Showing posts with label driver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label driver. Show all posts
Important:- This presumes that one knows the basics of what needs to be done to bring the bare hardware to life by injecting it with the bare essentials. Not all the steps of HOWTO are logged here. The very important(which was subjective) steps are included here to gets things rolling. There are also not so working outtakes logged here for reminding "It wasn't working the very first time"-  It is for certain that one will need to have cmd line familiarity. Keep the bootable disk alongside for a various hiccups.


Drawbacks or Limitations

- BIOS is not saved i.e it backtracks to old config - replace the CMOS battery
- UPS not working - do the necessary
- motherboard (via chipset) doesn't work well with the upstream openchome driver for graphics card
solution: backtracked to ubuntu 8.04
- Only 512MB mem is available
- used by someone who really don't care about all these.(was it really worth.. yep, was able to log the working scenario which gave an insight that not all upstreams of the drivers work well )

Installed dual OS
1) Msoft
2) gnu/linux - ubuntu 8.04
the video driver for via chipset was not stable for lubuntu 12.04


Purpose

To eradicate the nuisance of virus

actions to follow after setting up the environment
1) browse and use pen drive only in linux
2) use windows only to do your DTP works
3) make use of free space to access the content to and fro(between OS)

The real saga

It was claimed that 8.04 openchrome worked so gave it a try

summary of steps to be carried out (not necessarily in a sequential manner the task were carried out, and not all the steps are drafted)


install the barebone rootfs along with the supported kernel in chroot root env, done using debootstrap
1) create partition - for simpilcity created only two partitions
  a) for /
  b) for swap
using fdisk
2) FixMBR for windows XP(for preinstalled windows recovery)
3) install grub
3.1) make necessary entries in menu.lst
4) install the kernel
5) install the default openchrome driver
6) install lxde and checkout whether the openchome works or not - IT WORKS great(get the repo of lxde included in source.lst)
7) install the necessary browser support
8) other applications
9) usb plug and play support in ubuntu 8.04
10) mounting vfat driver as a user
11) automate the script to launch lxde whenever one boots into GNU/Linux 8.04; instead of typing startx

the drivers are at /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/*.so

(2 may 2013 - this was the date it was logged, only to be published on this date, really calling out for a genie)

Exploded view of the summary

Installing ubuntu 8.04 for a working openchrome video driver for via chipset

the availabe resources
- had ubuntu 12.04 desktop live cd(HOw to install ubuntu 8.04 with it - make use of debootstrap)
- boot the live CD in cmd prompt
- the mobo available was an old via chip set based
- tried out with lubuntu 12.04 which couldn't make the video work - nothing worked, was not even able to access the virtual console
- different configuration file setup

using 12.04 live cd to boot into cmd line installation(was unable to boot into the GUI of the live CD)

so that chroot installation of 8.04 can be carried out

press F6 then ESC now in the try ubuntu without installtion cmd line BOOT options
replace "quiet splash" with "text" at the prompt

carry out the following task

if the partition is not yet made make use of fdisk /dev/[s-h]da
create the required patition in my case I created two partitions
namely
/dev/sda2        => linux (/)
/dev/sda3        => linux swap

sudo mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda2
sudo mkswap /dev/sda3
sudo swapon /dev/sda3

sudo mkdir /mnt/ubuntu
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/ubuntu

install debootstrap
apt-get install debootstrap

debootstrap --arch i386 hardy /mnt/ubuntu http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu

Configure the base system

LANG=C chroot /mnt/ubuntu /bin/bash

set the repository for lxde
/etc/apt/source.lst

apt-get install xserver-xorg, xorg, lxde

install grub - had some trouble with it

grub-install /dev/sda

Grub error: /dev/sda does not have any corresponding BIOS drive

check whether there are stage1 files in the /boot/grub if not copy it from
/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc
to
/boot/grub

TO reinstall grub
sudo grub
grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
  (hd0,1)
grub> root (hd0,1)
grub> setup (hd0)
grub> quit
exit

do not run the update-grub. Only update the menu.lst with and editor and don't run update-grub

fdisk -l
output
/dev/sda1        HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2        linux
/dev/sda3        linux swap

(hd0,0)        /dev/sda1    => is the first partition
(hd0,1)        /dev/sda2    => is the second partition

content of the resulting /boot/grub/menu.lst

title    Microsoft Windows
root    (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader    +1

title    Ubuntu-8.04, kernel 2.6-generic
root    (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.17-10-generic root=/dev/sda5 ro quiet splash
initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
quiet
savedefault
boot

title Ubuntu-8.04, Kernel 2.6-generic (recovery mode)
root     (hd0,1)
kernel    /boot/vmlinux-2.6.17-10-generic root=/dev/sda5 ro single
initrd    /boot/initrd.img-2.6.17-10-generic
boot

title    Ubuntu, memtest86+
root    (hd0,1)
kernel    /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet
boot

To install the much needed GUI,  made use of the following cmds

apt-cache search openchrome
xserver-xorg-video-openchrome
apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-openchrome


startx (at the terminal, after the lxde was installed by updating the source.lst with its repo)

To automate the launch of lxde whenever one boots into GNU/linux 8.04

Auto startx (run lxde)

in /etc/rc.local

scroll to the bottom and add the following above exit 0:

su -l sppillai -c startx

where sppillai is the username you want to run X as.

 after rebooting it showed the following msg
User not authorized to run the X server , aborted
to overcome this
use
sudo dpkg-reconfigure x11-common


hotplug management daemon - for USB plug and play

for usb plug and play support namely auto-mounting usb drives

make use of usbmount

ref: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Mount/USB#Automounting_.28Ubuntu_Server.29

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsbDriveDoSomethingHowto

http://askubuntu.com/questions/166420/how-to-detect-an-usb-device

to mount drive as an user enter the following in the fstab file
to find the gid and uid use
id username

external usb hard drive always mounting as root

http://www.tuxradar.com/answers/466

/dev/sda1 /mnt/somewhere vfat umask=002,uid=guest,gid=users 0 0

for mounting devices, edit /etc/fstab (as root).

add "user" to the options for each device you want users to mount.

example:

 /dev/fd0             /mnt/floppy        auto       noauto,user,sync      0 0

/dev/sdb1 /mnt/v1 vfat noauto,user,uid=blah,gid=blah 0 2

ref:- http://serverfault.com/questions/43634/how-to-mount-external-vfat-drive-as-user

some of the application from the installed lubuntu
- lxterminal
- gcalculator
- file roller
- synaptics
- leaf pad
- evience
- opera
- dillo
- abiword
- gnumeric
- systemtools

Proposed list of applications included in lubuntu

ref:- https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Lubuntu/Applications

Lubuntu software should be both
a) lightweight
b) minimalist

- Applications and system tools

  - login manager: LightDM
  - system monitor: Lxtask
  - windows configuration:- Obconf
  - Networking: Network manager + nm-applet
  - Disk: Gnome disk utility (palimpsest)
  - software management: synaptic package manager and lubuntu software center
  - unicode character picker and font browser (gucharmap)
  - power manager: xfce4-power-manager
 
- Graphics
   - Image viewer: GPicView
   - paint: MTPaint
   - simple scan
 
- PDF reader: Evince

- Multimedia
   - music: Audacious
   - videos: gnome-mplayer
   - webcam: guvcview
 
- Internet
    - browser: chromium, the open source version of google chrome
    - email: sylpheed
    - instant messages and irc and micro blogging: pidgin
    - bittorrent: transmission
  
- office and related
   - Spreadsheet: gnumeric
   - wordprocessor: abiword
   - notes: xpad
   - planning calender: osmo
 
- Accessories
   - calculator: galculator
   - notepad: leafpad
   - screenshot: scrot(press the 'print screen' key)
   - cd burner: xfburn
   - archiver: file-roller
   - screensaver: xscreensaver
   - search: catfish https://launchpad.net/catfish-search
 
- Games
   - ace of penguins
 
- programming languages
    - perl
    - python
    - bash
  
- LXDE components
    - included
    - openbox
    - pcmanfm
    - not included
    - Gtknetcat
    - lxmusic
    - lxnm

ref:- http://www.lubuntutips.com/2012/07/best-lubuntu-apps.html#.UYYArH0vA8o

dock - docky
quick launcher - synapse
text editor/IDE - geany
browser: epiphany, midori

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Lubuntu/Applications/Process%20Documentation

Some other hiccups   ####################################
The grub-install and update-grub didn't work.
It showed the following msg
so had to switch to manually get the grub working
for that
the parition details can be elicited using
fdisk -l
/dev/sda1              -> hfps/NTFS
/dev/sda2              -> linux
/dev/sda3              -> linux swap

enter "grub" at the linux terminal to get to a grub prompt
grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
will return
(hd0,1)
root (hd0,1)
setup (hd0)

this will install the GRUB bootloader in /dev/hda (MBR) overwritting the windows stuff in the MBR
Now enter the windows related GRUB entry to get the menu displayed in the GRUB

remember
(hd0,0)   == /dev/sda1    --> NTFS
(hd0,1)   == /dev/sda2    --> linux


















Screen shot

Outtakes - it wasn't working the first time


 Some of the commands where not working after logging in the text mode
startx
mktemp: failed to create file via template '/tmp/serverauth.xxxxxx': Read-only file system
xauth: error in locking authority file
xauth: error                /root/.Xauthority


lubuntu - text mode
mount
showed
warning: /etc/mtab is not writable(eg read-only filesystem)......
*Rectified using
mount -o remount /

dmesg showed
IPV6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_UP): eth0: link is not ready
eth0 link is not ready ubuntu

*Rectified using
changed the /etc/network/interface
to
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

Yo disable the ipv6

enter the following lines in /etc/sysctl.conf

# IPv6
 net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1
 net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6 = 1
 net.ipv6.conf.lo.disable_ipv6 = 1

 sysctl -p

To boot in runlevel 3 (without GUI)
-  In your GRUB boot screen select the first option and press key 'e'. Sometimes, if you have installed Ubuntu alone, there is no GRUB boot screen because there is no boot delay. In this case, you should find the way to edit the /etc/default/grub file and apply the changes.
- Edit the line starting with linux as shown to the picture by replacing the words quiet splash with text
- Boot by pressing F10 key



console tty7(for GUI) displayed
starting load fallback graphics devices        failed

try out
lshw for monitor/vga
lspci | VGA

sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$ lspci | grep VGA
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE/K8N890CE [Chrome 9] (rev 01)
sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$

sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$ dpkg -l | grep openchrome
ii  xserver-xorg-video-openchrome        1:0.3.1-0ubuntu1                          i386         X.Org X server -- VIA display driver
sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$

How to find out which X11 driver system is using?
cat /var/log/Xorg.7.log | grep driver:

sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$ sudo lshw -C video
[sudo] password for sppillai:
  *-display UNCLAIMED    
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: K8M890CE/K8N890CE [Chrome 9]
       vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
       version: 01
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 66MHz
       capabilities: pm agp agp-3.0 vga_controller bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=32 mingnt=2
       resources: memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:dd000000-ddffffff memory:de000000-de00ffff
sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$

If you would want full and proper xorg.conf file (tested on Ubuntu 12.10):

   1. switch to console mode: Alt+Ctrl+F1
   2. kill x server: sudo service lightdm stop
   3. generate new xorg.conf file: sudo X -configure -- this will create xorg.conf.new file in your current dir
   4. rename and move: sudo mv xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf
   5. return to GUI: sudo start lightdm

You read the contents of a installed package:
 # dpkg -L packageName

sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$ dpkg -L xserver-xorg-video-openchrome
/.
/usr
/usr/share
/usr/share/bug
/usr/share/bug/xserver-xorg-video-openchrome
/usr/share/lintian
/usr/share/lintian/overrides
/usr/share/lintian/overrides/xserver-xorg-video-openchrome
/usr/share/doc
/usr/share/doc/xserver-xorg-video-openchrome
/usr/share/doc/xserver-xorg-video-openchrome/copyright
/usr/share/doc/xserver-xorg-video-openchrome/NEWS.gz
/usr/share/doc/xserver-xorg-video-openchrome/changelog.Debian.gz
/usr/share/man
/usr/share/man/man4
/usr/share/man/man4/openchrome.4.gz
/usr/lib
/usr/lib/libchromeXvMC.so.1.0.0
/usr/lib/xorg
/usr/lib/xorg/modules
/usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers
/usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/openchrome_drv.so
/usr/lib/libchromeXvMCPro.so.1.0.0
/usr/share/bug/xserver-xorg-video-openchrome/script
/usr/lib/libchromeXvMC.so
/usr/lib/libchromeXvMCPro.so.1
/usr/lib/libchromeXvMC.so.1
/usr/lib/libchromeXvMCPro.so
sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$

sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE Host Bridge
00:00.1 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE Host Bridge
00:00.2 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE Host Bridge
00:00.3 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE Host Bridge
00:00.4 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE Host Bridge
00:00.5 PIC: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE I/O APIC Interrupt Controller
00:00.7 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE Host Bridge
00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237/8251 PCI bridge [K8M890/K8T800/K8T890 South]
00:02.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8T890 PCI to PCI Bridge Controller
00:03.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8T890 PCI to PCI Bridge Controller
00:0f.0 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VIA VT6420 SATA RAID Controller (rev 80)
00:0f.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
00:10.0 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 81)
00:10.1 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 81)
00:10.2 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 81)
00:10.3 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 81)
00:10.4 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 86)
00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237 ISA bridge [KT600/K8T800/K8T890 South]
00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 60)
00:12.0 Ethernet controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II] (rev 78)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. K8M890CE/K8N890CE [Chrome 9] (rev 01)
sppillai@lubuntu-box:~$

lshw, dmesg, xorg output stored in http://sourceforge.net/projects/librelab/files/log.tar

cat Xorg.0.log

[  4766.218] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/openchrome_drv.so
[  4766.236] (II) Module openchrome: vendor="http://openchrome.org/"
[  4766.236]     compiled for 1.12.99.905, module version = 0.3.1
[  4766.236]     Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[  4766.236]     ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 13.0
[  4766.236] (II) LoadModule: "fbdev"
[  4766.236] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/fbdev_drv.so
[  4766.243] (II) Module fbdev: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[  4766.244]     compiled for 1.12.99.902, module version = 0.4.3
[  4766.244]     Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[  4766.244]     ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 13.0
[  4766.244] (II) LoadModule: "vesa"
[  4766.244] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/vesa_drv.so
[  4766.254] (II) Module vesa: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[  4766.254]     compiled for 1.12.99.902, module version = 2.3.2
[  4766.254]     Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[  4766.254]     ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 13.0
[  4766.254] (II) modesetting: Driver for Modesetting Kernel Drivers: kms
[  4766.254] (II) OPENCHROME: Driver for VIA Chrome chipsets: CLE266, KM400/KN400,
    K8M800/K8N800, PM800/PM880/CN400, VM800/P4M800Pro/VN800/CN700,
    CX700/VX700, K8M890/K8N890, P4M890, P4M900/VN896/CN896, VX800/VX820,
    VX855/VX875, VX900
[  4766.254] (II) FBDEV: driver for framebuffer: fbdev
[  4766.254] (II) VESA: driver for VESA chipsets: vesa
[  4766.254] (--) using VT number 7

[  4766.284] (EE) open /dev/dri/card0: No such file or directory
[  4766.284] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for modesetting
[  4766.284] (EE) open /dev/dri/card0: No such file or directory
[  4766.284] (!!) VIA Technologies does not support this driver in any way.
[  4766.285] (!!) For support, please refer to http://www.openchrome.org/.
[  4766.285] (!!) (openchrome 0.3.1 release)
[  4766.285] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for fbdev
[  4766.285] (II) Loading sub module "fbdevhw"
[  4766.285] (II) LoadModule: "fbdevhw"
[  4766.285] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libfbdevhw.so
[  4766.288] (II) Module fbdevhw: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[  4766.288]     compiled for 1.13.0, module version = 0.0.2
[  4766.288]     ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 13.0
[  4766.288] (WW) Falling back to old probe method for vesa
[  4766.288] (EE) Screen 0 deleted because of no matching config section.
[  4766.288] (II) UnloadModule: "modesetting"
[  4766.288] (II) CHROME(0): VIAPreInit
[  4766.288] (II) CHROME(0): VIAGetRec
[  4766.288] (--) CHROME(0): Chipset: K8M890/K8N890
[  4766.288] (--) CHROME(0): Chipset revision: 0
[  4766.381] (EE) CHROME(0): [drm] Failed to open DRM device for pci:0000:01:00.0: No such file or directory
[  4766.394] (II) Loading sub module "vgahw"
[  4766.394] (II) LoadModule: "vgahw"
[  4766.394] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libvgahw.so
sppillai@lubuntu-box:/var/log$

some links
http://wiki.debian.org/GrubRecover
http://blog.hombrepac.com.ar/751/howto-via-chrome9-igp-on-ubuntu-linux/
http://blog.hombrepac.com.ar/196/how-to-via-k8m890-chrome-9-igp-and-linuxs-xorg-ubuntu-edgy-610/
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LightDM
https://help.ubuntu.com/lts/installation-guide/powerpc/linux-upgrade.html
http://complete-concrete-concise.com/ubuntu-2/ubuntu-12-04-server/ubuntu-12-04-server-how-to-install-a-gui
http://thanhsiang.org/faqing/node/120
http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/mips/apds03.html.en



http://www.turnkeylinux.org/forum/support/20111019/after-reboot-file-system-converts-read-only
http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthread.php?27868-SOLVED-not-working-all-of-a-sudden-(-startx-problem-)
http://ubuntu.distrosfaqs.org/lubuntu-users/can-not-login-to-lubuntu-12-04/
http://wiki.lxde.org/en/Ubuntu
http://www.ohbuntu.blogspot.in/2010/02/lubuntu-install-lxde-in-ubuntu.html
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2074383
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2100092

http://askubuntu.com/questions/218276/lubuntu-12-04-on-acer-laptop-boots-to-blank-blue-screen
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1718186
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Documentation/MinimalInstall
http://askubuntu.com/questions/232926/etc-x11-x-not-executable-error-when-startx

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2074383


http://askubuntu.com/questions/26290/50-synaptics-conf-options-not-working/27017#27017
http://askubuntu.com/questions/4662/where-is-the-x-org-config-file-how-do-i-configure-x-there
http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/29331/how-to-find-out-which-x11-driver-system-is-using
http://www.via.com.tw/en/support/tech_faq.jsp#video_graphics




lspci | grep VGA

http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/maint-guide/build.en.html
http://www.cs.rug.nl/~jurjen/DebPackaging/dh_make_and_dpkg_buildpackage.html
http://www.cs.rug.nl/~jurjen/DebPackaging/manual_packaging.html

http://www.viaarena.com/displaydrivers.aspx?PageID=1&OSID=25&CatID=2580&SubCatID=164
http://blog.hombrepac.com.ar/196/how-to-via-k8m890-chrome-9-igp-and-linuxs-xorg-ubuntu-edgy-610/
http://blog.hombrepac.com.ar/751/howto-via-chrome9-igp-on-ubuntu-linux/
http://unichrome.sourceforge.net/
http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Openchrome/Configuration
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Via_Unichrome
http://askubuntu.com/questions/98151/how-to-enable-activate-openchrome-driver
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1749564
http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/29331/how-to-find-out-which-x11-driver-system-is-using

http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/hardy/man4/via.4.html

[Solved] No eth0 interface - Asus K53S

It was amazing the ease with which ubuntu 10.04 recognized the wifi card (during that period it was taken for granted that ethx interface would have been recognized) but after installing the ubuntu 10.04 one thing missing was the conspicuous Ethernet.
Few CMD line interrogation ascertained the same. Out of all the output the one given below specifies why

03:00.0 Network controller: Atheros Communications Inc. AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express) (rev 01)
    Subsystem: Device 1a3b:2c37
    Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 17
    Memory at ddc00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=64K]
    Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
    Capabilities: [50] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit- Queue=0/0 Enable-
    Capabilities: [60] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
    Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting <?>
    Capabilities: [140] Virtual Channel <?>
    Capabilities: [160] Device Serial Number 12-14-24-ff-ff-17-15-00
    Capabilities: [170] Power Budgeting <?>
    Kernel driver in use: ath9k
    Kernel modules: ath9k

04:00.0 USB Controller: Device 1b21:1042 (prog-if 30)
    Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 1059
    Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
    Memory at dd200000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=32K]
    Capabilities: [50] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/3 Enable-
    Capabilities: [68] MSI-X: Enable- Mask- TabSize=8
    Capabilities: [78] Power Management version 3
    Capabilities: [80] Express Legacy Endpoint, MSI 00
    Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel <?>
    Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd
    Kernel modules: xhci

05:00.0 Ethernet controller: Atheros Communications Device 1083 (rev c0)
    Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 1851
    Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 5
    Memory at dc800000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
    I/O ports at 9000 [size=128]
    Capabilities: [40] Power Management version 3
    Capabilities: [48] Message Signalled Interrupts: Mask- 64bit+ Queue=0/0 Enable-
    Capabilities: [58] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
    Capabilities: [6c] Vital Product Data <?>
    Capabilities: [100] Advanced Error Reporting <?>
    Capabilities: [180] Device Serial Number ff-48-bf-10-4d-13-17-ff

The driver for the Atheros Ethernet can be found at http://media.cdn.ubuntu-de.org/forum/attachments/48/33/2666793-AR81Family-linux-v1.0.1.14.tar.gz
Followed the instructions at http://importgeek.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/atheros-onboard-network-card-not-detecting-on-ubuntu-10-04/

I cannot get my head around the matter that when
Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co.
is available with drivers why in gods name would Asus select Atheros Ethernet.

smartUSB56 Voice Modem - checking the device

The modem with win driver was tested on windoz and was working :). Bit rusty on getting the power from the old USB port other than that things were OK
[u-04-09-2012]
Today again checked out whether the dial-up connection was up and running, to my dismay it wasn't and was flashing the
error 691:Access denied because the username and/or password was invalid on the domain.
After visiting the netone link(http://netonetvm.bsnl.co.in/netone.html)
http://www.bsnl.co.in:9080/opencms/bsnl/BSNL/services/broadband/cities.html
They have migrated to new system. Due to that authentication procedure is/has changed as follows
The customer will continue to dial the present access code 172222(for PSTN access)
Also use the common username and password
username:- netone@netone.in
pwd: netone
and no separate username and password is required for each customer. Billing will be done on the basis of your phone number.
[/u-04-09-2012]


Retro Tracing - slmodem(USB V92 56K) with driver

To be precise its Krypton Modem v.92 56K USB
The device looks sleek.Driver can be found here http://sourceforge.net/projects/gnumen/files/
Yep its a dial-up modem running on 2.4 kernel. It was run on weendoz first then got the driver from www.smlink.com(site not found now) for GNU/Linux. Use to make use of the driver in Redhat 9.0 and ran like it should be.. when speed was not of concern than the device(s) made to run on GNU/Linux(At that time compiling the src to activate the device was considered c00l, now its almost apt/rpm).Wanted to see when I did it and the date was 2006-2007.

The Redhat 9 was not also automounting the usb pen drive. So these steps helped in recognizing the device and mounting it.  
dmesg

the output of lsusb and mount cmds are as follows

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000 
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.00
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x0000
  idProduct          0x0000
  bcdDevice            0.00
  iManufacturer           0
  iProduct                2 USB UHCI Root Hub
  iSerial                 1 ef80
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           25
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0x40
      Self Powered
    MaxPower                0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0
      bInterfaceProtocol      0
      iInterface              0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               none
        wMaxPacketSize          8
        bInterval             255
  Language IDs: (length=4)
     0000 (null)((null))

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000 
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.00
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x0000
  idProduct          0x0000
  bcdDevice            0.00
  iManufacturer           0
  iProduct                2 USB UHCI Root Hub
  iSerial                 1 ef40
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           25
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0x40
      Self Powered
    MaxPower                0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0
      bInterfaceProtocol      0
      iInterface              0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               none
        wMaxPacketSize          8
        bInterval             255
  Language IDs: (length=4)
     0000 (null)((null))

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 1ec9:1001 
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 Interface
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x1ec9
  idProduct          0x1001
  bcdDevice            2.00
  iManufacturer           1 MBIL-SSM
  iProduct                2 SWIVEL
  iSerial                 3 001FD0BB6F33AA7082CF19E9
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           32
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0x80
    MaxPower              200mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass         8 Mass Storage
      bInterfaceSubClass      6 SCSI
      bInterfaceProtocol     80 Bulk (Zip)
      iInterface              0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               none
        wMaxPacketSize         64
        bInterval               0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x02  EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               none
        wMaxPacketSize         64
        bInterval               0
  Language IDs: (length=4)
     0409 English(US)

/dev/hdb5 on / type ext3 (rw)
none on /proc type proc (rw)
usbdevfs on /proc/bus/usb type usbdevfs (rw)
/dev/hdb1 on /boot type ext3 (rw)
none on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
/dev/hdb3 on /home type ext3 (rw)
none on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
/dev/hdb2 on /usr type ext3 (rw)
/dev/hdb9 on /mnt/fat32/e-hdb9music type vfat (rw)
/dev/hda1 on /mnt/fat32/windows-c type vfat (rw)
/dev/hda2 on /mnt/fat32/g-hda2Setup type vfat (rw)
/dev/hda5 on /mnt/fat32/d-hda5Big type vfat (rw)
none on /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc type binfmt_misc (rw)
/dev/sda1 on /home/wakaw/pendrive type vfat (rw)

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