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CentOS Ubuntu Conundrum

  • 10-06-2009 10:54am
    #1
    neil_hosey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭


    Hi Guys,

    Currently working off ubuntu but i have recently come to work with some hardware that whose firmware, drivers, and operating software was all written using the CentOS distrib.

    My main prob now is, I have 2 computers, love ubuntu and dont want to replace it with CentOS (which not a fan of) and would like to dual boot my current setup of one Ubuntu machine with CentOS. Anyone know any difficulties I may have in doing this before i go ahead? I have alot of things that would be a nightmare to backup and reupload if it did kill my ubuntu install?

    Secondly, anyone think it may be difficult to just alter the firmware/driver/software so i can use the hardware with ubuntu or is this just not worth the hassle?

    Cheers in advance!!!

    Neil


Comments

  • #2
    neil_hosey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭neil_hosey


    just realised this may be more suitable in the unix forum feel free to move it mods if yous wish!! :) sry!!


  • #3
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    CentOS is based on RedHat so I assume the software is .rpm. You could try using alien to install it or convert it to .deb for use in Ubuntu. I would think the drivers would work ok - driver are kernel based not distribution based so should be fine. Someone else may correct me on this tho.

    As for alien: 
    sudo apt-get install alien
[B]to install package[/B]: sudo alien -i software_name.rpm
[B]to convert to .deb:[/B] sudo alien -d software_name.rpm

    You're not restricted to CentOS if you want native support for the software - any Redhat clone (e.g. Fedora 11 which was released today) will work.

    If this does get moved to the Unix forum you may get some more tips.


  • #4
    neil_hosey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭neil_hosey


    that is actually quite helpful as i remmeber the woman who wrote the software told me that the kernel must be the same also. Do linux kernels differ based on operating system/operating system type (ie deb vs. rpm)???

    In which case I may be stuck with just converting over to centos.. ?


  • #5
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    Nope. They use the same Linux kernels but there are different versions of the kernel. It's only the overlying software that's different. Redhat uses the RPM package manager for installations and Ubuntu uses the Debian one. Could the woman who wrote the software not just repackage it for Debian? If she has the source code already it's just a repackaging required.


  • #6
    neil_hosey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭neil_hosey


    it is source code.. it isnt packaged. The firmware is first loaded onto the device over usb, then the driver written by her is used by the software for controlling it.

    I have been talking to her and she said shes tested it

    I might just give it ago with the latest kernel i have.. might be fine. I suppose im just not sure of any other compatibility issues there might be.

    Thanks for the advice, Im sure ill be back if i cant get it working :)


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