Alsa-update

From openSUSE

Version: openSUSE 11.0 to 11.2

Symptom

Your audio has a problem that requires that you update your alsa version.

Cause

The cause is your hardware is too new for the version of alsa that comes with your openSUSE version

Solution

This section provides zypper commands for openSUSE-10.2 and 11.1 for updating your alsa. (As of mid-July-2009, the most current stable alsa version is 1.0.20). Note this guide should be used in conjunction with the openSUSE audio troubleshooting guide: openSUSE Audio Troubleshooting Guide Please do not use this guide in isolation.

Kernel version

IMPORTANT. When updating your alsa version, it is important that you know what kernel version you are using. You need this because you should install the alsa-driver-kmp rpms specific to ONLY your kernel. NOT for other kernels. To determine your kernel version type in an xterm or a konsole:

         uname -a

To determine your openSUSE version and your system architecture version type in an xterm or konsole:

         cat /etc/SuSE-release

Pay attention as to whether you have an

• .586/.686 SMP,
• .586/.686 BIGSMP
• or x86_64
• or pae
• or default

Once you have the output, run the name through zypper to get the full version number (which may have an extra ".#" at the end) to find the applicable version below, as follows

         zypper info kernel-[suffix]

Note - The above is important.

SUSE-10.0

No longer supported.

openSUSE-10.1

No longer supported.

openSUSE-10.2

No longer supported.

Note: the basic packaged openSUSE-10.2 comes with version 1.0.13 of alsa installed by default.

openSUSE-10.3

No longer supported.

You could do a search on webpin software search to see if you can locate a more up to date alsa version for installation on openSUSE-10.3.

Note: the basic packaged openSUSE-10.3 comes with version 1.0.14 of alsa installed by default.

openSUSE-11.0

You should send 6 zypper commands to update your alsa (they are given below).

To send the zypper commands below, first open an xterm/konsole, and type "su" (no quotes) to obtain root permissions. Enter the root password when prompted. Then send the 6 zypper commands (in two groups of 3) given below that are specific to your openSUSE kernel version. The three commands given in each case will:

• install a repository for alsa
• update your alsa
• remove the repository

Its important to send the third zypper command to remove the repository, as the rpms in that repository are cutting edge, and once one's sound functions, its best not to keep updating alsa, as one of the updates could inadvertently break one's audio.

For updating the ALSA user-space packages, first run the following 3 zypper commands.

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/libs/openSUSE_11.0/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa alsa-docs libasound2

         zypper rr multimedia

Note: the basic packaged openSUSE-11.0 comes with version 1.0.16 of alsa installed by default

You are NOT finished after sending those 3 zypper commands. Please read on !

In addition, to update ALSA driver modules, send the following 3 zypper commands applicable to your kernel version (in the following section). ONLY for your PCs kernel version. DO NOT install the rpms for other kernels (as it may break your sound). DON'T FORGET THIS.

Don't forget to reboot your OS, after this updating.

kernel 2.6.25.5-1.1-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.0)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.25.5-1.1-default

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.0/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-default

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.25.5-1.1-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.0)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.25.5-1.1-pae

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.0/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-pae

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.25.20_0.5-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.0)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.25.20_0.5-default

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.0_Update/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-default

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.25.20_0.5-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.0)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.25.20_0.5-pae

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.0_Update/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-pae

         zypper rr multimedia

openSUSE-11.1

You should send 6 zypper commands to update your alsa (they are given below).

To send the zypper commands below, first open an xterm/konsole, and type "su" (no quotes) to obtain root permissions. Enter the root password when prompted. Then send the 6 zypper commands (in two groups of 3) given below that are specific to your openSUSE kernel version. The three commands given in each case will:

• install a repository for alsa
• update your alsa
• remove the repository

Its important to send the third zypper command to remove the repository, as the rpms in that repository are cutting edge, and once one's sound functions, its best not to keep updating alsa, as one of the updates could inadvertently break one's audio.

For updating the ALSA user-space packages, first run the following 3 zypper commands.

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/libs/openSUSE_11.1/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa alsa-docs libasound2

         zypper rr multimedia

Note: the basic packaged openSUSE-11.1 comes with version 1.0.18 of alsa installed by default

You are NOT finished after sending those 3 zypper commands. Please read on !

In addition, to update ALSA driver modules, send the following 3 zypper commands applicable to your kernel version (in the following section). ONLY for your PCs kernel version. DO NOT install the rpms for other kernels (as it may break your sound). DON'T FORGET THIS.

Don't forget to reboot your OS, after this updating.

kernel 2.6.27.7_9.1-1.1-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.1)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.27.7_9.1-1.1-default

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.1/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-default

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.27.7_9.1-1.1-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.1)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.27.7_9.1-1.1-pae

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.1/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-pae

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.27.42_0.1-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.1)

The following commands are only for kernel '2.6.27.42_0.1-default

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.1_Update/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-default

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.27.42_0.1-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.1)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.27.42_0.1-pae

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.1_Update/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-pae

         zypper rr multimedia

openSUSE-11.2

You should send 6 zypper commands to update your alsa (they are given below).

To send the zypper commands below, first open an xterm/konsole, and type "su" (no quotes) to obtain root permissions. Enter the root password when prompted. Then send the 6 zypper commands (in two groups of 3) given below that are specific to your openSUSE kernel version. The three commands given in each case will:

• install a repository for alsa
• update your alsa
• remove the repository

Its important to send the third zypper command to remove the repository, as the rpms in that repository are cutting edge, and once one's sound functions, its best not to keep updating alsa, as one of the updates could inadvertently break one's audio.

For updating the ALSA user-space packages, first run the following 3 zypper commands.

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/libs/openSUSE_11.2/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa alsa-docs libasound2

         zypper rr multimedia

Note: the basic packaged openSUSE-11.2 comes with version 1.0.21 of alsa installed by default

You are NOT finished after sending those 3 zypper commands. Please read on !

In addition, to update ALSA driver modules, send the following 3 zypper commands applicable to your kernel version (in the following section). ONLY for your PCs kernel version. DO NOT install the rpms for other kernels (as it may break your sound). DON'T FORGET THIS.

Don't forget to reboot your OS, after this updating.

kernel 2.6.31.5-0.1-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.2)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.31.5-0.1-default

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.2/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-default

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.31.5-0.1-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.2)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.31.5-0.1-pae

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.2/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-pae

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.31.5-0.1-desktop i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.2)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.31.5-0.1-desktop

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.2/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-desktop

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.31.8-0.1-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.2)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.31.8-0.1-default

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.2_Update/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-default

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.31.8-0.1-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.2)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.31.8-0.1-pae

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.2_Update/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-pae

         zypper rr multimedia

kernel 2.6.31.8-0.1-desktop i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.2)

The following commands are only for kernel 2.6.31.8-0.1-desktop

         zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/multimedia:/audio:/KMP/openSUSE_11.2_Update/ multimedia

         zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-desktop

         zypper rr multimedia

Daily Snapshots of alsa userspace rpms

If the user-space alsa updates suggested above do not work, one can also try installing even more cutting edge (essentially daily (or momentary) snapshot packages from the upstream GIT trees). There is guidance here for that: Alsa-update-snapshot

Links

• OpenSUSE Audio Troubleshooting Guide
• Alsa web site: http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Main_Page
• Alsa-update-snapshot

Passed QA check: Fsundermeyer 13:49, 12 June 2009 (UTC)