Andrew Walker wrote:
> I'm trying to get alsa to work but I can't get my head around the docs.
> I'm trying to install alsa-driver but it keeps complaining about alsa
> already being in the kernel. All the alsa and sound drivers in my kernel
> are compiled as modules. Should I compile my kernel with nothing at all to
> do with sound or alsa or as modules? I wanted to use the latest alsa
> drivers available which I believe from what I've read is better than
> compiling alsa into the kernel.
> Am I correct in my assumptions or deluding myself?

You select

Device Drivers --->
Sound --->
<M> Sound card support

Deselect all other sound related. Compile your kernel.

You need to add a line to your /etc/make.conf

ALSA_CARDS="emu10k1"

Change the emu10k1 to the driver you need. If you want to compile more than
one soundcard driver, just use space as seperator.

Boot into your new kernel and emerge the alsa-driver

emerge -oneshot media-sound/alsa-driver


Reason why to use the ebuild for alsa driver instead of the onces in kernel
2.6 can be that the ebuild is usually faster updated than what the kernel
source is, which leads you to get later drivers in general than using the kernel.

The -oneshot option makes that the driver won't be included in your "world",
as you may have an older kernel in case and you don't want it to loose it's
drivers when you compile drivers for a new kernel.
Never uninstall an old kernel before you are sure the new one fully works and
it's good to always have a spare kernel, just in case.


//Aho