----- Forwarded message from Johan Spee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----- From: Johan Spee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Geert Stappers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Bug#399120: RC1 bugreport Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:14:24 +0100 Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1) Gecko/20061109 Thunderbird/2.0b1pre Mnenhy/0.7.4.0
Geert Stappers wrote: > >Please provide more information about the JMicron controller. > >Things that are important: > >* What is the policy of the hardware manufactor > for supporting his hardware in a true free[1] software environment? > >* Is there a GPL or another libre drive available? > - Do you know the name of the driver? > - What is the name of the driver? > >* Where are the hardware specifications? > - Are chipset datasheets about it available? > Hi Geert, The JMicron incompatibility is well known (Bug#385697, see for instance www.mail-archive.com/debian-kernel@lists.debian.org/msg20298.html). I reported the 'bug' again because I'd hate to see a new Debian version released that cannot be installed on many new motherboards. But since you ask, here is more information: The Intel P965 chipset only supports SATA, not the parallel IDE iterface that preceded it. Since most CD/DVD drives still use parallel IDE most P965 motherboards come with a separate PATA/SATA interface. On ASUS boards this interface uses the JMicron controller (JMB363). According to JMcron, kernels 2.6.16 and above should support this controller (http://www.jmicron.com/JMB363.html), but the truth is that even 2.6.17 does not recognize it (with the exception of Ubuntu 6.10). As a consequence the installation CD cannot be mounted and Debian cannot be installed. I have worked around this (using a customized iso) and have Debian with the 2.6.18 kernel from unstable on my pc now. Works like a charm! Best wishes, Johan Spee ----- End forwarded message ----- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
