4.3. Hardware

4.3.1. General

• Hardware-HOWTO, Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO

  Updated: May 2007. Lists most of the hardware supported by Linux and helps you locate any necessary drivers.

• Unix-Hardware-Buyer-HOWTO, The Unix Hardware Buyer HOWTO

  Updated: Apr 2010. This is your one-stop resource for information about how to buy and configure Intel hardware for cheap, powerful Unix systems.

4.3.2. Platforms

• 4mb-Laptops, 4mb Laptop HOWTO

  Updated: Apr 2000. Put a "grown-up" Linux on a small-spec (4mb RAM, <=200mb hard disk) laptop.

• Beowulf-HOWTO, Beowulf HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 2005. Describes step by step instructions on building a Beowulf cluster. This is a Red Hat and LAM specific version of this document.

• Cluster-HOWTO, Linux Cluster HOWTO

  Updated: Sep 2005. How to set up high-performance Linux computing clusters.

• Compaq-T1500-HOWTO, CompaqT1500-Linux HOWTO

  Updated: Sep 2007. Lists the procedures and tools needed to boot the Compaq T1500, using a Netboot of both the native file system and a generic Linux installation.

• Diskless-HOWTO, Diskless Nodes HOWTO for Linux

  Removed: November 2003. This HOWTO has been removed for review.

• Diskless-root-NFS-HOWTO, Root over nfs clients & server HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 1999. How to setup a server and configure clients for diskless operation from a network.

• Handspring-Visor, Handspring-Visor with Linux mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 2003. Using the Visor with Linux and your USB port.

• HP-HOWTO, HP HOWTO - Utilisation and Configuration Guide of HP Products under Linux

  Updated: Dec 2001. Describes the use of products available in the Hewlett-Packard (HP) catalog with Linux and some free software.

• IBM7248-HOWTO, Installing GNU/Linux on the IBM RS/6000 43P model 7248 HOWTO

  Updated: Jun 2003. Describes the installation of GNU/Linux on the IBM RS/6000 43P model 7248 series.

• JavaStation-HOWTO, Linux on the Sun JavaStation NC HOWTO

  Updated: Oct 2001. Describes how to enable the GNU/Linux OS on the Sun JavaStation NC.

• Kiosk-HOWTO, Kiosk HOWTO

  Updated: Oct 1999. Provides a guide for setting up a WWW-based kiosk using Linux, X11R6, FVWM2, Netscape Navigator 4.X, and a customized trackball.

• Mac-Terminal, The MacTerminal mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Nov 1997. How to configure the Mac for use as a Linux terminal.

• NC-HOWTO, Linux Netstation HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2004. Describes how to hook up a IBM Netstation to your local network using a Linux box as server.

• NCD-HOWTO, Linux NCD mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Dec 2001. Describes how to hook up a NCD ThinSTAR to your local network using a Linux box as server.

• NCD-X-Terminal, NCD X terminal mini HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2000. How to connect an NCD X terminal to a UNIX host.

• openMosix-HOWTO, The openMosix HOWTO

  Updated: Jun 2004. A brief description to openMosix, a software package that turns a network of GNU/Linux computers into a computer cluster.

• PalmOS-HOWTO, Palm OS Desktop HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2002. Explains how to use your Palm OS device with a Linux system.

• Psion-HOWTO, Linux and Psion HOWTO

  Updated: Nov 2000. How to use Psion palmtops with Linux. Does not cover running Linux on a Psion palmtop.

• Text-Terminal-HOWTO, Text-Terminal HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2013. Explains what text terminals are, how they work, how to install and configure them, and provides some info on how to repair them.

• Thinclient-HOWTO, Thin Client: New User Guide

  Updated: Nov 1999. How to turn inexpensive legacy computers into fast terminals.

• VAIO+Linux, Linux on Sony VAIO mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Sep 1998. This document explains installation of Linux on Sony VAIO computers.

• VME-HOWTO, VME HOWTO

  Updated: Feb 2002. Shows the embedded system community how to run Linux on their VMEbus Pentium and other PCI local bus based VMEbus processor designs.

• Wearable-HOWTO, Wearable HOWTO

  Updated: Nov 2000. Nomadism is one of the major trends of our society, now most of the people can work with a laptop computer, but few did the next step: to live, or if you prefer to wear one computer - that is a wearable.

4.3.3. Video Cards

Also see Applications: Section 4.5.5 Multimedia : Section 4.5.5.2 Video.

• Framebuffer-HOWTO, Framebuffer HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 2010. How to use the framebuffer devices in Linux with a variety of platforms. Also includes how to set up multi-headed displays.

• i810-HOWTO, i810 with XFree86 4.x HOWTO

  Updated: May 2001. Describes getting XFree86 4.x running on Intel's i810 graphics chipset by using special features of the 2.4.0 kernel.

• Nvidia-OpenGL-Configuration, Nvidia OpenGL Configuration mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 2002. How to install the OpenGL drivers for Nvidia graphics cards on Linux. Also explains how to install XFree86, the OpenGL Utility library (part of Mesa), the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (glut), etc.

• XFree86-R200, ATI R200 + XFree86 4.x mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Sep 2003. Describes the procedure of making XFree 4.x run on an ATI R200 (Radeon 8xxx series).

4.3.4. CPUs / Architectures

• Alpha-HOWTO, Brief Introduction to Alpha Systems and Processors

  Updated: Jun 1997. A brief overview of existing Alpha CPUs, chipsets and systems.

• Avr-Microcontrollers-in-Linux-Howto, AVR Microcontrollers in Linux HOWTO

  Updated: Apr 2009. For readers wishing to program an AVR microcontroller using a GNU/Linux machine.

• CPU-Design-HOWTO, CPU Design HOW-TO

  Removed: November 2003. This HOWTO has been removed for review.

• K7s5a-HOWTO, The Elite's K7s5a mainboard HOWTO

  Updated: May 2004. Describes how to use Elite's K7s5a board with Linux.

• SPARC-HOWTO, SPARC-HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 2004. Describes Linux on SPARC-based workstations.

4.3.5. CD-ROM / DVD-ROM Drives

• CD-Writing-HOWTO, CD-Writing HOWTO

  Updated: Jul 2000. Explains how to write CD-ROMs under Linux.

• CDROM-HOWTO, The Linux CD-ROM HOWTO

  Updated: Jul 2001. How to install, configure, and use CD-ROM drives under Linux.

• DVD-HOWTO, Linux DVD HOWTO

  Updated: Oct 2000. An easy to follow explanation on how to get DVD movie play-back in Linux.

• DVD-Playback-HOWTO, DVD Playback HOWTO

  Updated: Feb 2004. This document describes how to view DVD movies on a Linux computer with a DVD drive.

4.3.6. Optical Disks

• Optical-Disk-HOWTO, Linux Optical Disk HOWTO

  Updated: May 2003. Describes the installation and configuration of optical disk drives for Linux.

4.3.7. Keyboard and Console

• Keyboard-and-Console-HOWTO, The Linux keyboard and console HOWTO

  Updated: Oct 2002. Contains some information about the Linux (v2.0) keyboard and console, and the use of non-ASCII characters.

• BackspaceDelete, Linux Backspace/Delete mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 2002. Solutions for having working Backspace and Delete keys on the console and on X.

• Intkeyb, How to setup international keyboard in X Windows

  Updated: Nov 2002. This xmodmap and kimap solutions will work for you in setting up any international keyboard for (Debian, RedHat, Mandrake, Corel) Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD and possibly every Unix that uses Xfree86 and KDE.

• Remote-Serial-Console-HOWTO, Remote Serial Console HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2003. Covers how to set up your hardware to use a serial console.

4.3.8. Digital Cameras

• Kodak-Digitalcam-HOWTO, Kodak Digital Camera HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 2001. Getting a Kodak digital camera working under GNU/Linux.

• libdc1394-HOWTO, Libdc1394 Library Support for IEEE 1394 Cameras HOWTO

  Updated: Apr 2007. Discusses how to set up the libdc1394 library on Linux for support of IEEE 1394 (FireWire) cameras.

4.3.9. Graphic Tablets

• Wacom-Tablet-HOWTO, Wacom Tablet HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 2001. Installation of (not only) Wacom graphic tablets under linux and/or xfree86.

• Wacom-USB-mini-HOWTO, Wacom Graphire USB Mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Jun 2000. How to setup a Wacom Graphire USB tablet for use with Linux.

4.3.10. Diskettes

• Automount, Automount mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Dec 2002. Describes the autofs automounter, how to configure it; points out some problems to avoid.

4.3.11. Hard Disks

• Antares-RAID-sparcLinux-HOWTO, Antares-RAID-sparcLinux-HOWTO

  Updated: May 2002. Describes how to install, configure, and maintain a hardware RAID built around the 5070 SBUS host based RAID controller by Antares Microsystems.

• ATA-RAID-HOWTO, Linux ATA RAID HOWTO

  Updated: May 2002. Explains how to install Linux on an Intel Pentium compatible computer with an ATA RAID Controller (onboard chip or seperate card), single or multiple processors and at least two hard disks.

• Clone-HOWTO, HOWTO Clone Disk Images on Linux Booted from a Network

  Updated: Sep 2002. Describes a setup that allows a machine to boot Linux from BOOTP/TFTP, using the Grub boot loader, and save and restore disk and partition images to and from a TFTP server.

• Disk-Encryption-HOWTO, Disk Encryption HOWTO

  Updated: Nov 2004. A method is described for encrypting a hard disk, either in whole or in part, with the encryption key stored on an external medium for increased security.

• Disk-on-Chip-HOWTO, Disk on Chip HOWTO

  Updated: Sep 2006. Discusses how to make the Flash Drives Linux bootable. Describes how to boot from such a drive, instead of from the normal hard drive.

• DPT-Hardware-RAID-HOWTO, Linux DPT Hardware RAID HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 2004. How to set up hardware RAID under Linux.

• Encrypted-Root-Filesystem-HOWTO, Encrypted Root Filesystem HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2005. Explains how to make your personal data secure by encrypting your Linux root filesystem using strong cryptography.

• Hard-Disk-Upgrade, Hard Disk Upgrade Mini HOWTO

  Updated: Apr 2000. How to copy a Linux system from one hard disk to another.

• Large-Disk-HOWTO, Large Disk HOWTO

  Updated: Nov 2004. All about disk geometry and the 1024 cylinder limit for disks.

• Linux-Promise-RAID1-HOWTO, Linux Migration to Promise RAID Card HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2003. Outlines the steps of how to migrate an existing (Red Hat) Linux install onto a Promise TX2 Card for the purposes of RAID-1 Mirroring.

• Multi-Disk-HOWTO, HOWTO: Multi Disk System Tuning

  Updated: May 2002. How best to use multiple disks and partitions for a Linux system.

4.3.12. Jaz and ZIP Drives

• Jaz-Drive-HOWTO, Jaz-drive HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 2000. Covers the configuration and use of the 1Gb and 2Gb Iomega Jaz drives under Linux.

• ZIP-Drive, Zip Drive Mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2002. Provides a quick reference quide on setting up and using the Iomega ZIP drive with Linux.

• ZIP-Install, Installing Linux on ZIP disk using ppa ZIP Drive Mini-Howto

  Updated: Jan 1998. This document is only useful for those with the printer port version of a ZIP drive who wish to have either a portable or backup Linux system on a ZIP disk.

4.3.13. Mice

• 3-Button-Mouse, The 3 Button Serial Mouse mini-HOWTO

  Updated: May 1998. How to get a 3 button serial mouse working properly under Linux.

4.3.14. Modems

• ACP-Modem, Linux ACP Modem (Mwave) mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Jul 2002. Describes how to build, setup, and use the ACP (Mwave) Modem feature of the IBM Thinkpad[tm] 600E, 600, and 770x.

• Cable-Modem, Cable Modem HOWTO

  Updated: Jul 2004. Written to assist the Linux user in configuring a cable modem for internet access using a cable network.

• Conexant+Rockwell-modem-HOWTO, Conexant/Rockwell modem HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2002. A guide to using Conexant and Rockwell chipset based Software modems under Linux.

• Linmodem-HOWTO, Linmodem-Mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Feb 2001. Describes Linmodem (winmodem hardware) support under Linux.

• Linux-Modem-Sharing Modem sharing mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 2001. Describes how to setup a Linux system in order to share a modem attached to this system with other systems over a TCP/IP network.

• Modem-HOWTO, Modem HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 2007. Help with selecting, connecting, configuring, trouble-shooting, and understanding modems for a PC.

• Modem-Dialup-NT-HOWTO, Modem-Dialup-NT HOW-TO

  Removed: November 2003. This HOWTO has been removed for review.

• Motorola-Surfboard-Modem, Motorola Surfboard 4100 + 4200 Series USB Cable Modem mini-HOWTO

  Updated: May 2003. Written to assist the Linux user in setting up the Motorola Surfboard 4000 series of cable modems.

• PCTel-MicroModem-Config, PCTel HSP MicroModem Configuration mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Dec 2002. Make your PCTel HSP MicroModem work in Linux.

• Reliance-HOWTO, Reliance LG LSP 340 Series WLL Modem Setup HOWTO

  Updated: Jun 2005. This document explains how to set up and configure Reliance or TATA Indicomm WLL phones on Linux, using a serial cable instead of the (default) USB cable. It also has instructions on how to build the cable yourself.

• Winmodems-and-Linux-HOWTO, Winmodems-and-Linux HOWTO

  Updated: Apr 2001. Helps users get a Winmodem working under Linux.

4.3.15. Printers / Scanners

• Debian-and-Windows-Shared-Printing, Debian and Windows Shared Printing mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Jul 2005. Demonstrates how to use command-line tools to configure your Debian system for printing. It explains how to send documents from Linux to Windows printers and how to share Linux printers with Windows PCs.

• Printing-HOWTO, The Linux Printing HOWTO

  Updated: Jun 2003. A collection of information on how to generate, preview, print and fax anything under Linux (and other Unices in general).

• Scanner-HOWTO, The Scanner HOWTO

  Updated: May 2004. Documents the steps necessary for access and use of a photographic scanner device on a system running Linux.

4.3.16. Routers

• Linksys-Blue-Box-Router-HOWTO, Linksys Blue Box Router HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 2006. Hints and tips for managing Linksys routers from a Linux system, including the firmware upgrade procedure.

4.3.17. SCSI

• SCSI-2.4-HOWTO, The Linux 2.4 SCSI subsystem HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 2004. Describes the SCSI subsystem as the Linux kernel enters the 2.4 production series. An external view of the SCSI subsystem is the main theme. Material is included to help the system administration of the Linux SCSI subsystem.

• SCSI-Generic-HOWTO, The Linux SCSI Generic (sg) HOWTO

  Updated: May 2002. Describes the SCSI Generic driver (sg) found in the Linux 2.4 production series of kernels. Focuses on the interface and characteristics of the driver that application writers may need to know.

4.3.18. Serial Ports

• Serial-HOWTO, Serial HOWTO

  Updated: Feb 2011. Describes serial port features other than those which should be covered by other HOWTOs. Lists information on multiport serial cards and contains detailed technical information about the serial port itself.

• Boca, Installing Boca Card Mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 2001. Describes the basics of a Boca 16-port serial card (Boca 2016) with Linux.

• Serial-Laplink-HOWTO, Serial Laplink HOWTO

  Updated: Jul 2001. Details how to setup a “laplink” connection between two computers.

• Remote-Serial-Console-HOWTO, Remote Serial Console HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2003. Covers how to set up your hardware to use a serial console.

4.3.19. Sound Cards

Also see Applications: Section 4.5.5 Multimedia : Section 4.5.5.1 Sound.

• MIDI-HOWTO, The Linux MIDI-HOWTO

  Updated: May 2002. Describes the hardware, software and procedures needed to play and sequence using MIDI under Linux.

• Soundblaster-AWE, Sound Blaster AWE 32/64 HOWTO

  Updated: Jan 1998. How to install and configure a Sound Blaster 32 (SB AWE 32, SB AWE 64) card from Creative Labs in a Linux System using the AWE Sound Driver Extension written by Takashi Iwai. It also covers some special tools and players for the SB AWE series.

4.3.20. Tape Drives

• Ftape-HOWTO, Ftape HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 1998. Discusses essential do's and dont's for the ftape floppy tape driver under Linux. Focuses on the newest version (ftape-4.02 at the time of this writing).

4.3.21. Touchscreens

• XFree86-Touch-Screen-HOWTO, Linux Touch Screen HOWTO

  Updated: Nov 2006. How to set up a touch screen input device under XFree86.

4.3.22. UPS

• UPS-HOWTO, UPS HOWTO

  Updated: May 2007. Teaches you things you need to know to select a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) intelligently and make it work with your open-source operating system.

4.3.23. Wireless

• Wireless-HOWTO, Wireless HOWTO for Linux Systems

  Updated: Jul 2002. Document explains how to setup Wireless in Linux, compatibility problems, something about geographic requirements and more.

• Infrared-HOWTO, Linux Infrared HOWTO

  Updated: Oct 2011. Introduction to Linux and infrared devices and how to use the software provided by the Linux/IrDA project.

• Wireless-Link-sys-WPC11, Link-sys WPC11 Mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Jun 2004. How to set up a Wireless Link-Sys WPC11 card using a Link-SYS Wireless Access Point/DSL/Switch on a Debian system.

• Wireless-Sync-HOWTO, Wireless Sync HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2002. Explains how to perform a wireless, network sync between a Handspring Visor and jpilot or jpilot-sync.

4.3.24. Miscellaneous

• ACPI-HOWTO, ACPI: Advanced Configuration and Power Interface

  Updated: Jul 2004. Outlines how to patch a kernel for ACPI support; which allows control of power management from within the operating system.

• Athlon-Powersaving-HOWTO, Athlon Powersaving HOWTO

  Updated: Jun 2007. How to enable the power-saving functionality of the Athlon/Duron/AthlonXP processor on some motherboards/chipsets.

• Clock, The Clock Mini-HOWTO

  Updated: Nov 2000. How to set and keep your computer's clock on time.

• Flash-Memory-HOWTO, USB Flash Memory HOWTO

  Updated: Mar 2004. Describes procedures for installing USB Flash Memory devices and the way of formatting them for various file systems such as vfat (the way they usually come) and ext2 (the way they fit in better with Linux).

• IO-Perf-HOWTO, I/O Performance HOWTO

  Updated: May 2002. Covers information on available patches for the 2.4 kernel that will improve the I/O performance of your Linux operating system.

• MP3-Box-HOWTO, MP3 Player Box HOWTO

  Updated: Apr 2001. Describes how to build, configure, install, and use a custom MP3 player box. It lists the necessary hardware and answers a number of frequently asked questions.

• PCI-HOWTO, Linux PCI-HOWTO

  Updated: Jun 2001. Information on what works with Linux and PCI-boards and what does not.

• PCMCIA-HOWTO, Linux PCMCIA HOWTO

  Updated: Dec 2003. How to install and use PCMCIA Card Services for Linux.

• Plug-and-Play-HOWTO, The Linux Plug-and-Play HOWTO

  Updated: Aug 2007. How to get your Linux system to support Plug-and-Play.

• Smart-Card-HOWTO, Smart Card HOWTO

  Updated: Sep 2001. Information on smart card technology and its applications in Linux environment.

• VCR-HOWTO, VCR-HOWTO - Using your GNU/Linux computer as a VCR

  Updated: Jul 2001. A guide to setting up your GNU/Linux workstation as a digital VCR using the video4linux driver and a supported tuner card.

• Webcam-HOWTO, The Webcam HOWTO

  Updated: Feb 2005. Assists the reader in the steps necessary to configure and use a webcam within the Linux operating system.

• Xterminals, Connecting X Terminals to Linux Mini-HOWTO

  Updated: May 2003. How to connect X Terminals with a Linux host using nfs, xfs, xdm and xdmcp.