Very Computer

Hi there!
        My name is Woo.I am a beginner to pc/linux.I am stuck on trying
to install my
iomega zip drive (parallel port) onto my home pc/linux.Can anyone out
there who knows how to do the installation helps me?
Thanks in advance

rgds
woOBK                        

there is no support or will there be for the parallel port version of the
zip drive to my understanding.....

anyone feel free to correct me

Quote:>Hi there!
>        My name is Woo.I am a beginner to pc/linux.I am stuck on trying
>to install my
>iomega zip drive (parallel port) onto my home pc/linux.Can anyone out
>there who knows how to do the installation helps me?
>Thanks in advance

>rgds
>woOBK                        

Hi,

IOMEGA ZIP drives (parallele port versions) are supported via the Linux
kernel.  This can be done in one of two ways:-
1)    build support into the kernel
2)    use a loadable module for the kernel

The difference is that with built in, the support is there all the time
whereas with a module it is necessary to load the module prior to use.

I've done both.

It _will_ require a re-compile of the kernel if support does not already
exist.   However, this isn't the big deal it sounds :)

You haven't detailed the system in use and I doubt that anyone will be
able to give you a generic build instruction to suit all variants but
some points to note follow:

1)     even tho' its a parallel port, ZIP support is considered to be a
SCSI driver.

2)    There are many different SCSI drivers, it is necessary to identify
the correct one for the ZIP drive.

3)    you will probably need the generic SCSI support module as well as
the specific ZIP one.

4)    compile the kernel and dependancies, clean up afterwards.  copy
the resulting file to the kernel boot position

5)    instruct any boot loader (such as lilo) about the new kernel

6)    re-boot

7)    make a directory (preferrably off root) --- mkdir /ZIPdrive

Once done the ZIP will appear as a SCSI drive (mine appears as sda4)
then you must mount the disk and umount the disk every time you wish to
insert or remove a zip disk.

    mount -t vfat /dev/sda4 /ZIPdrive

It is possible to create a short for of this command, but more of that
later. :)

Sorry it's not more detailed, but I can only speak in detail of the SuSe
5.2 /5.3 installations.  Someone else will guide you for the other
distributions.

There is a binary called ziptools that gives some basic support for the
zip as well.  Not that on my system at least the zip drive, whilst
absolutely reliable, is somewhat slow.

Regards,
DM

Hi:

# insmod ppa
# insmod lp

and your parallel zip drive will be working under linux (at least on kernel
2.0.3*).

i did include those lines under /etc/rc.d/rc.local file and the zip is
working every time I boot my system.

good luck,
MATIAS O.

--
Matas Orchard V.

ICQ: 460589

Red Hat 5.2 ~ kernel 2.0.36 ~ KDE 1.0

Santiago - CHILE

Quote:>        My name is Woo.I am a beginner to pc/linux.I am stuck on trying
>to install my
>iomega zip drive (parallel port) onto my home pc/linux.Can anyone out
>there who knows how to do the installation helps me?

I use RH5 which detects my parallel ZIP in a second and installs the
driver accordingly at install. It's in SCSI section as weird as it
sounds.

Quote:>Thanks in advance

anytime.

Have you Read the Zip-Mini-HOWTO; it got my iomega zip drive (PP) up and
running fine... If you want to print and use the zip drive you will need
to recompile your kernel with both drivers loaded as modules. I have
this on my box, If you are interested in having both printing and zip
capabilities let me know and i give you more info(or just read the
relevant HOW-TOs).