Re: Change in plans (was: Re: Another possible device (was: Re: OT: Questions about (buying and) using a laptop docking station))

[David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com>]

On 2020-03-28 17:17, rhkramer@gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, March 28, 2020 04:41:57 PM David Christensen wrote:
> > On 2020-03-28 12:18, rhkramer@gmail.com wrote:
> > > I received the Wavlink device, but I'm fairly certain I'm going
> > > to return it and give up on it.  (I'm not clear on what software
> > > / drivers I'd have to find and install, and the device says it
> > > doesn't support Linux (but does mention that it works with Ubuntu
> > > 14.<something> -- I guess Ubuntu is no longer Linux ;-)
> > >
> > > I was hoping that I'd be able to find a manual or an installation
> > > guide online before I received (or opened) the package, but I did
> > > not.
> >
> > When happens when you connect the docking station to a USB 2.0 port
> > on your Dell 1501 laptop?  What does dmesg report?
>
> I haven't unwrapped the unit -- I'm returning the unit in the
> original, intact packaging.
>
> > What is the make and model of the Express Card dual 3.0 adapter?
>
> Haven't received that yet, probably coming in 6 weeks from the far
> east.

On 2020-03-28 17:19, rhkramer@gmail.com wrote:
> To clarifly / amplify -- I don't think it is going to be worth the 
> trouble to try to make it (the Wavlink) work.

Well, that's no fun.  :-(


I have found that it is often difficult to determine if some hardware 
accessory is going to work on some computer with Debian by RTFM and STFW 
alone.  Ultimate, you have to "walk the walk", install it, and see what 
happens.  Sometimes it just works OOTB.  Other times, you need to do 
some trouble-shooting.  In the latter case, dmesg and a good search 
engine get the job done.  If not, this mailing list is a good fall-back. 
 If you can find an error message and identify which package is 
generating it, you can file a bug report.


Have you identified a make and model laptop and a make and model docking 
station that are known to work with your chosen release of Debian?


David