| Linux Drivers |
 |
Many different hardware manufacturers make device drivers specifically for Linux operating systems including Redhat, SuSe, Mandriva, Debian, and FedoraCore. If you have the Linux operating system or are considering switching to the Linux operating system, it’s important that your computer is loaded with the appropriate Linux device drivers. For example, if all of your hardware works perfectly fine on your Windows based machine but you install the Linux operating system on it, suddenly your hardware may not function properly.
No matter which scenario you are facing, you must find and install the appropriate Linux drivers for your hardware. First, identify the type of hardware that you will be updating the device drivers for and visit the manufacturer’s website. Most hardware manufacturers have a device download section. Since Linux is becoming increasingly popular, Linux drivers are becoming more and more common. You must make sure to download drivers for your device that are specifically designed for the Linux operating system.
Linux drivers are often distributed as source code found in .tar.gz or .tgz archives. This means two things. One, you must get the files out of the compressed archive using a compatible unzip application and you must compile the source code. This isn’t a task for general computer users. If you want further information on how to do this, read this article.
Linux is an open source operating system and many open source Linux drivers are available. Some multimedia codecs and graphics hardware devices are proprietary systems with their developers preferring to keep their drivers and software closed. In these cases, you won’t be able to find open source Linux drivers but you may be available do download Linux drivers directly from the manufacturer.
If you are considering adding new hardware to a Linux machine, check to make sure the hardware is compatible with your Linux operating system before purchasing the hardware or device. You can do this by checking with the manufacturer directly. Another option is to check with KeyLabs.
KeyLabs is a vendor-neutral Linux compatibility testing company that tests various devices for compatibility with Linux operating systems and distributions. For example, if you’re considering adding an Iomega ZIP drive to your Linux computer, KeyLabs has tested several models for compatibility. Most of the ZIP drives tested where compatible with most Linux distributions except for Mandrake. This information isn’t quite as easy to determine on the Iomega website.
Finding Linux drivers can be a challenge if you are working with existing hardware. If you have a choice for new hardware, the task becomes much easier because you can select hardware that is compatible with Linux and comes with its own Linux drivers. The easiest installations come with installation discs that allow you to install Linux drivers as part of the installation.
Top pick for the best Driver Update Software:
 |
 |
