Do i Install all drivers in Linux?

[Jaguar.]

Hi. I am new in Linux world? So i just install debian lenny linux and want to understand. Do i install all drivers in my system and if no where i can see that and how can i fix it? I want to understand does my system working 100% good or i missed something...??

[MikeTbob]

Hi. I am new in Linux world? So i just install debian lenny linux and want to understand. Do i install all drivers in my system and if no where i can see that and how can i fix it? I want to understand does my system working 100% good or i missed something...??

Hello and Welcome.
Linux is a bit different from Windows when it comes to drivers. Most drivers are already installed on your system, through the Kernel. You might need to install drivers for Wireless/Ethernet cards and usually Video cards....but some distros provide these for you too. Does everything seem to be working ok?

Check this link for lots of good info on getting started with Linux.
http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

[Jaguar.]

I just found "Debian GNU/Linux device driver check page".. (kmuto.jp/debian/hcl/ --this is link) - this is something like that what i want to get (list of that what working not good). But this page is not Debian website... can i trust them? And i understand that i need setup a lot drivers for motherboard from this page. Does it mean that linux setuping not all drivers when it's install and even didn't tell me about this?
Does Debian.org has something like this checking website ? Where i can see a clear and real information in my system about that what working good and what no?

[MikeTbob]

You can check here, for supported hardware.....is this what you want?
2.1.*Supported Hardware

I think if Debian did not have the correct drivers for your system, you wouldn't be on the Internet or booting up with Debian.

[Jaguar.]

Thanks MikeTbob. I realy want to see the list of messages. Which one driver is installed and which device working (or not working) good. I am looking something like Device Manager in ms windows (it can be even in console ). Just want to see what situation is with my system devices and does it working good. For example i know for sure that i need driver for my video card (3d not working ) but i can't see any masseges in system (or i just don't know where it is), maybe i need install some another driver for some devices and i don't know this because can't see that messages. So realy i want to see current situation. Thanks.

[Jaguar.]

So it looks like system can work even without some driver... for exampl like for video card. Maybe something not working ok with mother board and because of this computer has low speed and i can't see that (like with video card when 3d nor working). I realy just want to see the situation with all this stuff .

[MikeTbob]

Try installing lshw or gtk-lshw,,,,it gives you a representaation of your internal components and drivers.

[coopstah13]

It is becoming exceedingly rare that you need to search out a driver for a piece of hardware under linux. If your hardware is working, I wouldn't worry about it. As mike pointed out, usually the only thing necessary is wireless cards (though its usually just a matter of getting firmware nowadays) and video cards. It is possible that you don't have a 3D capable video card. What is your video card? Only then can we tell you if you need a driver or not.

[Jaguar.]

Thanks!
My video card is Nvidia Geforce 9600GT. I looked on debian website but can't find driver. I found one on the nvidia web but it has a lot dependencies. So i think i need a driver for video card because when i run compiz it's very slow. Thanks for all information. Can some one explain what is "Debian GNU/Linux device driver check page".. (kmuto.jp/debian/hcl/ --this is link). I don't realy understand this.

[hazel]

When you have hardware problems, it's always worth looking at the startup messages from the kernel. This will tell you at once if the kernel has detected your hardware and what it thinks this hardware is. Generally speaking, if hardware is detected successfully, it means that the kernel has a driver for it.

The command you need for this is dmesg and you can use the more command to page through it. Just open a terminal on your desktop and type dmesg|more. Scroll through the output with the space-bar and look for the relevant lines.