CrazyEngineers
CrazyEngineers

  • Do linux need drivers like windows?

    Jatin Kumar

    Member

    Updated: Oct 26, 2024
    Views: 1.2K
    i am about to install to install linux, i want to ask that, Do Linux need drivers like windows for everything i.e. network, sound, video and i am installing KALI LINUX .
    0
    Replies
Howdy guest!
Dear guest, you must be logged-in to participate on CrazyEngineers. We would love to have you as a member of our community. Consider creating an account or login.
Replies

  • Aashish Joshi

    Member • Jul 22, 2015

    Yes, every OS needs drivers to interact with you computer's hardware. I havent used KALI Linux so i can't give you any specific details, but most linux distros come with drivers for common devices.

    By the way, any specific reason for this distro? 😀
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • pratap singh, upendra

    Member • Jul 22, 2015

    Every distribution of Linux does require drivers.

    Do not see the drivers as a setup (.exe) file as you see in Windows. Drivers are basically programs written to allow for amenable interaction between human and computer hardware.

    All such programs are sitting in /etc/ directory of your filesystem. Most of these programs are written in C or bash language and are meant to achieve specific goals.

    In LINUX, there are few drivers that are in-built. Others have to be compiled separately.
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • Jatin Kumar

    Member • Jul 22, 2015

    Aashish Joshi
    Yes, every OS needs drivers to interact with you computer's hardware. I havent used KALI Linux so i can't give you any specific details, but most linux distros come with drivers for common devices.

    By the way, any specific reason for this distro? 😀
    got so many SPL tools and there is much to learn

    proffy
    Every distribution of Linux does require drivers.

    Do not see the drivers as a setup (.exe) file as you see in Windows. Drivers are basically programs written to allow for amenable interaction between human and computer hardware.

    All such programs are sitting in /etc/ directory of your filesystem. Most of these programs are written in C or bash language and are meant to achieve specific goals.

    In LINUX, there are few drivers that are in-built. Others have to be compiled separately.
    where I can find these drivers ,is there any SPL website?
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • Aashish Joshi

    Member • Jul 22, 2015

    I see this is a debian based distro, you probably dont need to worry about the drivers they should be taken care of. However, i would recommend installing it as a virtual machine using Oracle's VirtualBox first. This way you can experience it without disturbing the current OS.
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • Jatin Kumar

    Member • Jul 22, 2015

    Aashish Joshi
    I see this is a debian based distro, you probably dont need to worry about the drivers they should be taken care of. However, i would recommend installing it as a virtual machine using Oracle's VirtualBox first. This way you can experience it without disturbing the current OS.
    I was doing it till now ,but in this case ram is divided b/w both os that creates problems in some apps
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • pratap singh, upendra

    Member • Jul 22, 2015

    Jatin Asija
    got so many SPL tools and there is much to learn


    where I can find these drivers ,is there any SPL website?
    Drivers, basically are encapsulated in what are called as packages. When you want to use a different service, you are prompted to install certain packages from the terminal. These packages contain the configuration and the service information all together.

    In Windows, there is a GUI (radio buttons, check boxes, drop down lists etc.) to configure a particular hardware or service. In Linux you have to install appropriate packages. Once you are done with the packages, certain files are going to appear with the extension .conf. These files have got modifiable parameters and their values (key-value pairs) where each key has got its own significance. The values associated with these keys have to be changed based upon your configuration requirements.

    Tip:
    Do not change these files if you are not sure as to what you are doing. You may end up corrupting the file system and the operating system.
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • Abhishek Rawal

    Member • Jul 23, 2015

    All opensource drivers all already upstreamed into Linux Kernel itself. So, unlike Windows you don't have to install drivers separately, except the proprietary ones.

    For example, If you have ATI Radeon graphics card, when you install a linux distro, it will by default install Radeon drivers (opensource drivers maintained by X.org devs), but if you need proprietary one maintained by ATI developers (known as fglrx), you can easily switch to it.
    Same with Nvidia gfx cards, Nouveau (opensource) is by default, you can pick proprietary one and replace it.

    Other hardware drivers like sound, touchpad, USB,etc. are already there in Linux Kernel itself.
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • Abhishek Rawal

    Member • Jul 23, 2015

    proffy
    Every distribution of Linux does require drivers.
    True.

    proffy
    Do not see the drivers as a setup (.exe) file as you see in Windows. Drivers are basically programs written to allow for amenable interaction between human and computer hardware.
    Okay.

    proffy
    All such programs are sitting in /etc/ directory of your filesystem. Most of these programs are written in C or bash language and are meant to achieve specific goals.
    Whaaaaaat ?
    /etc directory simply contains configuration files, simple as that. Drivers don't reside there. Depends on the use of device, it resides in user-space or kernel-space of Kernel. If device need to respond to interrupts then it is to be written in kernel space.

    proffy
    In LINUX, there are few drivers that are in-built. Others have to be compiled separately.
    This is ultimate bullshit. Not few but most drivers are already there in Linux kernel itself. Let me tell you, If you're going to install Linux distro in machine, you'll hardly have to waste time in installing any driver cuz kernel have it all, except proprietary drivers.
    Proprietary drivers are never accepted or merged in mainline.
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • Abhishek Rawal

    Member • Jul 23, 2015

    Jatin Asija
    where I can find these drivers ,is there any SPL website?
    You won't find these drivers anywhere, 'cuz you don't need it.
    Only the proprietary graphics drivers will be available in Nvidia and ATI website.
    But if you're not going to game in Linux, you don't even have to care about proprietary blob because Opensource drivers are already installed by default, which works out of box.
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel

  • pratap singh, upendra

    Member • Jul 23, 2015

    Abhishek Rawal
    /etc directory simply contains configuration files, simple as that
    Well that was my mistake. Its 'configuration files' and not 'programs'.
    Are you sure? This action cannot be undone.
    Cancel
Home Channels Search Login Register