| SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server – Installation and Administration Chapter 2. YaST — Configuration / 2.4. Hardware | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2.3. Software | 2.5. Network Devices |  | |
| SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server – Installation and Administration Chapter 2. YaST — Configuration / 2.4. Hardware | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3. Software | 2.5. Network Devices | | |
New hardware must first be installed or connected as specified by the vendor. Turn on external devices and start the respective YaST module. Most devices are automatically detected by YaST and the technical data is displayed. If the automatic detection fails, YaST offers a list of devices (model, vendor, etc.) from which to select the suitable device. Consult the documentation enclosed with your hardware for more information.
![[Important]](admon/important.png) | Model Designations |
|---|---|
If your model is not included in the device list, try a model with a similar designation. However, in some cases the model must match exactly, as similar designations do not always indicate compatibility. | |
Within the scope of the installation, all detected CD-ROM drives are integrated in the installed system by means of entries in the file /etc/fstab. The respective subdirectories are created in /media. Use this YaST module to integrate additional drives in the system.
When the module is started, a list of all detected drives is displayed. Mark your new drive using the check box at the beginning of the line and complete the integration with . The new drive is then integrated in the system.
| S/390, zSeries: Connecting SCSI CD-ROM Drives |
|---|---|
Connecting a SCSI CD-ROM drive to an IBM S/390 and zSeries system requires the some preparation. First, connect the device to an FCP adapter. Then activate this device with YaST as for ZFCP hard disks, explained in Section 1.5. “S/390, zSeries: Hard Disk Configuration”. The rest of the procedure is as described above. | |
To add a DASD to an installed system, use the YaST DASD module (+). In the first screen, select the disks to make available to your Linux installation and click . Select Activate and leave the dialog with .
For the current disk set to be persistent after reboot:
If using a dasd list in the parameter list of /etc/zipl.conf (e.g., dasd=301,302), edit /etc/zipl.conf to include the new DASD.
If the DASD management is not done via /etc/zipl.conf, issue cd /boot and mkinitrd. To make sure the new DASD is included in the setup, check the output of mkinitrd.
Finally, run zipl -V.
A Linux system manages printers through print queues. Before any data is printed, it is sent to a print queue for temporary storage. From there, it is retrieved by a print spooler, which sends it to the printer device in the required order.
However, this data usually is not available in a form that can be processed by the printer. A graphical image, for instance, first needs to be converted into a format the printer can understand. This conversion into a printer language is achieved with a print filter, a program called by the print spooler to translate data as needed, so the printer can handle it.
![[Tip]](admon/tip.png) | Further Reading |
|---|---|
More detailed information about printing in Linux can be found in Chapter 13. Printer Operation. | |
To configure the printer, select + in the YaST control center. This opens the main printer configuration window, where the detected devices are listed in the upper part. The lower part lists any queues configured so far. If your printer was not autodetected, you can configure it manually.
YaST is able to configure the printer automatically if the parallel or USB port can be set up automatically and the connected printer can be autodetected. Additionally, the ID string of the printer, as supplied to YaST during hardware autodetection, must be included in the printer database. Given that this ID may differ from the actual name of the model, you may need to select the model manually.
To make sure everything works properly, each configuration should be checked with the print test function of YaST. The YaST test page also provides important information about the configuration that is being tested.
If the requirements for automatic configuration are not met or if you want a custom setup, configure the printer manually. Depending on how successful the autodetection is and how much information about the printer model is found in the database, YaST may be able to determine the right settings automatically or at least make a reasonable preselection.
The following parameters must be configured:
The configuration of the hardware connection depends on whether YaST has been able to find the printer during hardware autodetection. If YaST is able to detect the printer model automatically, it can be assumed that the printer connection works on the hardware level, and no settings need to be changed in this respect. If YaST is unable to autodetect the printer model, there may be some problem with the connection on the hardware level. In this case some manual intervention is required to configure the connection.
The queue name is used when issuing print commands. Therefore, the name should be relatively short and consist of lowercase letters and numbers only.
All printer-specific parameters (such as the Ghostscript driver to use and the printer filter parameters for the driver) are stored in a PPD file. For many printer models, choose among various PPD files, for example, if several Ghostscript drivers work with the given model.
When you select a manufacturer and a model, YaST selects the PPD file that corresponds to the printer. If several PPD files are available for the model, YaST defaults to one of them (normally the one marked recommended). You can change the default PPD file after selecting .
For non-PostScript models, all printer-specific data is produced by the Ghostscript driver. For this reason, the driver configuration is the single most important factor determining the output quality. The printout is affected both by the kind of Ghostscript driver (PPD file) selected and the options specified for it. If necessary, change additional options (as made available by the PPD file) after selecting .
Always check whether your settings work as expected by printing the test page. If the output is garbled, for example with several pages almost empty, you should be able to stop the printer by first removing all paper then stopping the test from YaST.
If the printer database does not include an entry for your model, you can use a collection of generic PPD files to make the printer work with one of the standard printer languages. To do so, select as your printer manufacturer.
Normally, there should be no need to change any of these settings.
Applications rely on the existing printer queues in the same way as any command-line tools do. There is usually no need to reconfigure the printer for a particular application, as you should be able to print from applications using the available queues.
To print from the command line, enter the command lp -d queuename filename, substituting the corresponding names for queuename and filename.
Some applications rely on the above-mentioned lp command for printing. In this case, enter the correct command in the application's print dialog (but usually without specifying filename), for example, lp -d queuename. To make this work with KDE programs, enable . Otherwise you cannot enter the print command.
Tools such as xpp and the KDE program kprinter provide a graphical interface to choose among queues and to set both CUPS standard options and printer-specific options as made available through the PPD file. You can use kprinter as the standard printing interface of other (non-KDE) applications by specifying kprinter or kprinter --stdin as the print command in the print dialogs of these applications. The behavior of the application itself determines which of these two commands to choose. If set up correctly, the application should call the kprinter dialog whenever a print job is issued from it, so you can use the dialog to select a queue and to set other printing options. This requires that the application's own print setup does not conflict with that of kprinter and that printing options are only changed through kprinter after it has been enabled.
If there is some kind of error in the communication between the computer and the printer, the printer may no longer be able to interpret data in the correct way. This could cause the output to be garbled and use up large amounts of paper. To correct this, follow the instructions in Section 13.7.8. “Defective Print Jobs and Data Transfer Errors”.
For guidelines on the installation of CUPS in the network, see http://portal.suse.com/sdb/de/2004/05/jsmeix_print-cups-in-a-nutshell.html. In the case of “CUPS in the network” the following three subject areas are differentiated:
Configure the queues for the printers belonging to the server on the server.
Permit access to the queues for the client computers.
Activate the transmission of browsing information to the client computer.
In the case of point 1, the following cases must be distinguished:
via TCP socket with local filtering (default) or without local filtering
via LPD protocol with local filtering (default) or without local filtering
via IPP protocol with local filtering (default) or without local filtering
without local filtering (default) or with local filtering
without local filtering (default) or with local filtering
with local filtering (default) or without local filtering
with local filtering (default) or without local filtering
with local filtering (default) or without local filtering
In the case of point 2, the default settings are usually sufficient. When in doubt, see the portal article mentioned above.
In the case of point 3, complete +++ in YaST. Then select +. Enter the broadcast IP address of the network or @LOCAL here. Conclude the configuration with +++.
Normally YaST configures the hard disk controller of your system during the installation. If you add controllers, integrate these into the system with this YaST module. You can also modify the existing configuration, but this is generally not necessary.
The dialog presents a list of detected hard disk controllers and enables assignment of the suitable kernel module with specific parameters. Use to check if the current settings work before they are saved permanently in the system.
![[Warning]](admon/warning.png) | Configuration of the Hard Disk Controller |
|---|---|
It is advised to test the setting before making it permanent in the system. Incorrect settings can prevent the system from booting. | |
| S/390, zSeries: Configuring the Graphical User Interface |
|---|---|
IBM S/390 and zSeries do not have any input and output devices supported by XFree. Therefore, none of the configuration procedures described in this section apply. More information relevant for IBM S/390 and zSeries can be found in Section 2.5. “Network Devices”. | |
The graphical user interface, or X server, handles the communication between hardware and software. Desktops, like KDE and GNOME, and the wide variety of window managers use the X server for interaction with the user.
The graphical user interface is initially configured during installation. To change the settings afterwards, run this YaST module. In the configuration dialog, choose between and the graphical user interface. The current settings are saved and you can reset to them at any time. The current values are displayed and offered for modification: the screen resolution, the color depth, the refresh rate, and the vendor and type of your monitor, if autodetected.
If you have just installed a new graphics card, a small dialog appears asking whether to activate 3D acceleration for your graphics card. Click . SaX2, the configuration tool for the input and display devices, starts in a separate window. This window is shown in Figure 2.9. “The Main Window of SaX2”.
In the left navigation bar, there are four main items: , , , and . Configure your monitor, graphics card, color depth, resolution, and the position and size of the screen under . The keyboard, mouse, touchscreen monitor, and graphics tablet can be configured under . Use to configure multiple screens (see Section 2.4.5.6. “Multihead”). is a useful tool for controlling the mouse pointer with the number pad.
Select your monitor and graphics card. Usually, the monitor and graphics card are autodetected by the system. In this case, no manual settings are required. If your monitor is not autodetected, automatically proceed to the monitor selection dialog. Select your monitor from the extensive list of vendors and devices or manually enter the monitor values specified in the monitor manual. Alternatively, select one of the preconfigured VESA modes.
Click in the main window following the completion of the settings for your monitor and your graphics card then test your settings. This ensures that your configuration is suitable for your devices. If the image is not steady, terminate the test immediately by pressing Esc and reduce the refresh rate or the resolution and color depth. Regardless of whether you run a test, all modifications are only activated when you restart the X server.
With +, a window with the tabs , , and appears.
In the left part of the window, select the vendor. In the right part, select your model. If you have floppy disks with Linux drivers for your monitor, install these by clicking .
Here, enter the horizontal and vertical frequencies for your screen. The vertical frequency is another designation for the image refresh rate. Normally, the acceptable value ranges are read from the model and entered here. Usually, they do not need to be changed.
Here, enter some options for your screen. In the upper selection field, define the method to use for the calculation of the screen resolution and screen geometry. Do not change anything unless the monitor is addressed incorrectly and the display is not stable. Furthermore, you can change the size of the displayed image and activate the power saving mode DPMS.
| Configuring the Monitor Frequencies |
|---|---|
There are safety mechanisms, but you should still be very careful when manually changing the allowed frequencies. False values may destroy your monitor. If in doubt, refer to the manual of the monitor. | |
The graphics card dialog has two tabs: and . In , select the vendor of your graphics card on the left side and the model on the right.
offers more advanced configuration possibilities. On the right side, turn your screen to the left or to a vertical position (useful for some turnable TFT screens). The entries for the BusID are only relevant if you operate several screens. Normally, nothing needs to be changed here. You should not modify the card options unless you have experience in this field and know what the options mean. If necessary, check the documentation of your graphics card.
Here, three tabs, , , and , are available.
Depending on the hardware used, select a color depth of 16, 256, 32768, 65536, or 16.7 million colors (4, 8, 15, 16, or 24 bit). For a reasonable display quality, set at least 256 colors.
When the hardware is detected, the resolution is queried. Therefore, the module usually only offers resolution and color depth combinations that your hardware can display correctly. This keeps the danger of damaging your hardware with incorrect settings very low in SUSE LINUX. If you change the resolution manually, consult the documentation of your hardware to make sure the value set can be displayed.
In addition to the resolutions offered in the previous tab, this tab enables you to add your own resolutions, which will subsequently be included for selection in the tab.
Every desktop has a certain resolution that is displayed over the full screen of the monitor. Additionally, it is possible to set the resolution larger than the visible area of the screen. If you move the mouse beyond the margins of the desktop, the virtual part of the desktop is displayed on screen. This increases the available work space.
The virtual resolution can be set in two different ways. To set it using , move the mouse pointer over the monitor image so it turns into crosshairs. Keep the left mouse button pressed and move the mouse to enlarge the raster image, which corresponds with the virtual resolution. This method is best if you are not quite sure how much virtual space you want on your desktop.
For , the pop-up menu in the middle of the raster image displays the currently used virtual resolution. To use one of the default virtual resolutions, select one from the menu.
Under these two tabs, precisely adjust the size and the position of the image with the arrows. See Figure 2.14. “Adjusting the Image Geometry”. If you have a multihead environment (more than one screen), use to switch to the other monitors to adjust their size and position. Press to save your settings.
If you have installed more than one graphics card in your computer or a graphics card with multiple outputs, you can connect more than one screen to your system. If you operate two screens, this is referred to as dualhead. More than two is referred to as multihead. SaX2 automatically detects multiple graphics cards in the system and prepares the configuration accordingly. Set the multihead mode and the arrangement of the screens in the multihead dialog. Three modes are offered: (default), , and .
Each monitor represents an individual unit. The mouse pointer can switch between the screens.
In this mode, all monitors display the same contents. The mouse is only visible on the main screen.
All screens combine to form a single large screen. Program windows can be positioned freely on all screens or scaled to a size that fills more than one monitor.
The layout of a multihead environment describes the arrangement of and the relationship between the individual screens. By default, SaX2 configures a standard layout that follows the sequence of the detected graphics cards, arranging all screens in a row from left to right. In the dialog of the multihead tool, determine the way the monitors are arranged by using the mouse to move the screen symbols in the grid. After completing the layout dialog, verify the new configuration by clicking .
Linux currently does not offer 3D support for Xinerama multihead environments. In this case, SaX2 deactivates the 3D support.
If the mouse already works, you do not need to do anything. However, if the mouse does not work, control it with the number pad of the keyboard as described in Section 2.4.5.8. “AccessX”.
If the automatic detection fails, use this dialog to configure your mouse manually. Refer to the documentation of your mouse for a description of the model. Select your model from the list of supported mouse types and confirm by pressing 5 on the number pad.
Use the selection field at the top of this dialog to specify the kind of keyboard to use. Then select the language for the keyboard layout (the country-specific position of the keys). Use the test field to check if special characters are displayed correctly.
The status of the check box used for activating and deactivating the entry of accented letters depends on the respective language and does not need to be changed. Click to apply the new settings to your system.
Currently, XFree86 only supports Microtouch and Elo TouchSystems touchscreens. SaX2 can only autodetect the monitor, not the toucher. The toucher is treated as an input device.
To configure the toucher, start SaX2 and select +. Click and add a touchscreen. Save the configuration by clicking . You do not need to test the configuration.
Touchscreens feature a variety of options and usually must be calibrated first. Unfortunately, there is no general tool for this purpose in Linux. The standard configuration contains suitable default values for the dimensions of the touchscreen. Normally, no additional configuration is required.
Currently, XFree86 only supports a limited number of graphics tablets. SaX2 enables the configuration of graphics tablets connected to the USB port or the serial port. From the configuration perspective, a graphics tablet is just an input device like a mouse.
Start SaX2 and select +. Click , select the vendor from the following dialog, and add a graphics tablet from the selection list. Mark the check boxes to the right if you have connected a pen or eraser. If your tablet is connected to the serial port, verify the port. /dev/ttyS0 refers to the first serial port. /dev/ttyS1 refers to the second. Additional ports use similar notation. Save the configuration by clicking .
If you do not use a mouse on your computer, start SaX2 and activate AccessX to be able to control the mouse pointer with the keys on the numeric keypad. (See Table 2.1. “AccessX — Operating the Mouse with the Numeric Keypad”).
Table 2.1. AccessX — Operating the Mouse with the Numeric Keypad
| Key | description |
|---|---|
| ÷ | selects the left mouse button |
| × | selects the middle mouse button |
| – | selects the right mouse button |
| 5 | invokes a click event of the previously selected mouse button. The left mouse button is preset if no other button was selected. The selection is reset to its default after the event. |
| + | acts like 5 except is a double-click event |
| 0 | acts like 5 except is a click-and-hold event |
| Del | releases the click-and-hold event previously invoked with 0 |
| 7 | moves the cursor toward the upper left |
| 8 | moves the cursor straight upwards |
| 9 | moves the cursor towards the upper right |
| 4 | moves the cursor towards the left |
| 6 | moves the cursor towards the right |
| 1 | moves the cursor towards the lower left |
| 2 | moves the cursor straight downwards |
| 3 | moves the cursor towards the lower right |
With the slider, set the speed of the mouse pointer movement when a key is pressed.
For more information about the X Window System and its properties, refer to the Chapter 12. The X Window System.
YaST detects hardware for the configuration of hardware components. The detected technical data is displayed in this screen. This is especially useful, for example, if you want to submit a support request for which you need information about your hardware.
With this module, activate and deactivate the DMA mode for your IDE hard disks and your IDE CD and DVD drives in the installed system. This module does not have any effect on SCSI devices. DMA modes can substantially increase the performance and data transfer speed in your system.
During the installation, the current SUSE LINUX kernel automatically activates DMA for hard disks but not for CD drives, as default DMA activation for all drives often caused problems with CD drives. Use the DMA module to activate DMA for your drives. If the drive supports the DMA mode without any problems, the data transfer rate of your drive can be increased by activating DMA.
| Important |
|---|---|
DMA (direct memory access) means that your data can be transferred directly to the RAM, bypassing the processor control. | |
Configure your mouse with this YaST module. As the procedure for the selection of the mouse was already explained for installation, refer to Section 1.7.3. “Mouse”.
If your scanner is connected and switched on, it should be detected automatically when this YaST module is started. In this case, the dialog for the installation of the scanner appears. If no scanner is detected, the manual configuration dialog appears. If you have already installed one or several scanners, a list of existing scanners that can be modified or deleted is displayed. Press to configure a new device.
Next, an installation is performed with default settings. If the installation is successful, a corresponding message appears. Now, test your scanner by inserting a document and clicking .
Only supported scanners can be autodetected. Scanners connected to another network host cannot be detected. The manual configuration distinguishes three types of scanners: USB scanners, SCSI scanners, and network scanners.
Specify the vendor and model. YaST then attempts to load USB modules. If your scanner is very new, the modules may not be loaded automatically. In this case, continue automatically to a dialog in which to load the USB module manually. Refer to the YaST help text for more information.
Specify the device (such as /dev/sg0). SCSI scanners should not be connected or disconnected when the the system is running. Shut the system down first.
Enter the IP address or the host name. To configure a network scanner, refer to the Support Database article Scanning in Linux (http://sdb.suse.de/en/, keyword scanner).
If your scanner was not detected, the device probably is not supported. However, sometimes even supported scanners are not detected. If that is the case, proceed with the manual scanner selection. If you can identify your scanner in the list of vendors and models, select it. If not, select . Information about scanners that work with Linux is provided at http://cdb.suse.de/index.php?LANG=en, http://sdb.suse.de/en/, and http://www.mostang.com/sane.
| Assigning a Scanner Manually |
|---|---|
Only assign the scanner manually if you are absolutely sure. Incorrect selection could damage your hardware. | |
Your scanner may not have been detected for one of the following reasons:
The scanner is not supported. Check http://sdb.suse.de/en/ for a list of Linux-compatible devices.
Your SCSI controller was not installed correctly.
There are termination problems with your SCSI port.
Your SCSI cable is too long.
Your scanner has a SCSI light controller that is not supported by Linux.
Your scanner is defective.
| Warning |
|---|---|
SCSI scanners should not be connected or disconnected when the the system is running. Shut the system down first. | |
When the sound configuration tool is started, YaST tries to detect your sound card automatically. Configure one or multiple sound cards. To use multiple sound cards, start by selecting one of the cards to configure. Press to enter the dialog. opens a dialog in which to edit previously configured sound cards. saves the current settings and completes the sound configuration. If YaST is unable to detect your sound card automatically, press in to open a dialog in which to select a sound card and module.
With , you are not required to go through any of the further configuration steps and no sound test is performed. The sound card is configured automatically. With , you have the possibility to adjust the output volume and play a test sound. allows you to manually customize the sound card options.
Set up your joystick by clicking the respective check box. Select the joystick type in the following dialog and click . The same dialog appears when you click in the YaST Control Center.
Test your sound configuration in this test screen. Use and to adjust the volume. Start at about ten percent to avoid damage to your speakers or hearing. A test sound should be audible when you press . If you cannot hear anything, increase the volume. Press to complete the sound configuration. The volume setting will be saved.
Use to remove a sound card. Existing entries of configured sound cards are deactivated in the file /etc/modprobe.d/sound. Click to open a dialog in which to customize the sound module options manually. In , configure the individual settings for the input and output of each sound card. saves the new values and restores the default configuration. Under , configure additional sound cards. If YaST detects another sound card, continue to . If YaST does not detect a sound card, automatically be directed to .
If you use a Creative Soundblaster Live or AWE sound card, automatically copy SF2 sound fonts to your hard disk from the original Soundblaster driver CD-ROM with . The sound fonts are saved in the directory /usr/share/sfbank/creative/.
Enable or disable the start-up of ALSA when booting the machine with . For playback of MIDI files, activate . This way, the sound modules required for sequencer support are loaded along with the ALSA modules.
The volume and configuration of all sound cards installed are saved when you click . The mixer settings are saved to the file /etc/asound.conf and the ALSA configuration data is appended at the end of the file /etc/modprobe.conf.
If multiple sound cards were detected, select your preferred card under . Continue to with . If the sound card was not automatically detected, click and, with , proceed to .
If your sound card was not automatically detected, a list of sound card drivers and models are shown from which to choose. With , see the entire list of supported cards.
Refer to your sound card documentation for the information required. A reference list of sound cards supported by ALSA with their corresponding sound modules is available in /usr/share/doc/packages/alsa/cards.txt and at http://www.alsa-project.org/~goemon/. After making your selection, click to return to .
To add further FCP-attached SCSI devices to the installed system, use the YaST ZFCP module (+). Select to add an additional device. Select the Channel Number (adapter) from the list and specify both WWPN and FCP-LUN. Finalize the setup by selecting and . Verify that the device has been added by checking the output of cat /proc/scsi/scsi.
