 07:00:00 -0500 (CDT) (envelope-from anderson@centtech.com) Message-ID: <4270D009.5060702@centtech.com> Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 06:59:05 -0500 From: Eric Anderson User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; FreeBSD i386; en-US; rv:1.7.5) Gecko/20050325 X-Accept-Language: en-us, en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Phillip J Fry References: <4270CDB1.7050707@netspace.net.au> In-Reply-To: <4270CDB1.7050707@netspace.net.au> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit cc: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Install on a new Laptop X-BeenThere: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Mobile computing with FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 12:00:02 -0000 Phillip J Fry wrote: > Hi, > I am planning to install FreeBSD 5.3 RELEASE on my new Optima > Centoris laptop (Australian company) There is not much documentation for > this model of laptop and the manufacturer offers no support. I have > mandriva linux running without a problem but would like something more > powerfull. I been browsing the supported hadware docs > http://www.freebsd.org/releases/5.3R/hardware-i386.html > the archives and google/bsd. I have found some information but it is > incomplete. I have three pieces of hardware I am having trouble finding > information about. You could use 5.4R when it comes out very soon, or 5.4 RC3 (or 4?). It's a great RELEASE! > Video Chipset : ATI Radeon Mobility 9000 (M9) Lf (AGP) > Some information in the archive but am still lost. Should work fine. I had one of these in a Dell D600, and it worked without problems for me. > Wireless device : Intel PRO/Wireless LAN 2100 3B Mini PCI Adapter > I have read that I need to download and install a third party driver > from http://damien.bergamini.free.fr/ipw/index.html > But to install the driver I have to upgrade to CURRENT, something I am > not really keen on as I am not a developer/hacker. Are there any other > alternatives out there? You can use the NDISulator (Project Evil) if you want - that uses the Windows binary drivers. It should work just fine for you. > IRDA : Laptop IRDA device. > I am not really sure about the manufacturer of the irda device. The > laptop has an Intel 855Pm motherboard and the manufacturer told me that > the irda device was just a peripheral. I have read on the web that the > BIRDA port might be of some use. I need irda so I can connect my laptop > to the internet through my mobile phone while I am on the road. Most IRDA ports on laptops have an option in the BIOS to set it up as a standard serial device, and FreeBSD usually sees it as a regular /dev/cua* device. It's been a few years since I've messed with it, but I don't think you'll have too much trouble. Eric -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Anderson Sr. Systems Administrator Centaur Technology A lost ounce of gold may be found, a lost moment of time never. ------------------------------------------------------------------------