[fab] slashdot question -- driver support

[Tim Burke]

Tom 'spot' Callaway wrote:
> On Thu, 2006-08-10 at 13:50 +0200, Tim Burke wrote:
>   
>> Max Spevack wrote:
>>     
>>> 2) Drivers Vs Linux
>>> (Score:5, Interesting)
>>> by eldavojohn
>>>
>>> A lot of people I talk to say they don't like Linux due to lack of 
>>> driver support. Is there anyway you see this problem being eliminated? 
>>> How do you court vendors to support their hardware on your flavor of 
>>> Linux?
>>>
>>>       
>> This response would warrant some spin cleanup, but how about something 
>> along the lines of:
>> - RH has strong established relationships with the major IHVs and we 
>> work closely with them for Linux hardware enablement.  These vendors 
>> recognize the importance of community involvement through Fedora as a 
>> means of helping to ensure robust operation.
>>     
>
> Examples?
>   
Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, AMD, Fujitsu, Hitachi, NEC, etc... they all send 
us hardware and proposed patches.  Further, we encourage these partners 
to be proactively doing testing on Fedora so that things are well 
prepared for RHEL releases.
>   
>> - RH also works with many companies to help coach and mentor them to the 
>> merits of open source development.  We help guide them through the 
>> process of the upstream development model.
>>     
>
> Examples?
>   
Broadcom on their network driver. Promise on SATA/SAS.  Intel on network 
driver work.  We have been spending a lot of time collectively between 
IBM/RH and Adaptec on their most recent raid adapter drivers.  The 
Adaptec case is a good example. They saw the light after having the pain 
of not being mainstreamed.  We have been working with them over the past 
6 months to mentor them to get the driver prepared for upstream 
incorporation.
>   
>> - The increasing clout of Linux is making hardware vendors increasingly 
>> receptive.  The battle is not over, but it is an improving trend. For 
>> example, AMD's recent announcement that they are considering open 
>> sourcing the ATI graphics driver.
>>     
>
> Anywhere we can have tangible examples, this message gets stronger, and
> goes from rhetoric to motivation.
>
>   
Intel has also been good lately in terms of keeping e100/e1000 current.. 
as well as their graphics peripherals.