From owner-freebsd-mobile@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Jun 12 00:27:51 2004 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 B315316A4CE; Sat, 12 Jun 2004 00:27:51 +0000 (GMT) Received: from moutvdomng.kundenserver.de (moutvdom.kundenserver.de [212.227.126.249]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id EE02F43D1F; Sat, 12 Jun 2004 00:27:50 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from liamfoy@sepulcrum.org) Received: from [212.227.126.224] (helo=mrvdomng.kundenserver.de) by moutvdomng.kundenserver.de with esmtp (Exim 3.35 #1) id 1BYwM5-0004kC-00; Sat, 12 Jun 2004 02:26:41 +0200 Received: from [81.154.134.26] (helo=liamfoy.ath.cx) by mrvdomng.kundenserver.de with esmtp (Exim 3.35 #1) id 1BYwM5-0006X0-00; Sat, 12 Jun 2004 02:26:41 +0200 Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 01:25:25 +0100 From: "Liam J. Foy" To: Greg 'groggy' Lehey Message-Id: <20040612012525.01dd669f.liamfoy@sepulcrum.org> In-Reply-To: <20040612000539.GC93033@wantadilla.lemis.com> References: <20040611071204.GA93033@wantadilla.lemis.com> <20040612000539.GC93033@wantadilla.lemis.com> X-Mailer: Sylpheed version 0.9.10 (GTK+ 1.2.10; i386-portbld-freebsd5.2) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit cc: lists@tntluoma.com cc: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Inspiron 7500 + Linksys + FreeBSD 4 or 5? 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: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 00:27:51 -0000 On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 09:35:39 +0930 Greg 'groggy' Lehey wrote: > On Friday, 11 June 2004 at 10:50:07 -0400, Timothy Luoma wrote: > > On 6/11/04 3:12 AM, "Greg 'groggy' Lehey" wrote: > > > >> On Friday, 11 June 2004 at 2:53:28 -0400, Timothy Luoma wrote: > >>> > >>> I have a Dell Inspiron 7500 which is no longer my primary machine, therefore > >>> I want to use it to learn FreeBSD. > >>> > >>> I will be connecting to the internet via a Linksys Wireless Network PC Card > >>> WPC11 v3 It depends on the chipset of the card. I had a Linksys WPC54G-UK which is broadcom which of course doesnt work. Saying that, some Linksys Cards are support by the ath drivers. Look at: http://customerproducts.atheros.com/customerproducts and http://www.FreeBSD.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=ath&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+5.2-RELEASE+and+Ports&format=html > >>> > >>> and was wondering whether folks would suggest FBSD4 or FBSD5 for this. It > >>> will not be a production-level machine, however I'm new enough that if 5 is > >>> too "raw" then I'd be content with 4. > >> > >> I have both on my 7500. > > > > *LOL* > > > > Hrm.... I think if we checked, we'd find that you were a bit more skilled & > > familiar with FreeBSD than me :-) > > Barely possible. > > > Do you have the WIFI card working or know if it is supported under > > either/both versions. > > I'm using an Orinoco card, and I have had no trouble with it. I don't > expect problems with the Linksys. I did have trouble (which I fixed) > with old Aviator (802.11 FHSS) cards, but they're obsolete 2 Mb/s > cards. The problem there was that they need 56 kB I/O space (one > chunk of 48 kB and one chunk of 8 kB), and the 7500 only has 48 kB. I > solved the problem by overlaying the memory areas. I don't expect you > to have that sort of problem with other cards. I have an Orinoco Classic Gold. No problems here:) > > > I guess the remaining questions are: > > > > 1) Is there anything I can do w/ FBSD5 that I couldn't do with FBSD4 that > > I'd want to do? > > It's generally more up to date. It handles PCMCIA/CardBus cards > better. If you new you want to stay away from CURRENT look at: http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/current-stable.html > > > 2) Is the install process for one any easier than for the other? > > No. If you follow the handbook you should be ok :) (famous last words) > > > Sent using the Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac Test Drive. > > Hmm. =/ > > Greg > -- > Note: I discard all HTML mail unseen. > Finger grog@FreeBSD.org for PGP public key. > See complete headers for address and phone numbers. > Good Luck, -- -Liam Foy http://liamfoy.kerneled.org "Do only what only you can do."