missing kernel module "serial_cs" in Debian-based MEPIS distro

Hi, all. I have posted on this before but still haven't found a solution.
All I need is to get a working "serial_cs" kernel driver/module for MEPIS
3.3. I have tried compiling my own kernel, but the kernels never work
quite right! (For example, sound is missing, ethernet is missing). I
really have no idea what I am doing wrong as far as roll-my-own goes, and
I have followed on-line instructions and howtos.

In any case,

(1) has anyone got a working "serial_cs" module for MEPIS 3.3?

(2) can I copy the "serial_cs.ko" file from a working distro (I was
thinking Knoppix) to the proper location in my MEPIS /lib/modules
directory hiearchy? Will that work? Do I have to "register" the new module
with the kernel somewhere or something like that?

(3) If I compile a fresh kernel from kernel.org, what "make xconfig"
options will enable "serial_cs"? I tried make oldconfig and make
xconfig->load old config->"/boot/config-2.6.10" but either (a) the
serial_cs module is not built or (b) it is built but other things break
(like sound and ethernet)!

Thanks for any and all help on this issue.

--
JDS | [email]jeffrey@example.inva[/email]lid
| [url]http://www.newtnotes.com[/url]
DJMBS | [url]http://newtnotes.com/doctor-jeff-master-brainsurgeon/[/url]

JDS wrote in <pan.2005.05.05.14.20.33.816509@example.invalid>:
[color=blue]
>
> (2) can I copy the "serial_cs.ko" file from a working distro (I was
> thinking Knoppix) to the proper location in my MEPIS /lib/modules
> directory hiearchy? Will that work? Do I have to "register" the new module
> with the kernel somewhere or something like that?[/color]

Generally it won't work. It might work if the kernel version is the same,
but even then it may well not.

On Thu, 05 May 2005 10:20:36 -0400, JDS wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hi, all. I have posted on this before but still haven't found a solution.
> All I need is to get a working "serial_cs" kernel driver/module for MEPIS
> 3.3. I have tried compiling my own kernel, but the kernels never work
> quite right! (For example, sound is missing, ethernet is missing). I
> really have no idea what I am doing wrong as far as roll-my-own goes, and
> I have followed on-line instructions and howtos.
>
> In any case,
>
> (1) has anyone got a working "serial_cs" module for MEPIS 3.3?
>
> (2) can I copy the "serial_cs.ko" file from a working distro (I was[/color]
<snip!>

Well, although I realize that no one seems to care about this thre, *I*
care, and I did finally get serial_cs working along with everything else!
I will post the eact details on my website, but to summarize, here is
basically what I did: (and remember, this is all regarding MEPIS 3.3!)

1) install kernel-source deb package using synaptic.
2) Follow instructions in /usr/src/KERNEL-README to compile and create
kernel image package.
3) do *not* install package, but use the "serial_cs.ko" driver in the
source build tree and copy it to the equivalent location in the live
module tree.
cp ./drivers/serial/serial_cs.ko /lib/modules/2.6.10/kernel/drivers/serial/

4) REBOOT!!!

It seems I was doing two things wrong -- one, I was building the module
with the wrong extra version info and I think the running kernel did not
like that (just a guess) and, more importantly, I wasn't rebooting. I
think the reboot is critical.

Now, the serial_cs.ko module works as well as does the rest of the stuff.

Allrighty, later...

--
JDS | [email]jeffrey@go.away.com[/email]
| [url]http://www.newtnotes.com[/url]
DJMBS | [url]http://newtnotes.com/doctor-jeff-master-brainsurgeon/[/url]