[ltp] I must rerun alsaconf before using xmms.

[Eben King]

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005, Francois Maltey wrote:

> > Modules aren't important, files are.  Or rather, it's important that the 
> > file be created before the module gets loaded.  There are several ways to 
> > ensure this:
> 
> What file ? a call to a configuration file ? or a device-file in /dev ?

A device or several devices.

> >    /etc/modules may allow such constructs as
> >
> >    before <some module> <some file>
> >
> >    so that the file is created before the module loads.
> 
> Yes, I understand ! but what name of file must I put ?

I don't know.  But I bet the answer is in the mailing list archives here: 
http://www.alsa-project.org/mailing-lists.php

> After the last reboot I only do :
> 
>         xmms doesn't play. 
> I run : /etc/init.d/alsa stop
>         Shutting down ALSA...done.
>         xmms doesn't play. 
> 
> I run : /etc/init.d/alsa start 
>         xmms doesn't play. 
> 
> I run : /etc/init.d/alsa force-unload
> Terminating processes: 3242.
> Unloading ALSA sound driver modules: snd-intel8x0m snd-intel8x0 
> snd-ac97-codec snd-pcm-oss snd-mixer-oss snd-pcm snd-timer snd-page-alloc 
> snd-mpu401-uart snd-rawmidi snd-seq-device.
> 
>         xmms run but I hear nothing.
>         I must use alsamixer
> petoncle:/home/fmy# alsamixer 
>         master level and PCM level are lock to 0 
>         I unlock them (with the M key) and increase them to the top
>         The T42 bios sound level seems to be a third level : 
>         I must up this one.

Get the levels set where you like them, then as root do "alsactl store".  
Then after you load the modules do "alsactl restore".  You _should_ be able 
to automate that with /etc/modules.conf but that never worked for me.

> I really don't understand why I MUST force-unload alsa and THEN xmms plays.

Could it be the "/etc/init.d/alsa start" that is significant, and then ALSA 
works whether or not its modules are loaded?

> What must I change in my /etc/rc2.d/init files ?

Run alsaconf before the modprobes.

> Do you understand what in wrong ? 

Roughly that /dev is created without the device files ALSA needs.  At least 
that's what I _think_ the problem is.

-- 
The powers in charge keep us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor
with the cry of national emergency. Always there has been some terrible evil to
gobble us up if we did not furnish the exorbitant sums demanded. Yet, in retro-
spect, these disasters seem never to have been quite real. -- Gen. D. MacArthur