GRASS/LINUX: incompatible hardware list

GRASS GRASS user
1

Hi,
    As more and more people want to install GRASS/LINUX on their computers, I
have to say that not all computers will work with GRASS/LINUX happily. Here I
give some examples:

    DELL 466/T with s3 intergrated video card with 512k video ram-the video
card is not compatible with X Window. But a separate card can be added on.
    IBM PS/*s (MCA) are totally incompatible with ealy versions of Linux.
    GATEWAY2000 with 1.2 SCSI hard drive, at least the linux I used couldn't
recongnize the hard disk.
    ...
    Now I am trying to configure X Window for a WD Rocket card (came with a
GATEWAY) and havn't had much luck.
    If you have an example of incompatible hardware, please let the public
know so that beginners can avoid some frustration.
    Also, there is a compatibility list at tsx-11.mit.edu, but it is a bit
old and may not cover the compatibility of X Window.

Changyong Cao
GIS Lab Director
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1459
Tel: 618 692-2943 Fax: 618 692-1420
Internet: changyoc@daisy.siue.edu

2

GRASS/LINUX Users:

The two cases of incompatible hardware for running XFree86/Linux as a
potential platform for GRASS which I have run into are:

The Headland HT216-32 Local Bus Video on the Motherboard of the high-end
Packard Bell's is not supported in by the current release of XFree86 (1.3
or 2.0). Well more exactly is not supported in a SGVA Mode with 256
Colours (which is required for the XDRIVER of GRASS).

Also with several of the SLS and Slackware distributions, we were unable
to install Linux to a SCSI Drive (Maxtor LXT-340S) using its Seagate ST-02
SCSI Adapter. The Linux HD-FAQ describes potential timing problems
between the ST-02 and some SCSI Devices, so be warned that a Seagate ST-02
SCSI Adapter may cause problems (outside of the performance penalty of
using an inexpenive 8-bit SCSI Adapter in a multi-tasking environment).

Lawrence Houston - (houston@norton.geog.mcgill.ca)