itsbrad212's Arch Linux Blog

Got everything setup on my new OpenBSD system. I have the following set up:

• Xorg w/Fluxbox (worked out-of-the-box)
• SSH w/laptop
• Basic Apps (Firefox, etc.)
• Get flash working (sort of: http://polarwave.openbsd101.com/blog/?p=117)

I need to:

• Get sound working (need new speakers)
• Get skype working (if there is a possible way)

OpenBSD is very similar to Arch in the way it is set up. They don’t say clean code and stability for nothing!

Screenie:

Well, I am finally done with my newest PC, and as always, Arch will be going on it. With 4-cores, it handles things pretty nicely. I am going to (as in 10 minutes from now) running an ethernet cord from upstairs into my basement where it will be. I am happy about this for two reasons:

• I finally don’t have to use a wireless connection, so more network speed
• I am probably going to use this as a server

The topic of a server brings me to my next point: What OS will I be using for hosting everything? Well, it is a little complicated what I plan to do with this computer. I am either going to use the same OS as a desktop and a server, or use two different ones. I am debating on using either FreeBSD or OpenBSD as a server OS, and I am leaning towards OpenBSD at the moment. I would basically use the desktop OS when I needed to and have the server running the rest of the time. I know, not the best idea, but hey, I can only buy so much.

Everybody and their dog seems to have ath5k working fine on newer kernel versions, but god forbid it works for me </rant>

In all seriousness, I can’t seem to figure out why (on 2 different architectures) our favorite atheros driver doesn’t work.  What does work, however, is any kernel 2.6.33.3-2 or below. Now I am running to all the PCs I have using the ath5k driver to downgrade the kernel. Oh, but this can’t be a bug, because I am the one having problems. killall rant.  By not working, I mean dhcpcd times out every time. And don’t even get me started on dhclient or netcfg. Okay, well, I am now scared to ever upgrade my kernel again, fearing I will need to bring out my old kernel files stored conveniently in my /boot directory. Please Arch devs, FIX THIS

EDIT: Even better, downgrading the kernel still was useless for the x86_64 driver.  Fun. Now I have my mom harping on me asking “Why can’t I see my wallpaper?”, because Ubuntu spontaneously failed after a kernel upgrade I assume, so I popped an Arch64 CD in that sucker and hoped for the best. Because ath5k didn’t work with the kernel out-of-the-box (strange), I upgraded to the latest. I never bothered to install X or anything, because it is completely useless to her without an internet connection.