Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Hi all.
I am new with easyos.
I got a wifi card thats needs the 6.x kernel to work but EasyOS has the 5.x.

how can I effectively sort this issue out?

Thanks

What have you tried so far? How did you find out the wifi card needs the 6.x kernel?

I own a recently bought gigabyte aorus gc-wbax210 wifi card.
I cannot recall where but I read, before the purchace, that it fully supported linux but only by kernel 6.x.
Every time I try a linux distro with the 4.x or 5.x kernel it is not recognized, whereas every distro with 6.x kernel it works out of the box.

I have not tried anything so far to be honest, just thought about asking here before.

@darksun The best bet is to swap the kernel manually. It is a straight forward procedure.

These are all kernels compiled specifically for EasyOS -> https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/source/kernel/

Follow these instructions to swap out the current kernel with the one you chosen to download from the above URL :

Replace 'vmlinuz' in the boot partition with your new one.

You must also copy-in /lib/modules/<kernel version>

Then reboot.

If the kernel has aufs, it should work.

However, the EasyOS kernel has security features, the lack of which will cause trouble.
If you have an encrypted working partition, expect boot failure.
Then there is the bootup in ram with internal drives disabled, expect that not to work.

In other words, you are better off only using kernels compiled for EasyOS.

thanks!
I will try as soon as possible

@darksun :-

Part of the reason for the recommendation of the 6.x.x kernel will be because most mainstream distros go out of their way to constantly update to the very newest version of the kernel. These have all been using the 6-series for a while now. This being the case - and most not knowing about Puppy, and ONLY knowing how mainstream distros do things - hardware manufacturers will expect you're already using the 6-series.

(It's the geek mindset.....that and the fact that Windoze drums it into you at every opportunity, "MUST run the very newest version of everything ALL THE TIME." And most 'puter users have the same mindset; "I've got brand new hardware, so why won't it run?")

Different sides of the fence, different ways of doing things. At least on this side, you update the kernel.....and ALL your drivers are taken care of at the same time.

Mike.

With very new hardware you will need a very new Linux kernel.

Why?

The kernel is what is providing the ability to interface with the hardware and use it. Providing the needed drivers, interface, and firmware to run the hardware.

there is no way an older kernel is going to have in it what is needed to work with very new hardware that was not even available when the kernel was produced.

For very new WIFI hardware it is usually missing the needed drivers and firmware to run the hardware.

The forum has topics about getting WIFI hardware drivers and firmware for Puppy Linux versions.
But Easy OS is not Puppy Linux
So I am not sure how to apply these methods to Easy OS.

so changing the kernel may be the easy way to get what is needed.