Linux and Proliant ML350 G2

Just today, I was working on converting a Proliant ML350 G2 server from running Windows Server 2000 to a Linux distribution. I noticed several people had this same problem with various flavors of Linux, and I did not find a legitimate workaround that did not involve a noapic option. I was getting an error that involved this line: MP-BIOS bug: 8254 timer not connected to IO-APIC.

I did find a workaround. It’s not that creative. I went to the HP/Compaq website and ran all the BIOS and firmware updates. The install went through without issue after that.

Fedora, Broadcom, and ndiswrapper

Great news. Ever since my computer crashed at ALABI, I have been trying to get my new operating system, Fedora Core 5, to recognize my Broadcom 4306 chipset wireless card. I have an integrated wireless card that came with my Compaq Presario 2175US, and I have had it for several years. Broadcom does not support Linux, but a piece of middleware called ndiswrapper allows linux users to run Windows drivers. I finally got ndiswrapper installed using this tutorial. I am now using my computer to blog via wireless!

The biggest problem was trying to get the kernel and devel-kernels installed. Finally, I plugged my computer into an ethernet connection and ran yum update from the command line. Yum updated them for me. Yum is one of the best reasons to have Fedora. It will automatically update all (yes, ALL) of your software! Beautiful.