Jacques, Many new users do want to be able to use hardware which is functionally under Microsoft boots. So updates which implement new hardware support can be useful indeed. So I am in the middle on this issue. While 2.6.9 is surely an adequate kernel for CERN, much new hardware including Avant Garde video boards in new PCs are only received full support under more recent kernels. This includes the NVidia card included in my home PC, which only acquired maximal resolution under the 2.6.24 kernels. Also for my RealTek wireless LAN card, perceived signal strength increased substantially in the 2.6.22 -> 2.6.24 transition, in my stable home environment. Note that all the modems supported by ALSA drivers, updating is trivial because the slmodemd does not have to change. Similarly whenever pre-compiled installers are available What is important generally, is that the older kernel+modules set be retained when an update to a significant new release is done. Then make sure that ALL functionality is retained under the kernel. Over the years, there have been occassional unhappy surprises accompanying updates. Marvin Marvin On Sun, Aug 31, 2008 at 2:32 AM, Jacques Goldberg <Jacques.Goldberg@xxxxxxx> wrote: > Dear Jeff, > > Your post has nothing to do with modems, contrarily to Rocky's question > which I addressed, thus I wish to have this thread stopped. Thus I answer > off-the-discussion-list. > > For your information, we, a handful of people who serve a wide audience, > have a policy of not letting any query unanswered. > Thus one of us HAD to answer Rocky's query. > > To understand my answer to Rocky instead of flaming it, please open > http://linmodems.technion.c.il#archive > Select year 2008 > Search for the word Rocky . > And please read back from the last (#44) to the first message returned by > the archive. > > After having read all the messages returned, please consider joining our > group of volunteers. > You could for example take in charge questions related to kernel upgrades > and collateral driver upgrades. > > Sincerely - Jacques > > Jeff Pohlmeyer wrote: >> >> On Aug 29, 2008, Jacques Goldberg wrote: >> >>> If you check what the new kernel gives you that the old >>> did not, and you need this/these extras, then you have >>> to upgrade, but otherwise, what for? >> >> Because that's what drives open source development. If nobody >> ever upgrades their software, and everyone just sticks to the >> old "stable" version, what motivation is there for the >> developers to continue improving the software? What will happen >> when the day comes that, for whatever reason, you should need >> to upgrade the kernel? Oh, sorry, there will be no modem driver >> for the new kernel, because "everyone" is still happy using >> the old one! >> >> - Jeff >
