/[d-i]/trunk/manual/en/hardware/hardware-supported.xml
ViewVC logotype

Contents of /trunk/manual/en/hardware/hardware-supported.xml

Parent Directory Parent Directory | Revision Log Revision Log


Revision 53453 - (show annotations) (download) (as text)
Tue May 20 20:13:21 2008 UTC (5 years ago) by fjp
File MIME type: text/xml
File size: 11811 byte(s)
Sigh. How hard can this be?
1 <!-- retain these comments for translator revision tracking -->
2 <!-- $Id$ -->
3
4 <sect1 id="hardware-supported">
5 <title>Supported Hardware</title>
6 <para>
7
8 Debian does not impose hardware requirements beyond the requirements
9 of the Linux kernel and the GNU tool-sets. Therefore, any
10 architecture or platform to which the Linux kernel, libc,
11 <command>gcc</command>, etc. have been ported, and for which a Debian
12 port exists, can run Debian. Please refer to the Ports pages at
13 <ulink url="&url-ports;"></ulink> for
14 more details on &arch-title; architecture systems which have been
15 tested with Debian.
16
17 </para><para>
18
19 Rather than attempting to describe all the different hardware
20 configurations which are supported for &arch-title;, this section
21 contains general information and pointers to where additional
22 information can be found.
23
24 </para>
25
26 <sect2><title>Supported Architectures</title>
27 <para>
28
29 Debian &release; supports twelve major architectures and several
30 variations of each architecture known as <quote>flavors</quote>.
31
32 </para><para>
33
34 <informaltable>
35 <tgroup cols="4">
36 <thead>
37 <row>
38 <entry>Architecture</entry><entry>Debian Designation</entry>
39 <entry>Subarchitecture</entry><entry>Flavor</entry>
40 </row>
41 </thead>
42
43 <tbody>
44 <row>
45 <entry>Intel x86-based</entry>
46 <entry>i386</entry>
47 <entry></entry>
48 <entry></entry>
49 </row>
50
51 <row>
52 <entry>AMD64 &amp; Intel EM64T</entry>
53 <entry>amd64</entry>
54 <entry></entry>
55 <entry></entry>
56 </row>
57
58 <row>
59 <entry>DEC Alpha</entry>
60 <entry>alpha</entry>
61 <entry></entry>
62 <entry></entry>
63 </row>
64
65 <row>
66 <entry morerows="2">ARM and StrongARM</entry>
67 <entry morerows="2">arm</entry>
68 <entry>Netwinder and CATS</entry>
69 <entry>netwinder</entry>
70 </row><row>
71 <entry>Intel IOP32x</entry>
72 <entry>iop32x</entry>
73 </row><row>
74 <entry>Intel IXP4xx</entry>
75 <entry>ixp4xx</entry>
76 </row>
77
78 <row>
79 <entry morerows="1">HP PA-RISC</entry>
80 <entry morerows="1">hppa</entry>
81 <entry>PA-RISC 1.1</entry>
82 <entry>32</entry>
83 </row><row>
84 <entry>PA-RISC 2.0</entry>
85 <entry>64</entry>
86 </row>
87
88 <row>
89 <entry>Intel IA-64</entry>
90 <entry>ia64</entry>
91 <entry></entry>
92 <entry></entry>
93 </row>
94
95 <row>
96 <entry morerows="3">MIPS (big endian)</entry>
97 <entry morerows="3">mips</entry>
98 <entry>SGI IP22 (Indy/Indigo 2)</entry>
99 <entry>r4k-ip22</entry>
100 </row><row>
101 <entry>SGI IP32 (O2)</entry>
102 <entry>r5k-ip32</entry>
103 </row><row>
104 <entry>Broadcom BCM91250A (SWARM)</entry>
105 <entry>sb1-bcm91250a</entry>
106 </row><row>
107 <entry>Broadcom BCM91480B (BigSur)</entry>
108 <entry>sb1a-bcm91480b</entry>
109 </row>
110
111 <row>
112 <entry morerows="2">MIPS (little endian)</entry>
113 <entry morerows="2">mipsel</entry>
114 <entry>Cobalt</entry>
115 <entry>cobalt</entry>
116 </row><row>
117 <entry>Broadcom BCM91250A (SWARM)</entry>
118 <entry>sb1-bcm91250a</entry>
119 </row><row>
120 <entry>Broadcom BCM91480B (BigSur)</entry>
121 <entry>sb1a-bcm91480b</entry>
122 </row>
123
124 <row>
125 <entry morerows="5">Motorola 680x0</entry>
126 <entry morerows="5">m68k</entry>
127 <entry>Atari</entry>
128 <entry>atari</entry>
129 </row><row>
130 <entry>Amiga</entry>
131 <entry>amiga</entry>
132 </row><row>
133 <entry>68k Macintosh</entry>
134 <entry>mac</entry>
135 </row><row>
136 <entry morerows="2">VME</entry>
137 <entry>bvme6000</entry>
138 </row><row>
139 <entry>mvme147</entry>
140 </row><row>
141 <entry>mvme16x</entry>
142 </row>
143
144 <row>
145 <entry morerows="2">IBM/Motorola PowerPC</entry>
146 <entry morerows="2">powerpc</entry>
147 <entry>CHRP</entry>
148 <entry>chrp</entry>
149 </row><row>
150 <entry>PowerMac</entry>
151 <entry>pmac</entry>
152 </row><row>
153 <entry>PReP</entry>
154 <entry>prep</entry>
155 </row>
156
157 <row>
158 <entry morerows="1">Sun SPARC</entry>
159 <entry morerows="1">sparc</entry>
160 <entry>sun4u</entry>
161 <entry morerows="1">sparc64</entry>
162 </row><row>
163 <entry>sun4v</entry>
164 </row>
165
166 <row>
167 <entry morerows="1">IBM S/390</entry>
168 <entry morerows="1">s390</entry>
169 <entry>IPL from VM-reader and DASD</entry>
170 <entry>generic</entry>
171 </row><row>
172 <entry>IPL from tape</entry>
173 <entry>tape</entry>
174 </row>
175
176 </tbody></tgroup></informaltable>
177
178 </para><para>
179
180 This document covers installation for the
181 <emphasis>&arch-title;</emphasis> architecture. If you are looking
182 for information on any of the other Debian-supported architectures
183 take a look at the
184 <ulink url="http://www.debian.org/ports/">Debian-Ports</ulink> pages.
185
186 </para><para condition="new-arch">
187
188 This is the first official release of &debian; for the &arch-title;
189 architecture. We feel that it has proven itself sufficiently to be
190 released. However, because it has not had the exposure (and hence
191 testing by users) that some other architectures have had, you may
192 encounter a few bugs. Use our
193 <ulink url="&url-bts;">Bug Tracking System</ulink> to report any
194 problems; make sure to mention the fact that the bug is on the
195 &arch-title; platform. It can be necessary to use the
196 <ulink url="&url-list-subscribe;">debian-&arch-listname; mailing list</ulink>
197 as well.
198
199 </para>
200 </sect2>
201
202 <!-- supported cpu docs -->
203 &supported-alpha.xml;
204 &supported-amd64.xml;
205 &supported-arm.xml;
206 &supported-hppa.xml;
207 &supported-i386.xml;
208 &supported-ia64.xml; <!-- FIXME: currently missing -->
209 &supported-m68k.xml;
210 &supported-mips.xml;
211 &supported-mipsel.xml;
212 &supported-powerpc.xml;
213 &supported-s390.xml;
214 &supported-sparc.xml;
215
216 <sect2 id="gfx" arch="not-s390"><title>Graphics Card Support</title>
217 <para arch="x86">
218
219 You should be using a VGA-compatible display interface for the console
220 terminal. Nearly every modern display card is compatible with
221 VGA. Ancient standards such CGA, MDA, or HGA should also work,
222 assuming you do not require X11 support. Note that X11 is not used
223 during the installation process described in this document.
224
225 </para><para>
226
227 Debian's support for graphical interfaces is determined by the
228 underlying support found in X.Org's X11 system. Most AGP, PCI and
229 PCIe video cards work under X.Org. Details on supported graphics
230 buses, cards, monitors, and pointing devices can be found at
231 <ulink url="&url-xorg;"></ulink>. Debian &release; ships
232 with X.Org version &x11ver;.
233
234 </para><para arch="mips">
235
236 <!-- FIXME: mention explicit graphics chips and not system names -->
237 The X.Org X Window System is only supported on the SGI Indy and the O2. The
238 Broadcom BCM91250A and BCM91480B evaluation boards have standard 3.3v PCI
239 slots and support VGA emulation or Linux framebuffer on a selected range
240 of graphics cards. A <ulink url="&url-bcm91250a-hardware;">compatibility
241 listing</ulink> for Broadcom evaluation boards is available.
242
243 </para><para arch="mipsel">
244
245 The Broadcom BCM91250A and BCM91480B evaluation boards have standard 3.3v PCI
246 slots and support VGA emulation or Linux framebuffer on a selected range
247 of graphics cards. A <ulink url="&url-bcm91250a-hardware;">compatibility
248 listing</ulink> for Broadcom evaluation boards is available.
249
250 </para><para arch="sparc">
251
252 Most graphics options commonly found on Sparc-based machines are supported.
253 X.org graphics drivers are available for sunbw2, suncg14, suncg3, suncg6,
254 sunleo and suntcx framebuffers, Creator3D and Elite3D cards (sunffb driver),
255 PGX24/PGX64 ATI-based video cards (ati driver), and PermediaII-based cards
256 (glint driver). To use an Elite3D card with X.org you additionally need to
257 install the <classname>afbinit</classname> package, and read the documentation
258 included with it on how to activate the card.
259
260 </para><para arch="sparc">
261
262 It is not uncommon for a Sparc machine to have two graphics cards in a
263 default configuration. In such a case there is a possibility that the
264 Linux kernel will not direct its output to the card initially used by the
265 firmware. The lack of output on the graphical console may then be mistaken
266 for a hang (usually the last message seen on console is 'Booting Linux...').
267 One possible solution is to physically remove one of the video cards;
268 another option is to disable one of the cards using a kernel boot parameter.
269 Also, if graphical output is not required or desired, serial console may be
270 used as an alternative. On some systems use of serial console can be
271 activated automatically by disconnecting the keyboard before booting the
272 system.
273
274 </para>
275 </sect2>
276
277 <sect2 arch="x86" id="laptops"><title>Laptops</title>
278 <para>
279
280 Laptops are also supported. Laptops are often specialized or contain
281 proprietary hardware. To see if your particular laptop works well
282 with GNU/Linux, see the
283 <ulink url="&url-x86-laptop;">Linux Laptop pages</ulink>
284
285 </para>
286 </sect2>
287
288 <sect2 condition="defaults-smp">
289 <title>Multiple Processors</title>
290 <para>
291
292 Multiprocessor support &mdash; also called <quote>symmetric multiprocessing</quote>
293 or SMP &mdash; is available for this architecture. The standard Debian
294 &release; kernel image was compiled with SMP support. This should not
295 prevent installation, since the SMP kernel should boot on non-SMP systems;
296 the kernel will simply cause a bit more overhead.
297
298 </para><para>
299
300 In order to optimize the kernel for single CPU systems, you'll have to
301 replace the standard Debian kernel. You can find a discussion of how
302 to do this in <xref linkend="kernel-baking"/>. At this time
303 (kernel version &kernelversion;) the way you disable SMP is to deselect
304 <quote>&smp-config-option;</quote> in the <quote>&smp-config-section;</quote>
305 section of the kernel config.
306
307 </para>
308 </sect2>
309
310 <sect2 condition="smp-alternatives">
311 <title>Multiple Processors</title>
312
313 <para>
314
315 Multiprocessor support &mdash; also called <quote>symmetric
316 multiprocessing</quote> or SMP &mdash; is available for this architecture.
317 The standard Debian &release; kernel image was compiled with
318 <firstterm>SMP-alternatives</firstterm> support. This means that the kernel
319 will detect the number of processors (or processor cores) and will
320 automatically deactivate SMP on uniprocessor systems.
321
322 </para><para arch="i386">
323
324 The 486 flavour of the Debian kernel image packages for &arch-title;
325 is not compiled with SMP support.
326
327 </para>
328 </sect2>
329
330 <sect2 condition="supports-smp">
331 <title>Multiple Processors</title>
332 <para>
333
334 Multiprocessor support &mdash; also called <quote>symmetric
335 multiprocessing</quote> or SMP &mdash; is available for this architecture.
336 However, the standard Debian &release; kernel image does not support
337 SMP. This should not prevent installation, since the standard,
338 non-SMP kernel should boot on SMP systems; the kernel will simply use
339 the first CPU.
340
341 </para><para>
342
343 In order to take advantage of multiple processors, you'll have to
344 replace the standard Debian kernel. You can find a discussion of how
345 to do this in <xref linkend="kernel-baking"/>. At this time
346 (kernel version &kernelversion;) the way you enable SMP is to select
347 <quote>&smp-config-option;</quote> in the <quote>&smp-config-section;</quote>
348 section of the kernel config.
349
350 </para>
351 </sect2>
352
353 <sect2 condition="supports-smp-sometimes">
354 <title>Multiple Processors</title>
355 <para>
356
357 Multiprocessor support &mdash; also called <quote>symmetric
358 multiprocessing</quote> or SMP &mdash; is available for this architecture,
359 and is supported by a precompiled Debian kernel image. Depending on your
360 install media, this SMP-capable kernel may or may not be installed by
361 default. This should not prevent installation, since the standard,
362 non-SMP kernel should boot on SMP systems; the kernel will simply use
363 the first CPU.
364
365 </para><para>
366
367 In order to take advantage of multiple processors, you should check to see
368 if a kernel package that supports SMP is installed, and if not, choose an
369 appropriate kernel package.
370
371 </para><para>
372
373 You can also build your own customized kernel to support SMP. You can find
374 a discussion of how to do this in <xref linkend="kernel-baking"/>. At this
375 time (kernel version &kernelversion;) the way you enable SMP is to select
376 <quote>&smp-config-option;</quote> in the <quote>&smp-config-section;</quote>
377 section of the kernel config.
378
379 </para>
380 </sect2>
381 </sect1>

Properties

Name Value
svn:keywords Id

  ViewVC Help
Powered by ViewVC 1.1.5