http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/ Engadget Comments for Ubuntu alpha apparently breaking hardware, shattering dreams http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Shocking.]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
http://lh6.ggpht.com/shaileshdoke/SDym7NzNupI/AAAAAAAAAq4/sLfF2cd_muQ/Hack%20and%20Blow%20like%20Bomb%5B5%5D.jpg]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
There is no reasonable way to do that with many types of hardware. You need to be able to write data to areas which contain the necessary code that allows data to be written to that area, because somtimes the code that communicates with external devices needs updating, so you cannot 'protect' that code in any way.]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/@ Chris

I'm not sure if you guys really know much about Linux, but I've been running it over half my life, and one of the first things I learned is never run anything that's an alpha. They aren't meant for real hardware yet, unless your a developer (and this goes for the majority of them too) you should run it in a virtual machine. If you want a sneak preview, wait for a beta, if you want a current system, use a current build, and if you want a stable system, get an older "stable" build.]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Well, I can tell you that I'm running the alpha build right now and I haven't... OW! What the hell was that?!?]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Why would intel need to protect their hardware against Operating systems it was not designed for? HMMmmm?]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Last I checked, hardware isn't usually designed AROUND operating systems. And moreover if Intel's industry standard networking hardware wasn't "designed" to run under Linux kernels, I doubt they would code their own drivers for them...]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
considering both e1000 and e1000e drivers are actually written by Intel itself, I find your comment quite amusing]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
You comment would've held some credibility, if it wasn't for the fact that Intel Writes Their Own Modules]]>Sep 26th 2008 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Sure you can. Motherboard manufacturers have been doing it for YEARS. I've even un-bricked my WRT54G router that had a bad flash. It's all in the design.]]>Sep 26th 2008 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 4:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 9:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
How do you suggest updating BIOS, firmware etc? The reason so many devices say "UPDATING FIRMWARE. DO NOT POWER OFF" is because it's difficult/expensive to design hardware which requires updates yet cannot be damaged irreversibly. You'd have to have a reliable redundant power source such as a battery should power go out during the write, or a secondary fallback firmware (as some motherboards/servers now have).

There are also various levels of irreversibility (not sure if that's a real word). The actual bug report says "recovery may be possible via a BIOS update". That's not so painful. Other techniques might include shorting pins (http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47259) or pulling off a chip and using an eeprom burner. At what point do you consider a device irreversibly damaged?]]>Sep 29th 2008 12:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 2:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Hopefully it gets corrected soon.]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Alphas always have horrible bugs that make them unusable to the end user. They should not be played with unless your developing.

Just wait for the current build and it'll run fine.]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/I doubt it would affect disabled cards, since the issue most-likely stems from faulty drivers. If those drivers aren't loaded, then the card isn't used, and the probability of issues occurring decreases dramatically.

While I didn't RTFA, that's just my opinion.]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Don't count on it. Once they find a bug, they usually leave it alone until the final version. That's what alpha and beta releases are for: to let bug proliferate.]]>Sep 26th 2008 5:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
I'm a software developer, and although the concept of Alpha and Beta software is relative, in general I believe that Alpha means "If you run this software the way it is, there's a very high chance of a bug being found at this stage, and a high chance that the software will crash", when in Beta the crashes should be pretty much erradicated and this stage is what i call the "bug hunting" stage.

Software that corrupts hardware is definitely pre-public release material. ]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
In all honesty, the hardware (if it requires a flash ROM of some sort) should have protection against catastrophic failure from overwriting the ROM. Motherboards have been implementing stuff like this for some time and even before that, they had methods of reprogramming them.]]>Sep 26th 2008 3:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Ultimately, though, I believe "alpha" releases do (or should, at least) imply a certain level of readiness. I personally don't try out an Ubuntu pre-release until its final, and I have years of personal and professional linux experience.

YMMV]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Wasn't there a Slashdot article about another distro doing this a few days ago? It was also wrong to label that distro at fault when it is really a Kernel Issue]]>Sep 27th 2008 9:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
This is not strictly an ubuntu bug/mistake]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
While you could argue that this is alpha software and carries risks, the problem is that many people who would be testing this and future alpha versions and reporting bugs will now hesitate to run early release software, ultimately slowing down the release process.

One could argue "you should be running alpha in VMs" but VMs have a very limited virtual hardware set. You can't reliably test hardware compatibility in VMs.]]>Sep 29th 2008 12:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/It is a Linux kernel bug, for all 2.6.27 releases before rc7.
It damages e1000 Intel ethernet cards, writing in their EEPROM.]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Good thing I don't run any alpha software. I'm a firm believer in not distributing alpha software altogether, unless you absolutely hate somebody! >:-)]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
@msalivar
So what? I would like to know more about computers and what is possible with them. I doubt someone who wants to cause physical harm through hacking and virus's is gonna use this site to gather info.

so all in all I'm disappointed at you guys, I've had questions and statements replied to in a kind and helpful manner in the past or just ignored. But this is ridiculous. ]]>Sep 26th 2008 6:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
and not one reply even relates to what I said, why?]]>Sep 26th 2008 2:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 2:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/
Besides I couldn't hack a computer unless you hand it to me.]]>Sep 26th 2008 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 4:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-announce/2008-09/msg00017.html

In versions 2.6.27-rc5 (sept. 23rd) and newer module e1000e is IMHO blacklisted by default. But you better check that yourself before you install any alpha on your system.]]>Sep 26th 2008 1:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 26th 2008 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/26/ubuntu-alpha-apparently-breaking-hardware-shattering-dreams/Sep 29th 2008 11:21AM