Wireless networking and the Linux kernel

Hello from Gregg C Levine
Can anyone answer this posing question: When was wireless networking added to
the Linux kernel? Was it in 2.2.18? Or in the 2.4.x series? I have a laptop here that I
sometimes use to demonstrate Linux to customers. It's semi-retired now, but before
I start shopping for a new one, I'd like some bargaining chips.
-------
Gregg C Levine drwho8 atsign att dot net
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(Remove gizmo after e-mail address in headers if considering an e-mail reply.)

Gregg C Levine wrote:

> Hello from Gregg C Levine
> Can anyone answer this posing question: When was wireless networking added to
> the Linux kernel? Was it in 2.2.18? Or in the 2.4.x series? I have a laptop here that I
> sometimes use to demonstrate Linux to customers. It's semi-retired now, but before
> I start shopping for a new one, I'd like some bargaining chips.
> -------
> Gregg C Levine drwho8 atsign att dot net
> "This signature will self destruct in five seconds."
> (Remove gizmo after e-mail address in headers if considering an e-mail reply.)
>
Why use an old kernel? Even on the older systems you can use the newer
kernels. Of course I don't know how old your laptop is exactly but I
have worked with 2.4.x kernels on Pentium I's with max 64 MB RAM. I
suppose a 2.6.x should do it also, at least at a bit faster system,
because Pentium I is in my opinion real-retired.

And of course I would choose for a newer kernel because the support for
wireless is better than before. But the most important thing you've got
to check if you want WLAN is that your card (chipset) is supported under
linux.

Pim Vullers
TU/e Student

Pim Vullers <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> [...] But the most important thing you've got
> to check if you want WLAN is that your card (chipset) is supported under
> linux.

....or supported by ndiswrapper (free) or linuxant (USD $20 / GBP 12).

Chris

Hello from Gregg C Levine
Regarding what model laptop it is, he's a Dell Latitude XP, and that's a 486
processor, with a small disk drive.
I can't get any later releases of Slackware to run there. Only the 2.2.18 or 2.2.19
kernel will run there.
--------
Gregg C Levine drwho8 atsign att dot net
"This signature will self destruct after reading."
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In article <5m7g32-(E-Mail Removed)>, chris-(E-Mail Removed)
says...
>
>Pim Vullers <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> [...] But the most important thing you've got
>> to check if you want WLAN is that your card (chipset) is supported under
>> linux.
>
>...or supported by ndiswrapper (free) or linuxant (USD $20 / GBP 12).
>
>Chris

My firewall/router is a 486/33MHz with 16M of ram. I have no problem
running 2.4 kernel. You may want to check if you are using a kernel
which is optimized for a Pentium Class cpu. I don't use Slackware.
But it is hard to believe the stock kernel of Slackware is optimized
for 586. Make sure you are using the 386 kernel.

Gregg C Levine (drwho8__NOTME__@att.net) wrote:
: Hello from Gregg C Levine
: Regarding what model laptop it is, he's a Dell Latitude XP, and that's a 486
: processor, with a small disk drive.
: I can't get any later releases of Slackware to run there. Only the 2.2.18 or 2.2.19
: kernel will run there.
: --------
: Gregg C Levine drwho8 atsign att dot net
: "This signature will self destruct after reading."
: (Remove gizmo before replying by e-mail.)
: In article <5m7g32-(E-Mail Removed)>, chris-(E-Mail Removed)
: says...
: >
: >Pim Vullers <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
: >> [...] But the most important thing you've got
: >> to check if you want WLAN is that your card (chipset) is supported under
: >> linux.
: >
: >...or supported by ndiswrapper (free) or linuxant (USD $20 / GBP 12).
: >
: >Chris