[LUAU] Re: Laptop Install

[Hawaii Linux Institute]

Using nVidia cards as an example, the native (i.e., open-sourced 
version) nv module and agp drivers are not compatible with STR.  Thus 
the first thing one must do is to re-compile the kernel, making the agp 
driver a loadable module, then download and use the binary nVidia and 
agp drivers by modifying the xorg.conf file.  Since both are 
kernel-dependent, this process will have to be repeated each time you 
upgrade the kernel.  A typical royal pain in the 8th.

Certain modules, most notably usb-related modules, also cause problems.  
They must be removed before STR and reloaded after waking up.  Since 
these can be done with scripts, they are not as bad as it sounds.

STR has a better chance to work if you use a "more stable" distro such 
as Debian, RHEL.  By design, Fedora is always a work in progress.  There 
are pros and cons of using Fedora vis-a-vis Debian.  The ideal way is to 
use both.

Wrt USB wifi, Jeff knows this topic probably better than anyone on the 
island.  I have a personal bias against Centrino.  However, since most 
notebooks are expected to be dual-boot, lack of a Linux wifi driver may 
not post a very serious problem.

I am expecting to receive a "Honda Civic" type notebook (HP 
ze2000e--actually it is more like Infiniti G35), and will try to make to 
your 10:00 am laptop install fair if it arrives in time.  I plan to 
install WinXP, FC4, Solaris, and Debian on the same machine.  
Multi-booting is not as straightforward when Solaris is involved.  Wayne