There are two part's to loading pnp cards under linux. (depending on
your motherboard):
1a) a newer motherboard with pnp config BIOS will setup the cards before
any OS has loaded.
1b) Most eisa board do not have pnp config BIOS, so the next thing to do
is configure the irq and base I/O after you have load an OS. Most pnp
cards come with a configuration software for DOS. This software detects
preempted I/O and irq address, then queries the pnp's configuration
tables for irqs and I/O address that are not in use. Then the
configuration software will install a piece of boot code that will set
the pnp card and exit. The process for linux is the same. The
configurator software is your brain however (your could have the DOS
configurator configure the PNP card, then get it's irq and Base I/O from
there). You'll need to find the available irq and I/O address yourself
before using the boot code set utility. Readmore about the in pnptools.
2) Under linux you will need to compile the sound card's irq, and I/O
address into the kernel before the kernel will 'see' the hardware.
Check out the /usr/doc/HOWTO/Sound-HOWTO.gz (using zless) on 'how to' do
that.
-- Steven Howe howe@popsicle.chinalake.navy.mil