>Yes! I need an obsolete computer. The only thing I know about
>Windows-10 is that it proved Microsoft can't count. Versions 1, 2, 3.1,
>95, 98, were at least monotonic increasing.
If you need a new computer for running gcc, TeX, a web browser, a PDF viewer,
and all other of your computing needs, then we can surely help!
>I don't install Linux on hundreds of computers; I've done about 30
>installs over the years. It used to be: buy a Linux CD from the
>bookstore (Not a joke. I did that several times in the 1990s). Every
>computer had a built-in CD reader that it could boot from and everything
>was on the CD.
Oh, that takes me back! When I was first getting into Linux circa 2009,
I would be trying out Linux install CDs that were included in several
Linux publications within the magazine section at Barnes and Noble. I
was fascinated by how I could run a complete desktop from a cheap piece of
optical media found in the back of a magazine, and it was at a fraction
of the cost of a Windows license.
>The last few times I have done a Debian net-install. It worked through
>a RJ-45 jack connection to home internet. Details changed. I no longer
>have a IPv4 address and NAT, but IPv6 configured itself and worked.
>But now RJ-45 seems to be obsolete. Can I install over a wireless
>(wifi) connection? Not long ago, the OS needed to be working and
>then it could install a special non-free driver for the wifi and use
>it at the coffee shop.
>Now that I have my own wireless router it seems mostly good, but I still
>trust the wire more. I don't need terabytes and virtual reality video
>games. Let me run gcc, TeX, a web browser and a pdf viewer, that's
>about it.
>I miss the punch card reader at school, but I don't need one at home.
>Do I need RJ-45?
You can expect a mainstream distribution such as Fedora or Debian to have
offline installers in case their online installers don't work. These online installers
should give you the option to configure a wired connection or a wireless
connection.
I believe the one limiting factor (as you're alluding to) is whether the wifi
card has the appropriate driver. This can become a catch-22 for online installers
which typically don't give you the kind of environment needed to build and install
the necessary kernel module and firmware.
The best workaround I've found is finding a chipset that's known to work OOTB with
a stock Linux kernel:
https://github.com/morrownr/USB-WiFiThe ALFA AWUS036ACM is the USB wifi adapter that I have, and it's saved me *A LOT*
of headache when experimenting with uncommon devices that usually come with
Broadcom wifi cards:
https://www.alfa.com.tw/products/awus036acm_1
- Josh