Ensuring That a Machine Will Run Linux

Will a particular machine even work with Linux? Here are a few ways to find out:

• Ask the manufacturer: Good luck. Most computer makers still treat Linux like the crazy aunt in the basement, not to be seen and definitely not to be spoken of. This is changing, and some vendors now support Linux, but only on a selected few machines. What if you want to run Linux on a nonsupported machine? Don't ask the manufacturer for advice about that because you won't get any.

• Ask someone who already has the machine: If a friend owns the same computer and runs Linux, great! That's not very likely most of the time, however. You can also search the Net, and oftentimes you'll find good info, especially if you're curious about a laptop. Still, it can be a definite exercise in frustration looking for solid info about a particular machine, with hours wasted and no solid data available.

Tip 

The best Website, bar none, for Linuxheads interested in laptops is Linux on Laptops at http://linux-laptop.net. If you own or are thinking of purchasing a laptop and you want to find out how well it runs various flavors of Linux, you need to visit Linux on Laptops.

• Test the machine: If you can get to the machine, test it to see whether it runs Linux. Take a Knoppix disk into your local computer shack and ask if you can try the disk in the machine in which you're interested. If the machine boots and works, it more than likely supports just about any version of Linux; if you find problems with Knoppix, you're probably going to have problems with any other Linux, so that computer should be avoided.

• Take your chances: This is always an option. Order the box, and try to install Linux on it. If you have problems, test the machine with Knoppix and note what works and what doesn't. Then begin punching things into Google until you get answers. One of those answers, of course, can be that Linux simply will not work with that computer, and you need to send it back. This drastic step is growing more and more rare, fortunately, but it's still true for a few misbegotten manufacturers who don't yet realize that their lack of support of Linux is going to cost them dearly in the long run.

Knoppix is an excellent tool for verifying the Linux-readiness of a particular computer.