pcmcia-howto

pcmcia source code

  For me, distributing binaries would be a significant hassle.  It is
  complicated because some features can only be selected at compile
  time, and because the modules are somewhat dependent on having the
  ``right'' kernel configuration.  So, I would probably need to
  distribute precompiled modules along with matching kernels.  Beyond
  this, the greatest need for precompiled modules is when installing
  Linux on a clean system.  This typically requires setting up drivers
  so they can be used in the installation process for a particular Linux
  distribution.  Each Linux distribution has its own ideosyncracies, and
  it is not feasible for me to provide boot and root disks for even just
  the common combinations of drivers and distributions.

  PCMCIA support is included in virtually all modern Linux
  distributions,

  11..99..  WWhhyy iiss tthhee ppaacckkaaggee ssoo ddaarrnneedd bbiigg??

  Well, first of all, it isn't actually that large.  Most of the package
  consists of drivers for specific cards.  The utility programs add up
  to about 200K, and the scripts in /etc/pcmcia are about 130K.  The
  core driver modules take up about 60K of system memory.  The cardmgr
  daemon will generally be swapped out except when cards are inserted or
  removed.  The total package size is comparable to DOS/Windows Card
  Services implementations.

  Compared to DOS ``point enablers'', this may still seem like a lot of
  overhead, especially for people that don't plan on using many of the
  features of PCMCIA, such as power management or hot swapping.  Point
  enablers can be tiny because they generally support only one or a
  small set of cards, and also generally support a restricted set of
  host controllers.  If someone were to write a genuinely ``generic''
  modem enabler, it would end up incorporating much of the functionality
  of Card Services, to handle cards from different vendors and the full
  range of host controller variants.

  22..  CCoommppiillaattiioonn aanndd iinnssttaallllaattiioonn

  22..11..  PPrreerreeqquuiissiitteess aanndd kkeerrnneell sseettuupp

  Before starting, you should think about whether you really need to
  compile the PCMCIA package yourself.  All common Linux distributions
  come with pre-compiled driver packages.  Generally, you only need to
  install the drivers from scratch if you need a new feature of the
  current drivers, or if you've updated and/or reconfigured your kernel
  in a way that is incompatible with the drivers included with your
  Linux distribution.  While compiling the package is not technically
  difficult, it does require some general Linux familiarity.

  The following things should be installed on your system before you
  begin:
  +o  A 2.0, 2.2, or 2.4 series kernel source tree.

  +o  An appropriate set of module utilities.

  +o  (Optional) the ``XForms'' X11 user interface toolkit.

  You need to have a complete linux source tree for your kernel, not
  just an up-to-date kernel image.  The driver modules contain some
  references to kernel source files.  While you may want to build a new
  kernel to remove unnecessary drivers, installing PCMCIA does not
  require you to do so.

  Current ``stable'' kernel sources and patches are available from
  <ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.4>.  Current module
  utilities can be found in the same locations.

  In the Linux kernel source tree, the Documentation/Changes file
  describes the versions of all sorts of other system components that
  are required for that kernel release.  You may want to check through
  this and verify that your system is up to date, especially if you have
  updated your kernel.  If you are using a development kernel, be sure
  that you are using the right combination of shared libraries and
  module tools.

  When configuring your kernel, if you plan on using a PCMCIA ethernet
  card, you should turn on networking support but turn off the normal
  Linux network card drivers, including the ``pocket and portable
  adapters''.  The PCMCIA network card drivers are all implemented as
  loadable modules.  Any drivers compiled into your kernel will only
  waste space.

  If you want to use SLIP, PPP, or PLIP, you do need to either configure
  your kernel with these enabled, or use the loadable module versions of
  these drivers.  There is an unfortunate deficiency in the kernel
  config process in 1.2.X kernels, in that it is not possible to set
  configuration options (like SLIP compression) for a loadable module,
  so it is probably better to just link SLIP into the kernel if you need
  it.

  In order to use a PCMCIA token ring adapter, your kernel should be
  configured with ``Token Ring driver support'' (CONFIG_TR) enabled,
  though you should leave CONFIG_IBMTR off.

  If you want to use a PCMCIA IDE adapter, your kernel should be
  configured with CONFIG_BLK_DEV_IDE_PCMCIA enabled, for 2.0.*  through
  2.1.7 kernels.  Older kernels do not support removeable IDE devices;
  newer kernels do not require a special configuration setting.

  If you will be using a PCMCIA SCSI adapter, then enable CONFIG_SCSI
  when configuring your kernel.  Also, enable any top level drivers
  (SCSI disk, tape, cdrom, generic) that you expect to use.  All low-
  level drivers for particular host adapters should be disabled, as they
  will just take up space.

  This package includes an X-based card status utility called cardinfo.
  This utility is based on a freely distributed user interface toolkit
  called the XForms Library.  This library is available as a separate
  package with most Linux distributions.  If you would like to build
  cardinfo, you should install XForms and all the normal X header files
  and libraries before configuring the PCMCIA package.  This tool is
  completely optional.

  22..22..  IInnssttaallllaattiioonn

  Here is a synopsis of the installation process:

  +o  Unpack pcmcia-cs-3.1.?.tar.gz in /usr/src.

  +o  Run ``make config'' in the new pcmcia-cs-3.1.? directory.

  +o  Run ``make all'', then ``make install''.

  +o  Customize the startup script and the option files in /etc/pcmcia
     for your site, if needed.

  If you plan to install any contributed client drivers not included in
  the core PCMCIA distribution, unpack each of them in the top-level
  directory of the PCMCIA source tree.  Then follow the normal build
  instructions.  The extra drivers will be compiled and installed
  automatically.

  Running ``make config'' prompts for a few configuration options, and
  checks out your system to verify that it satisfies all prerequisites
  for installing PCMCIA support.  In most cases, you'll be able to just
  accept all the default configuration options.  Be sure to carefully
  check the output of this command in case there are problems.  The
  following options are available:

     LLiinnuuxx kkeerrnneell ssoouurrccee ddiirreeccttoorryy??
        This is the location of the source tree for the kernel you want
        to use with PCMCIA.  Often this is /usr/src/linux, but the
        default location depends on what Linux distribution you're using
        (or on where you've chosen to place your kernel source tree).

     BBuuiilldd ''ttrruussttiinngg'' vveerrssiioonnss ooff ccaarrdd uuttiilliittiieess??
        Some of the support utilities (cardctl and cardinfo) can be
        compiled either in ``safe'' or ``trusting'' forms.  The ``safe''
        forms prevent non-root users from modifying card configurations.
        The ``trusting'' forms permit ordinary users to issue commands
        to suspend and resume cards, reset cards, and change the current
        configuration scheme.  The default is to build the safe forms.

     IInncclluuddee 3322--bbiitt ((CCaarrddBBuuss)) ccaarrdd ssuuppppoorrtt??
        This option must be selected if you wish to use 32-bit CardBus
        cards.  It is not required for CardBus bridge support, if you
        only plan to use 16-bit PC Cards.

     IInncclluuddee PPnnPP BBIIOOSS rreessoouurrccee cchheecckkiinngg??
        This builds additional code into the PCMCIA core module to
        communicate with a system's PnP BIOS to obtain resource
        information for built-in ``motherboard'' devices (serial and
        parallel ports, sound, etc), to help avoid resource conflicts.
        If enabled, some extra resource files will be created under
        /proc/bus/pccard, and the lspnp and setpnp tools can be used to
        view and manipulate PnP BIOS devices.  However, this setting
        causes problems on some laptops and is not turned on by default.

     MMoodduullee iinnssttaallll ddiirreeccttoorryy??
        The directory that new kernel modules will be installed into.
        Normally this should be the subdirectory of /lib/modules that
        matches your kernel version.

     HHooww ttoo sseett kkeerrnneell--ssppeecciiffiicc ooppttiioonnss??
        There are a few kernel configuration options that affect the
        PCMCIA tools.  The configuration script can deduce these from
        the running kernel (the default and most common case).
        Alternatively, if you are compiling for installation on another
        machine, it can read the configuration from a kernel source
        tree, or each option can be set interactively.

  The Configure script can also be executed non-interactively, for
  automatic builds or to quickly reconfigure after a kernel update.
  Some additional less-frequently-used options can be only be set from
  the command line.  Running ``Configure --help'' lists all available
  options.

  Running ``make all'' followed by ``make install'' will build and then
  install the kernel modules and utility programs.  Kernel modules are
  installed under /lib/modules/<version>/pcmcia.  The cardmgr and
  cardctl programs are installed in /sbin.  If cardinfo is built, it is
  installed in /usr/bin/X11.

  Configuration files will be installed in the /etc/pcmcia directory.
  If you are installing over an older version, your old config scripts
  will be backed up before being replaced.  The saved scripts will be
  given an *.O extension.

  If you don't know what kind of host controller your system uses, you
  can use the probe utility in the cardmgr/ subdirectory to determine
  this.  There are two major types: the Databook TCIC-2 type and the
  Intel i82365SL-compatible type.

  In a few cases, the probe command will be unable to determine your
  controller type automatically.  If you have a Halikan NBD 486 system,
  it has a TCIC-2 controller at an unusual location: you'll need to edit
  rc.pcmcia to load the tcic module, and also set the PCIC_OPTS
  parameter to ``tcic_base=0x02c0''.

  On some old pre-PCI systems using Cirrus controllers, including the
  NEC Versa M, the BIOS puts the controller in a special suspended state
  at system startup time.  On these systems, the probe command will fail
  to find any known host controller.  If this happens, edit rc.pcmcia
  and set PCIC to i82365, and PCIC_OPTS to ``wakeup=1''.

  22..33..  SSttaarrttuupp ooppttiioonnss

  The PCMCIA startup script recognizes several groups of startup
  options, set via environment variables.  Multiple options should be
  separated by spaces and enclosed in quotes.  Placement of startup
  options depends on the Linux distribution used.  They may be placed
  directly in the startup script, or they may be kept in a separate
  option file.  See the ``Notes about specific Linux distributions'' for
  specifics.  The following variables can be set:

     PCMCIA
        This variable specifies whether PCMCIA support should be started
        up, or not.  If it is set to anything other than ``yes'', then
        the startup script will be disabled.

     PCIC
        This identifies the PC Card Interface Controller driver module.
        There are two options: ``tcic'' or ``i82365''.  Virtually all
        current controllers are in the ``i82365'' group.  This is the
        only mandatory option setting.

     PCIC_OPTS
        This specifies options for the PCIC module.  Some host
        controllers have optional features that may or may not be
        implemented in a particular system.  In some cases, it is
        impossible for the socket driver to detect if these features are
        implemented.  See the corresponding man page for a complete
        description of the available options.

     CORE_OPTS
        This specifies options for the pcmcia_core module, which
        implements the core PC Card driver services.  See ``man
        pcmcia_core'' for more information.

     CARDMGR_OPTS
        This specifies options to be passed to the cardmgr daemon.  See
        ``man cardmgr'' for more information.

     SCHEME
        If set, then the PC Card configuration scheme will be
        initialized to this at driver startup time.  See the ``Overview
        of the PCMCIA configuration scripts'' for a discussion of
        schemes.

  The low level socket drivers, tcic and i82365, have various bus timing
  parameters that may need to be adjusted for certain systems with
  unusual bus clocking.  Symptoms of timing problems can include card
  recognition problems, lock-ups under heavy loads, high error rates, or
  poor device performance.  Only certain host bridges have adjustable
  timing parameters: check the corresponding man page to see what
  options are available for your controller.  Here is a brief summary:

  +o  ISA-bus Cirrus controllers have numerous configurable timing
     parameters.  The most important seems to be the cmd_time flag,
     which determines the length of PCMCIA bus cycles.  Fast 486 systems
     (i.e., DX4-100) seem to often benefit from increasing this from 6
     (the default) to 12 or 16.

  +o  The Cirrus PD6729 PCI controller has the fast_pci flag, which
     should be set if the PCI bus speed is greater than 25 MHz.

  +o  For Vadem VG-468 controllers, the async_clock flag changes the
     relative clocking of PCMCIA bus and host bus cycles.  Setting this
     flag adds extra wait states to some operations.  However, I have
     yet to hear of a laptop that needs this.