Support for Notebook Docking Station (IBM) needed?

[Master One]

I am going to buy an IBM ThinkPad T42p with two IBM ThinkPad Mini-Dock docking-stations. That machine is intended to run with Gentoo Linux only.

I was wondering, if docking-stations need any support from the operation system.

I have seen something concerning USB port-replicators in the kernel-settings.

Now the IBM Mini-Dock for example, has in addition to the standard-ports on the notebook itself some more to offer (like RS232, PS/2 Keyboard, PS/2 Mouse, DVI, 4x USB 2.0). The large docking-station even has one more cardbus and one PCI-slot.

I wonder, if these docking-stations work out of the box without any additional kernel settings /modules, or does it not work at all?
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[steveb]

They work without problem. But you need to enable the additional hardware.

On my docking station I had to enable the additional IDE driver and PCMCIA driver.

cheers

SteveB

[Master One]

Well, that's good to know. I the meantime, after comparing the IBM Mini-Dock and the IBM Portreplicator II (which is about half the price!), I came to the conclusion to go for the a lot cheaper replicator. The only real difference is the 4-port USB Hub and added power-supply with the Mini-Dock, but those two features are not worth the additional price, so buying two replicator + two separate USB Hub + one power supply may be the way to go.
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Las torturas mentales de la CIA